91%
Would recommend a stairlift
58%
Found the process smooth
64%
Feel safer, more independent, or able to stay home
72%
Compared more than one company
Key findings at a glance
Updated • based on 381 responses
- 91% would recommend a stairlift to someone in a similar position, with 69% saying they were very likely to.
- 64% report feeling safer, more independent, or able to stay in their own home since it was installed.
- 58% said nothing frustrated them during the buying process.
- 65% found the price about what they expected or lower, while 35% found it higher.
- 72% compared more than one company before deciding, and 28% got a quote from only one.
- 31% wish they had got their stairlift sooner, either definitely or a little.
Would British stairlift owners recommend one to someone else?
Yes. 91% of the British stairlift buyers we surveyed said they would recommend a stairlift to someone in a similar position, including 69% who said they were very likely to. The remaining 9% were unsure or would not recommend one.
- 69% Very likely to recommend
- 21% Likely to recommend
- 5% Unsure
- 5% Unlikely to recommend
Question: would you recommend a stairlift to someone in a similar position? One answer per respondent.
What difference does a stairlift make to daily life?
Owners report three main benefits. 39% say they feel safer and more confident, 28% say the stairlift has let them stay in their own home, and 14% say they have regained their independence. Overall, 64% named at least one of those three.
- They feel safer and more confident39%
- It has let them stay in their own home28%
- Another benefit22%
- It has made some difference19%
- They have regained their independence14%
- It has made little difference3%
Respondents could choose up to two answers, so the figures add to more than 100%.
What makes British buyers decide it is time to get a stairlift?
Most people reach the decision gradually rather than after a crisis. 51% said they were struggling more with the stairs over time and 15% were planning ahead before it became urgent. Only 9% acted because of a fall or a near-fall.
- Struggling more with the stairs over time51%
- Another reason15%
- Planning ahead before it became urgent15%
- A fall or a near-fall9%
- Advice from a doctor or occupational therapist7%
- Advice from family3%
Question: what finally made you decide it was time to get a stairlift? One answer per respondent.
How many quotes do British stairlift buyers get?
72% of the stairlift buyers we surveyed compared more than one company, while 28% got a quote from only one. Stairlifts are priced per staircase rather than published, so a second quote is what gives a buyer something to measure the first against.
- 28%Just one quote
- 25%Two quotes
- 34%Three quotes
- 12%Four or more quotes
Question: how many companies did you get a quote from? One answer per respondent.
Do stairlifts cost more than British buyers expect?
For most people, no. 65% said the price was about what they expected or lower than expected, including 16% who found it lower. The remaining 35% found it higher than expected. Expectations are usually set by advertising rather than by a quote for a particular staircase, which is where most of that gap comes from.
- Much higher than expected12%
- A little higher than expected23%
- About what they expected49%
- Lower than expected16%
← More than expectedAt or below what they expected →
Question: how did the price compare to what you expected? One answer per respondent.
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What makes buyers choose one stairlift company over another?
No single factor decides it. The leading answer, price, was named by 41% of buyers. Price was named by 41%, speed of installation by 35%, reputation and reviews by 32%, trust in the salesperson by 29% and warranty and aftercare by 18%.
- Price41%
- Speed of installation35%
- Reputation and reviews32%
- Trusted the salesperson29%
- Warranty and aftercare18%
- A local or family business8%
- Personal recommendation5%
- Finance or payment options2%
Respondents could choose up to three answers, so the figures add to more than 100%.
What frustrates people most when buying a stairlift?
For most people, nothing does. 58% said the process was smooth. Where there was a frustration, the two most common were pushy salespeople (15%) and hard to compare options (9%).
- Nothing, the process was smooth58%
- Pushy salespeople15%
- Hard to compare options9%
- Something else8%
- Unclear or hidden pricing5%
- Companies were slow to respond3%
- Too much jargon3%
Question: what frustrated you most during the process? One answer per respondent.
Do people wish they had bought a stairlift sooner?
69% felt the timing was right, which suggests most people judge the moment well once they start looking. The other 31% wish they had got their stairlift sooner, either definitely (18%) or a little (13%).
69%
- 69% No, the timing was right
- 13% A little
- 18% Yes, definitely
Question: looking back, do you wish you had got your stairlift sooner? One answer per respondent.
How this survey was carried out
Stairlift Comparison surveyed people in the UK who had previously used our service to look into buying a stairlift. The survey ran during July 2026 to September 2026 and produced 381 usable responses.
- Responses were anonymous. We collected no names, addresses or contact details.
- Automated and duplicate submissions were removed before analysis.
- Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number, so some charts will not total exactly 100%.
- Questions allowing more than one answer are marked as such and total more than 100%.
- This is a self-selected sample of people who had already enquired about a stairlift, so it describes active buyers rather than the British population as a whole.
- With 381 respondents, differences of a few percentage points between answer options are within normal sampling variation and should not be read as meaningful.
Published by Stairlift Comparison. Last updated .
Citing this research
Journalists, researchers and writers are welcome to quote these figures. Please credit and link to this page.
Stairlift Comparison. British Stairlift Buyer Survey. 381 respondents, July 2026 to September 2026. Available at: https://www.stair-lift-comparison.co.uk/stairlift-buyer-research/ (accessed 3 September 2026).
Stairlift buyer survey: common questions
Are stairlifts worth the money?
91% of the British stairlift owners we surveyed said they would recommend one to someone in a similar position, and 64% said it has made them feel safer, more independent, or able to stay in their own home. 31% told us they wish they had bought sooner.
How many quotes should I get for a stairlift?
Two or three. 72% of the British buyers we surveyed compared more than one company, and 28% got a quote from just one. Because stairlift prices are quoted per staircase rather than published, a second quote is the only practical way to tell whether a figure is competitive.
Do stairlifts cost more than people expect?
Usually not. 65% of buyers said the price was about what they expected or lower, and 35% said it was higher, with 12% describing it as much higher. Expectations are often set by advertising rather than by a quote for a specific staircase, which is where the gap comes from.
What is the most common reason people buy a stairlift?
Gradually struggling more with the stairs, named by 51% of respondents, followed by planning ahead before it became urgent at 15%. Only 9% acted after a fall or a near-fall, so most people are deciding well before a crisis.
Is buying a stairlift a difficult process?
Most people found it straightforward. 58% told us nothing frustrated them during the process. Where buyers did report a problem, the most common was pushy salespeople, named by 15%.
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