Pricing and Costs of Stair Lifts

Figure out how much to budget for the purchase of stair lifts
By Thomas Langford Stair lifts are a great way for you to make your business more accessible to people who have a hard time climbing stairs. When stair lifts are not in use, they easily fold out of the way. But if someone who needs assistance arrives, the stair glide quickly opens up to safely carry that person up the stairs.
 

The pricing and costs of stair lifts vary greatly, depending on the length of your stairs and the feature of the stair lift. Generally, you will find stair glides are an expensive capital purchase, although there are some ways you can save money. To do that, decide if you want to buy:

1. A new escalator stair lift;

2. A stair lift that is designed for do-it-yourself installation;

3. Or a used stair lift.

Find prices for new stair lifts

New stair lifts start as low as $1,500 and go up to more than $5,000. The price is dependent on optional features, power supply, durability and weight limits. You will also have to pay someone to install your stair lift. This will typically add several hundred dollars to the final cost of your stair lift.
Try: Homecare Suppliers has an excellent selection of stair lifts from a variety of manufacturers, making it a great place to compare prices for different stair lifts. You can also compare various types of stair lifts on AmeriGlide.

Compare prices for stairlifts designed for easy installation

If you or someone on your staff is handy, you can save money by purchasing stair lifts that are designed for easy installation. Standard installation of these lifts usually takes two or three hours. Regular lifts cost between $1,500 and $2,000. Heavy-duty lifts cost between $2,000 and $3,000. Outdoor lifts can run as much as $4,500.
Try: A great place to compare prices for self-installation stair lifts is U.S. Medical Supplies. The company's website displays a good selection of AC-and DC-powered lifts from several manufacturers. Universal Accessibility also displays a good selection of stair lifts that are designed for easy installation.

Shop for used stair lifts

If you don't think your stair lift is going to be put into service very often, you should look into getting a refurbished or used stair lift. Typically, a you can buy used stair lifts for about 25% less than new stair lifts. That's a savings of about $300 to $600.
Try: The website for A1 Medical Supplies gives good descriptions of its used stair lifts, making it a good source if you're trying to price used lifts. Mobility 4U is another place to compare used lifts.

• If your need for stair lifts is only temporary, stair lift rentals are available.