If the time has come for you to have a stair lift installed in your home, due to lack of mobility issues, you want to make sure the job’s done right. You want a stair lift that’s safe, one that operates seamlessly, and one which will allow you to easily move up and downstairs safely.
With this being said, you also want something cost effective. A stair lift is an investment you’re making for life. So it’s one you don’t want to take lightly. Here we’ll cover some of the costs you should expect, what might increase prices, and how you can pay for your new stair lift, if you need to install one in your home.
Stair Lift Basics
A basic battery-operated stair lift can run anywhere between $2000 to $5000. A higher-end model, can run in excess of $7000. But, that’s just the base price. An electric model can run about $1000 to $2000 more than battery-operated. So, what’s going to affect the rates you’ll pay as a senior when the time comes to choose your stair lift?
Straight
A straight staircase stair lift averages $2000 to $3500 for a basic model. There are also standing stair lift models you can choose, which will cost a little bit more, but are a good option for those who feel discomfort from using the seated model day in and day out. Since there’s really nothing complicated with the stairs, it’s simply a matter of measuring the distance from upstairs to the bottom stair on the base level, the depth of the stairs, and incline. From there, it’s about choosing a stair lift model and seat, which will guide your pricing.
Curved-Stair
A curved stair lift is a little more complex. These models can run $3000 to $5000 easily, and in some cases, much more. On average, a curved stair lift is anywhere between $5500 to $7500 for mid to higher end models. Depending on the complexity of your staircase, the number of stairs, the angle, how much of a shift there is, and other variables, this price can be in excess of $10,000 in some homes.
Optional Features/Price Increases
Convenience factors can increase the price of your stair lift as well. Some of the convenience factors or optional features which will cause the price of your stair lift to go up are
- Speed settings (if you want a stair lift that operates faster than the average model)
- A seat that tilts or perches, fold up rails, foot or arm rests (or both)
- Customization with a specific manufacturer, design details, cushion, seat adjustments
- A stair lift that curves away from the staircase when it is parked
- A stair lift that has optional exit/entry options
- Swivel seats, safety belts, harnesses
- Backup batteries or a more powerful battery
If you want some optional features out of convenience, you can expect to pay a higher price for them. If they are things which make sure your unit operates safely, you are typically not going to pay more for this. So, think of upgrades or optional features as a cost hiker if you’re on a budget when choosing a model.
Installation
Many manufacturers will include the price of installation in the final price they quote for the new unit. However, some companies do not, and they require you hire an outside contractor, or you can hire their personnel, for an hourly rate to do the installation work. You can expect to pay anywhere from $70 to $200 per hour for the installation of your new unit. Some things which create this price discrepancy includes area (your city/state will dictate local pricing), the quality of your unit, optional amenities or features that have to be installed, the complexity of your stair case, and difficulty in accessing certain areas when installing the new unit in your home.
There’s no figure that’s locked in, and there isn’t a “one size fits all” price when it comes to investing in a new unit. These are some average rates you can expect to pay, as well as optional features/customization features which are going to cause the prices for your new unit to increase when the time comes to have it installed.