Best stairlift brands

Stairlifts are pricey, and you may need to buy one in a hurry. Our independent reviews can help you choose a reliable product from a top-rated company. 

We surveyed 523 people to understand their experiences of buying or hiring a stairlift for themselves or someone else within the past 10 years.

We included customers who bought their stairlift privately from companies such as Acorn, Age Co, Handicare, TKE*/Access BDD, and Stannah, as well as smaller brands, plus those who bought one from the council. 

It's not just the quality of the stairlift that counts – factors such as good customer service, advice and aftercare also matter, as our research reveals.

Not sure what you need? Take a look at our guide to buying and installing a stairlift first.

Highest and lowest scoring stairlift brands

Our survey insights show which brands are rated best overall by their customers and how each brand compares on attributes such as value for money, quality, reliability and more.

This year, two brands impressed enough to become Which? Recommended Providers, wowing customers with top-notch service, and excelling in our behind-the-scenes assessment of their practices. 

Not yet a Which? member? Join Which? today to gain access to this table and all our other reviews.

Stairlifts: how we score

In addition to our customer survey, we also conduct an in-depth, behind-the-scenes assessment of stairlift companies' policies and practices. We look at a range of criteria, such as their warranties and maintenance contracts, policies around buy-back and removals, transparency of pricing and their authorised reseller policies. 

We look at company websites, T&Cs and written materials, and we also send companies a questionnaire to get additional information about their policies and practices. 

In total, we examine 34 individual factors, and we rate each as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. We've categorised 15 of these as 'major criteria' and 19 as 'minor', depending on the significance. 

In order to be eligible for Which? Recommended Provider, we require companies to:

• receive a Customer Score of 70% or above
• be in the top two statistical bands
• achieve minimum three-star ratings in all areas we rated (provided we've been able to produce a star rating)
• have completed and returned our provider questionnaire
• have five or fewer unsatisfactory minor criteria in our policies and practices assessment
• have zero unsatisfactory major criteria in our policies and practices assessment.

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Where to buy your stairlift 

There are various ways you can buy a stairlift, from buying directly from manufacturers (such as Stannah or Acorn) or through a manufacturer's specialist selling arm or brand partner (such as a Handicare lift bought through Companion or AgeCo).

You can also choose an independent multi-brand retailer and installer, such as Dolphin, who can supply and fit models from various different brands to suit your home and your needs.

What you get, including the warranty and aftercare service, varies depending on where you buy from, so it's worth being sure which company your contract is with. Whichever you decide to go with, always double-check the company and ensure the dealer is authorised to sell by the manufacturer.

A good starting point is Which? Trusted Traders, an endorsement scheme that recognises reputable traders and where you can be confident work will be done to a high standard.

Find a highly rated stairlift retailer by visiting the Which? Trusted Traders website.

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Expert tips for buying a stairlift

Mark Barwell is joint managing director at Easystep Stairlifts, Trusted Trader of the Year in the 2026 Which? Awards.

1. Always get two or three quotes But only from companies that can give you, at the very least, a rough estimate beforehand – whether it's over the phone, once they're in your property, or both. 'By asking you a few simple questions, a company should have a good idea of what's needed,' says Mark. 'If they can't do this, it's worth questioning their sales approach.'
2. Don't feel pressured into signing on the day Take 24 hours to think about it. Any special deals may still be available tomorrow, so take your time and make sure you're comfortable with your decision.
3. Always ask about ongoing costs Maintenance contracts, servicing and out-of-warranty call-outs can all add up over time.
4. Consider powered options from the start While they may seem like an expensive upgrade initially, features such as a powered swivel and/or footrest can become invaluable if your mobility changes in the future. 'With a powered footrest, you press a button to fold it up automatically, rather than having to bend down, which could be an issue as time goes by,' says Mark.
5. Think about renting rather than buying If you only need a stairlift for a short period, renting can be more cost-effective than buying outright.
6. Ask about after-sales support and the buy-back policy What's the company's call-out policy? How quickly are call-outs attended, including during evenings, weekends and bank holidays? Also, there may come a time when you no longer need the stairlift, so it's worth understanding the buy-back options in advance – some companies offer it while others don't. 

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Stairlift brands compared

Our reviews will help you know which brands and providers are a good choice to buy from, how easy their products are to use, and which ones people felt gave the best value for money. But it's also worth considering what's important for you, including:

• Are after-care costs, such as call-out charges, factored into the price?
• How easy is it to get help if your stairlift breaks?
• If it's important, will the company buy the stairlift back when it's no longer needed?

Acorn stairlifts review

By logging in or joining Which?, you can access the Which? scores and ratings in the tables above, plus all the following information on this page, including:

• how much Acorn stairlifts typically cost
• ongoing costs and maintenance, such as servicing prices, repair costs and servicing contracts
• stairlift warranty information and aftercare packages
• whether you're likely to get pressure-selling from companies selling Acorn.

To find out more about its stairlift prices and availability, visit the Acorn stairlifts website.

Handicare stairlifts review

By logging in or joining Which?, you can access the Which? scores and ratings in the tables above, plus all the following information on this page, including:

• how much Handicare stairlifts typically cost
• ongoing costs and maintenance, such as servicing prices, repair costs and servicing contracts
• stairlift warranty information and aftercare packages
• whether you're likely to get pressure-selling from companies selling Handicare, including Age Co (Age UK) and Companion.

To find out more about its stairlift prices and availability, visit the Handicare stairlifts website. 

Stannah stairlifts review

By logging in or joining Which?, you can access the Which? scores and ratings in the tables above, plus all the following information on this page, including:

• how much Stannah stairlifts typically cost
• ongoing costs and maintenance, such as servicing prices, repair costs and servicing contracts
• stairlift warranty information and aftercare packages
• whether you're likely to get pressure-selling from Stannah.

To find out more about its stairlift prices and availability, visit the Stannah stairlifts website. 

TKE/Access BDD stairlifts review

By logging in or joining Which?, you can access the Which? scores and ratings in the tables above, plus all the following information on this page, including:

• how much TKE stairlifts typically cost
• ongoing costs and maintenance, such as servicing prices, repair costs and servicing contracts
• stairlift warranty information and aftercare packages
• whether you're likely to get pressure-selling from TKE.

To find out more about TKE/Access BDD stairlift products and availability, visit the TK Home Solutions website.

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