Stair lift installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What stair lift installation is

Stair lift installation mounts a rail along a staircase and fits a powered chair that carries a person up and down. The work includes wiring the chair to a power source, fitting safety sensors and a charging setup, then training users on the controls. People book it when climbing stairs has become hard or unsafe and the home has a staircase that can take a rail.

Signs you need it

  • Climbing the stairs has become tiring, unsteady or unsafe for someone in the home
  • The stairs are straight or curved, and the rail must follow the landing and the turn
  • The staircase width leaves room for a chair and the rail without blocking the passage
  • The home has no nearby outlet for the chair's charger at the bottom or top of the stairs
  • A stair lift was recommended after a fall, surgery or a change in strength
  • The stairs have an unusual shape, such as a winder or a landing that needs special track

What the pro does

  • Measure the staircase, the landings and the turns, then choose a straight or curved rail
  • Fasten the rail's mounting feet to the stair treads at the points the maker specifies, with the correct fasteners
  • Fit the rail and the track sections, and check that they run level and clear of the stairs
  • Connect the chair's power and charging; many lifts plug into an outlet, and any new wiring is done by a licensed electrician where one is required
  • Install the safety sensors, the seat belt and the swivel, and check that they respond as the manual specifies
  • Test the lift up and down the full run, and train the user on the controls, the charging and the stop

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Straight versus curved staircase, since curved rail is built to the shape of the stairs
  • Number of landings and turns that the rail must follow
  • Length of the run and the number of stairs
  • Whether a new outlet is needed at the chair's charger location
  • Chair type, such as a standard seat, a heavy-duty chair or an outdoor model
  • Whether weak or damaged treads need repair before the rail can be fastened

What a written quote should spell out

  • Staircase measurements, the number of stairs and the landings and turns
  • Rail type, straight or curved, and the chair model
  • Electrical work and which licensed electrician does it, with the permit status
  • Safety features included, such as sensors and the seat belt
  • Warranty on the lift, the rail and the installation, separately

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Is the staircase straight or curved, and does the rail fit around the turns?
  • Who does the electrical work, and is that person licensed?
  • Where will the charger go, and does it need a new outlet?
  • How do you fasten the rail to the stairs, and will it leave marks or holes in the treads?
  • Will you train the user on the controls and the stop before you leave?
  • What safety sensors are included, and how do you test them?
  • Does the warranty cover the chair, the rail and the installation?

Red flags

  • A rail whose mounting feet are not fastened as the maker specifies, or that flexes or shifts when pushed
  • New wiring done by someone with no electrical license where one is required
  • A chair that is not tested over the full run before it is handed back
  • No training on the controls, the stop and the charger
  • A quote that does not name the chair, the rail type or the electrical work

What you can do yourself

You can clear the stairs, measure the run and read the manual. Keep the stairs clear of loose items, and check that the seat and the rail are clear of obstacles before use. Do not mount the rail, drill into the stair treads, or wire the chair or the charger; call a pro for rail mounting, electrical connection, and training on the controls.

Licenses and permits

Stair lift installation is often not licensed as a trade in itself. A plug-in lift may need no electrical work, but a new outlet or hardwired connection can need a licensed electrician, and mounting the rail can need a contractor registration or a permit in some areas. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department before the work begins.

Stair lift installation questions

Can a stair lift go on a curved staircase?

Yes, a curved rail is made to follow the shape of a curved staircase. The pro measures the turns and the landings before the rail is ordered.

What happens if the power goes out?

Most stair lifts have a battery that runs the chair when the power is off, and the chair charges from the outlet. Ask the pro to show the battery and how the lift behaves during an outage.

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About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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