Cost guides › Stair lift
United States
Stair lift cost (straight stairs)
A new straight stair lift for 1 flight(s) of about 13 to 14 steps typically costs $4,500 installed, with most quotes between $3,500 and $5,850. A basic model comes in around $3,300, while a heavy-duty or feature-rich unit with a powered folding rail runs about $6,300. Reconditioned units cost less.
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mid-range, typicalCost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $3,550 | $4,750 | $6,550 |
| Oregon | $3,550 | $4,750 | $6,550 |
| Alaska | $3,450 | $4,700 | $6,500 |
| Hawaii | $3,500 | $4,700 | $6,550 |
| Washington | $3,500 | $4,700 | $6,500 |
| California | $3,400 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
| Connecticut | $3,400 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
| District of Columbia | $3,400 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
| Maine | $3,400 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
| Maryland | $3,350 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
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| Massachusetts | $3,400 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
| Michigan | $3,400 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
| Minnesota | $3,400 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
| Montana | $3,400 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
| Nevada | $3,350 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
| New Jersey | $3,400 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
| New York | $3,400 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
| Rhode Island | $3,400 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
| Wisconsin | $3,400 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
| Wyoming | $3,400 | $4,600 | $6,400 |
| Indiana | $3,350 | $4,550 | $6,350 |
| Kansas | $3,300 | $4,550 | $6,350 |
| Missouri | $3,300 | $4,550 | $6,350 |
| North Dakota | $3,300 | $4,550 | $6,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $3,350 | $4,550 | $6,350 |
| Arizona | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Colorado | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Delaware | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,350 |
| Florida | $3,250 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Georgia | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Idaho | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Iowa | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Kentucky | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Louisiana | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Mississippi | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Nebraska | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| New Hampshire | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| New Mexico | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Ohio | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,350 |
| Oklahoma | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| South Carolina | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| South Dakota | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Tennessee | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Texas | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Utah | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Vermont | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| Virginia | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,300 |
| West Virginia | $3,300 | $4,500 | $6,350 |
| Alabama | $3,250 | $4,450 | $6,300 |
| Arkansas | $3,200 | $4,450 | $6,250 |
| North Carolina | $3,250 | $4,450 | $6,300 |
What's included
Mid-range
- New stair lift carriage with seat, footrest, armrests and controls
- Straight rail with brackets for each flight, fixed to the stair treads
- Installation of the rail and carriage, connection to power and commissioning
- Call-and-send remote controls for top and bottom
- First-year service and safety check
What affects the cost
Basic, mid-range or premium unit
Entry models have a manual swivel seat and fold-up footrest. Mid-range units add comfort and convenience such as a wider seat, smoother start and stop and a powered footrest. Premium units add powered swivel and footrest, higher weight capacity, or a hinged rail that folds out of the way when a bottom-step rail would block a door or hallway.
New, reconditioned or rented
A straight rail can be cut to length, so reconditioned straight lifts are widely available and cost less than new; ask what was replaced and what warranty comes with it. Renting suits a short-term need such as recovery after surgery, but monthly fees add up if the need turns out to be long-term.
Number of flights
Each straight flight needs its own rail and carriage. A staircase with a landing and a turn usually needs a curved rail instead, which costs considerably more, rather than two straight lifts.
Power and battery backup
Most stair lifts run on batteries charged from an ordinary outlet, so they keep working during a power cut. If there is no outlet near the stairs, adding one is extra and must be done by a licensed electrician.
User weight and seat position
Standard units carry an average adult; heavy-duty models cost more. Someone who cannot bend their knees may need a perch or standing model, and the seat height should suit the person using it.
Service and warranty
The first-year check is included here. After that, an annual service contract is optional but worth pricing up front, along with the cost of a callout and batteries, which wear out and need replacing over time.
How to save
- Ask for a quote on a reconditioned straight lift alongside a new one; the rail is cut to fit, so it is a common way to save.
- Rent if the need is temporary, and ask whether rental payments can be put toward a purchase.
- Compare warranty length and service-contract prices, not only the installed price.
- Choose the features the user needs; powered swivel and footrest help people with limited strength, but not everyone needs them.
Grants, tax and rules
Veterans' grants
The VA HISA grant is a lifetime benefit of $6,800 for veterans with a service-connected disability or a rating of 50% or more, and $2,000 for others, for home accessibility changes.
Medicare
Medicare Parts A and B generally do not cover stair lifts. Some other programs may help; ask your local agency on aging what is available where you live.
Sales tax
Sales tax on materials varies by state, and labor is often not taxed but rules vary. Our figures are before sales tax.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a stair lift cost?
A new straight stair lift for 1 flight(s) typically costs about $4,500 installed. A basic model is closer to $3,300, a premium one around $6,300, and reconditioned units cost less.
Is a reconditioned stair lift a good idea?
For a straight staircase it often is, because the rail can be cut to fit your stairs. Buy from a company that installs and services the lift, and check the warranty and what parts were replaced.
Can you rent a stair lift?
Many installers rent straight stair lifts for short-term needs. Compare the installation fee, monthly rate and removal charge with the price of a reconditioned unit if the need may last.
Does a stair lift work in a power outage?
Most run on rechargeable batteries that charge from an outlet or at charging points on the rail, so they keep working for a number of trips during a power cut.
Will a stair lift damage my stairs?
The rail is fixed to the treads with brackets, not to the wall. Removing it later leaves small screw holes in the treads that can be filled or covered by carpet.
How wide do the stairs need to be?
Most straight lifts fold up to sit close to the wall, leaving room for others to use the stairs. Very narrow staircases need a slim model, so have the installer measure before quoting.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 5 · Labour: $393 · Materials: $4,120
Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates.