Installed price range
US dollars, installed
All figures are dealer or manufacturer published, not quotes. No independent price survey was found. Prices read 2026-10-26.
A new straight stair lift usually lands between about $3,200 and $5,000 installed. A curved one costs roughly $9,000 to $15,000, and more if the staircase has several turns or landings. The calculator below turns those bands into a range for your staircase and lets you add the extras that move the price.
Installed price range
US dollars, installed
All figures are dealer or manufacturer published, not quotes. No independent price survey was found. Prices read 2026-10-26.
Every figure here comes from dealers and manufacturers. No independent price survey was found, so treat the output as a way to sanity-check quotes, not as a quote. Prices are US dollars, installed, and were read on 2026-10-26.
Where the straight and curved price bands come from
Three published guides give installed ranges for a new straight lift: $3,200 to $4,500 from All American Stairlifts (a dealer, updated April 2026), $3,275 to $6,611 from HomeYou (average $4,702), and $2,500 to $5,000 from Harmar (a manufacturer, December 2025). The calculator uses the middle value of the three lows ($3,200) and of the three highs ($5,000).
Curved lifts agree more closely at the top: $9,000 to $15,000 (All American), $9,283 to $14,749 (HomeYou), $8,000 to $15,000 or more (Harmar). The calculator uses $9,000 to $15,000.
HomeYou does not say how it compiled its numbers, and none of the three says how many quotes sit behind them. That is the main weakness of every number on this page.
Why a curved lift costs about three times as much
A straight lift runs on a standard rail cut to length. A curved rail is measured on site and fabricated for that one staircase, and that is where the money goes. All American puts custom rail fabrication alone at $5,000 to $8,000 with a 4 to 6 week wait. Harmar makes the same point: each curved rail is custom measured and built.
The number of turns matters more than the number of steps. All American prices one 90-degree turn at $9,000 to $11,000 and multiple turns, landings or a spiral at $12,000 to $15,000, with 180-degree switchbacks or three or more turns possibly above that. HomeYou's figures for an intermediate landing ($8,158 to $13,202) and multiple runs ($11,313 to $19,451) show how far a complicated house can drift. If your stairs turn twice, ask for at least three quotes.
Add-ons that change the total
All American publishes these add-on prices; the calculator uses them:
- Powered swivel seat: $300 to $500
- Folding rail: $200 to $400
- Extended warranty (five years, parts and labor): $200 to $500
- Heavy-duty capacity (400 to 600 lb): $500 to $1,500 over a standard unit
Removing an old lift costs $291 to $764 according to HomeYou. The calculator applies heavy-duty only to new indoor straight lifts, because the sources give no price for the other combinations.
Two costs have no published figure. Rail length: no source prices it per foot, so ask each dealer whether the quote is a flat price for your staircase or scales with length. Electrical work: All American says the connection is included in its installation price, while HomeYou says electrical upgrades, structural changes and permits are commonly priced separately and gives no number. If you need a new outlet near the bottom of the stairs, get an electrician's price and type it into the "your own quote" box.
Refurbished saves 30 to 40 percent; renting rarely pays
Refurbished straight lifts are the main saving. All American lists them at $2,500 to $3,200 installed, 30 to 40 percent under new, with shorter warranties. Harmar says pre-owned lifts may be available for straight staircases depending on dealer and location. No source gives a price for a used curved lift, and since a curved rail is built for one staircase, expect none to be a good fit. The calculator returns "no published price" for that case.
Renting is a poor deal for anything beyond a short recovery. All American quotes $500 to $1,000 setup plus $150 to $300 a month and puts break-even against buying new at about 18 to 22 months. That is a dealer's own estimate, but the arithmetic is easy to check: $200 a month for 24 months is $4,800 plus setup.
What a lift costs to keep running
Budget for upkeep. All American lists replacement batteries at $50 to $120 a pair every two to three years and annual service at about $150. HomeYou gives $241 to $563 for a battery installation by a technician, so the price depends on whether you swap them yourself or pay for a visit. Outdoor lifts cost more up front: $3,500 to $7,500 (All American) or $4,401 to $8,620 (HomeYou). The calculator uses the full $3,500 to $8,620 span for outdoor straight lifts.
Three worked examples
A straight indoor staircase with a swivel seat and extended warranty: $3,200 + $300 + $200 = $3,700 at the low end, $5,000 + $500 + $500 = $6,000 at the high end.
A staircase with one 90-degree turn, a swivel seat and a folding rail: $9,500 to $11,900.
A refurbished straight lift with a swivel seat: $2,800 to $3,700.
Seven questions to put on every quote
- Is installation, including the electrical connection, in the price? If not, what does it cost?
- Is the rail priced as a flat fee or by length?
- Which parts of the warranty cover labor, and for how long?
- Does the quote include a swivel seat and folding rail, or are they extras?
- What is the weight limit, and does your household's heaviest user fit under it?
- For a curved lift, when will the rail be measured and how long until delivery?
- What does annual service cost, and who performs it?
Will Medicare help pay for a stair lift?
The Medicare.gov page on durable medical equipment says Part B covers medically necessary equipment a provider orders for use at home. Its list of covered items does not name stair lifts, and the page does not address them. Harmar states that most insurance plans and Medicare do not cover them, treating them as home modifications, but we could not confirm that on Medicare.gov. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or your plan before you assume anything either way. State Medicaid programs and the VA sometimes fund home modifications, and a separate page on this site will cover who pays.
References
All pages read on 2026-10-26.
- All American Stairlifts, stairlift cost guide: https://allamericanstairlifts.com/resources/stairlift-cost-guide/
- HomeYou, stair lift cost (updated September 2026): https://www.homeyou.com/stair-lift-cost
- Harmar, how much a stairlift costs (December 22, 2025): https://www.harmar.com/blog/how-much-does-a-stairlift-cost-complete-pricing-breakdown/
- Medicare.gov, durable medical equipment coverage: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/durable-medical-equipment-dme-coverage