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Which type you need depends entirely on the shape of your staircase. If it runs straight from bottom to top, a straight stairlift will fit. If it turns, has a landing, or changes direction at any point, you need a curved one. That is the short answer. There are a few details worth knowing before you book a survey, though.

This guide covers how to read your staircase, how each type is made and fitted, what the costs look like, and what a home survey actually involves. For a broader introduction, our stairlift buying guide covers the full range of options.

How to Tell Which Type Your Staircase Needs

Walk your stairs from bottom to top and ask: does the staircase turn, change direction, or have a flat landing anywhere along the way? If yes, you need a curved stairlift.

Configurations that need a curved rail include:

- Quarter-turn and half-turn staircases
- Staircases with a flat landing partway up
- Staircases with winders (triangular steps that let stairs turn gradually, without a full landing)
- L-shaped and U-shaped staircases

Even one gentle bend means a custom rail. A straight rail on a staircase that changes direction is a safety issue, regardless of how slight the angle looks.

If your staircase runs straight through with no turns or landings at all, a straight stairlift will fit. A home survey confirms this, and the surveyor will also flag anything else that matters, a narrow width, an awkward door nearby, anything that affects which models will work.

Straight Stairlifts: What to Expect

A straight stairlift uses a standard rail cut to fit your staircase. Because it is not manufactured to order, installation is quick. Many people have theirs fitted the same day as the survey, or the next.

In the UK, expect to pay between £2,200 and £3,500 for a new straight stairlift, supplied and fitted. Most people land in the £2,300 to £2,500 range. The price shifts depending on the model, how long the staircase is, the weight capacity, and any extras such as a powered swivel seat or a folding rail to keep a doorway passable.

Fitting takes around four to six hours once the engineer is in.

Curved Stairlifts: What to Expect

Every curved stairlift rail is made from scratch, specifically for your staircase. That is what makes them more expensive and slower to install. There is no standard version sitting on a shelf.

How it works

It starts with a home survey. The surveyor maps the staircase precisely: every bend, landing, winder, and dimension. That goes to the manufacturer. The rail is built, delivered, and fitted by an engineer.

From survey to installation, most people wait three to five weeks. Simpler staircases with local suppliers can be faster, sometimes under a week. More complex ones, or orders with larger national companies, can take five to seven weeks. On-site fitting takes around four to six hours.

What the price depends on

The main variables are the length of your staircase, how many bends it has and whether you are buying new or reconditioned.

New curved stairlifts start from around £4,000 and can reach £12,000 or more for a complex staircase with several bends. Reconditioned models cost 30 to 50 per cent less, though availability is patchy. A curved rail is made for one specific staircase, so there is not much secondhand stock.

If someone gives you a price without seeing your staircase, it is a rough guess. A survey and written quote is the only way to get a number that means anything.

Can You Fit a Straight Stairlift on Curved Stairs?

No. A straight rail cannot go round a bend. Fitting one to a staircase that changes direction is a safety risk.

One exception worth knowing is that if your staircase has a proper flat landing partway up, not winders but an actual level platform, it is sometimes possible to fit one straight stairlift on the lower flight and another on the upper, with a short walk across in between. It can be faster and cheaper than a single curved stairlift. Ask the surveyor whether it is an option.

It only works where the landing is wide enough and where the person using the stairlift can stand and walk short distances independently.

Cost Comparison: Straight vs Curved

Straight stairlift:
- Price (new, supplied and fitted): £2,200 to £3,500
- Rail: standard, cut to length
- Lead time from survey: usually a few days

Curved stairlift:
- Price (new, supplied and fitted): £4,000 to £12,000+
- Rail: made for your specific staircase
- Lead time from survey: one to seven weeks

Both types can qualify for VAT relief. If you, or the person who will use the stairlift, meet HMRC's definition of chronically sick or disabled, the purchase is zero-rated. No doctor's letter needed. A self-declaration at the point of purchase is enough. On a curved stairlift especially, that 20 per cent saving adds up. We can walk you through it when you get in touch.

The Motability Scheme and grants may also be available for eligible customers.

What Happens at a Stairlift Survey?

It is free and carries no obligation to buy. The surveyor comes to your home, measures the staircase, and checks anything that affects the installation. For a straight stairlift, you usually get a price on the day. For a curved one, the measurements go to the manufacturer first, so pricing takes a little longer.

It is also a good chance to go through what matters to you. Weight capacity, swivel seats, folding rails can all be factored into the quote.

The rail attaches to the stairs, not the wall. There is no structural work involved, and nothing gets damaged.

We are a Which? Trusted Trader and NHS approved supplier, and every survey is carried out by our own team. If you are near Chingford, Highams Park, or Walthamstow, you are also welcome to come into our showroom. We have stairlifts on display that you can sit in and try before you decide anything.

What if You Move House?

A curved rail is made for one staircase. It cannot go with you. Straight stairlifts can sometimes be adapted for a similar staircase elsewhere, but a curved rail cannot.

In practice, most people fit a stairlift and stay put, and the difference it makes day-to-day is real. Waiting for a house move that may not happen for years usually means managing the stairs for longer than necessary.

When removal is needed, we handle it, and we can advise on buy-back options at that point.

Ready to Find Out Which Type You Need?

A free home survey is the straightforward way to confirm it. We come to you, measure up, and give you a clear recommendation with no obligation.

Request a survey or browse the range, call us on 0208 527 7487, or visit the showroom in Highams Park.

We offer free local delivery and home assembly, and our engineers handle all servicing and repairs in house.