87%
Would recommend a stairlift
58%
Found the process smooth
53%
Feel safer, more independent, or able to stay home
68%
Compared more than one company
Key findings at a glance
Updated • based on 38 responses
- 87% would recommend a stairlift to someone in a similar position, with 71% saying they were very likely to.
- 53% report feeling safer, more independent, or able to stay in their own home since it was installed.
- 58% said nothing frustrated them during the buying process.
- 42% found the price about what they expected or lower, while 58% found it higher.
- 68% compared more than one company before deciding, and 32% got a quote from only one.
- 42% wish they had got their stairlift sooner, either definitely or a little.
Would American stairlift owners recommend one to someone else?
Yes. 87% of the American stairlift buyers we surveyed said they would recommend a stairlift to someone in a similar position, including 71% who said they were very likely to. Fewer than one in ten said they were unlikely to recommend one.
- 71% Very likely to recommend
- 16% Likely to recommend
- 11% Unsure
- 3% Unlikely to recommend
Question: would you recommend a stairlift to someone in a similar position? One answer per respondent.
What difference does a stairlift make to daily life?
The benefit owners mention most is staying put. 18% said the stairlift has let them stay in their own home, 45% said they feel safer and more confident, and 11% said they have regained their independence. Overall, 53% named at least one of those three.
- They feel safer and more confident45%
- Another benefit29%
- It has made some difference21%
- It has let them stay in their own home18%
- They have regained their independence11%
- It has made little difference5%
Respondents could choose up to two answers, so the figures add to more than 100%.
What makes Americans decide it is time to get a stairlift?
Most people reach the decision gradually rather than after a crisis. 53% said they were struggling more with the stairs over time and 13% were planning ahead before it became urgent. Only 11% acted because of a fall or a near-fall.
- Struggling more with the stairs over time53%
- Another reason21%
- Planning ahead before it became urgent13%
- A fall or a near-fall11%
- Advice from a doctor or occupational therapist3%
Question: what finally made you decide it was time to get a stairlift? One answer per respondent.
How many quotes do American stairlift buyers get?
68% of the stairlift buyers we surveyed compared more than one company, while 32% got a quote from only one. Stairlifts are priced per staircase rather than published, so a second quote is what gives a buyer something to measure the first against.
- 32%Just one quote
- 24%Two quotes
- 34%Three quotes
- 11%Four or more quotes
Question: how many companies did you get a quote from? One answer per respondent.
Do stairlifts cost more than American buyers expect?
For most people, no. 42% said the price was about what they expected or lower than expected, including 5% who found it lower. The remaining 58% found it higher than expected. Expectations are usually set by advertising rather than by a quote for a particular staircase, which is where most of that gap comes from.
- Much higher than expected34%
- A little higher than expected24%
- About what they expected37%
- Lower than expected5%
← More than expectedAt or below what they expected →
Question: how did the price compare to what you expected? One answer per respondent.
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What makes buyers choose one stairlift company over another?
Price is not the whole story. 29% named speed of installation, 42% named reputation and reviews, and 18% named price. Warranty and aftercare, and trust in the salesperson, were each named by 16% and 34%.
- Reputation and reviews42%
- Trusted the salesperson34%
- Speed of installation29%
- Price18%
- Warranty and aftercare16%
- A local or family business11%
- Personal recommendation8%
- Finance or payment options3%
Respondents could choose up to three answers, so the figures add to more than 100%.
What frustrates people most when buying a stairlift?
For most people, nothing does. 58% said the process was smooth. Where there was a frustration, the two most common were difficulty comparing options (11%) and companies being slow to respond (11%). Pushy salespeople were named by only 3%.
- Nothing, the process was smooth58%
- Something else16%
- Hard to compare options11%
- Companies were slow to respond11%
- Pushy salespeople3%
- Too much jargon3%
Question: what frustrated you most during the process? One answer per respondent.
Do people wish they had bought a stairlift sooner?
58% felt the timing was right, which suggests most people judge the moment well once they start looking. The other 42% wish they had got their stairlift sooner, either definitely (21%) or a little (21%).
58%
- 58% No, the timing was right
- 21% A little
- 21% Yes, definitely
Question: looking back, do you wish you had got your stairlift sooner? One answer per respondent.
How this survey was carried out
Stair Lifts Comparison surveyed people in the US who had previously used our service to look into buying a stairlift. The survey ran during August 2026 and produced 38 usable responses.
- Responses were anonymous. We collected no names, addresses or contact details.
- Automated and duplicate submissions were removed before analysis.
- Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number, so some charts will not total exactly 100%.
- Questions allowing more than one answer are marked as such and total more than 100%.
- This is a self-selected sample of people who had already enquired about a stairlift, so it describes active buyers rather than the American population as a whole.
- With 38 respondents, differences of a few percentage points between answer options are within normal sampling variation and should not be read as meaningful.
Published by Stair Lifts Comparison. Last updated .
Citing this research
Journalists, researchers and writers are welcome to quote these figures. Please credit and link to this page.
Stair Lifts Comparison. American Stairlift Buyer Survey. 38 respondents, August 2026. Available at: https://www.stair-lifts-comparison.com/stairlift-buyer-research/ (accessed 19 August 2026).
Stairlift buyer survey: common questions
Are stairlifts worth the money?
87% of the American stairlift owners we surveyed said they would recommend one to someone in a similar position, and 53% said it has made them feel safer, more independent, or able to stay in their own home. 42% told us they wish they had bought sooner.
How many quotes should I get for a stairlift?
Two or three. 68% of the American buyers we surveyed compared more than one company, and 32% got a quote from just one. Because stairlift prices are quoted per staircase rather than published, a second quote is the only practical way to tell whether a figure is competitive.
Do stairlifts cost more than people expect?
Usually not. 42% of buyers said the price was about what they expected or lower, and 58% said it was higher, with 34% describing it as much higher. Expectations are often set by advertising rather than by a quote for a specific staircase, which is where the gap comes from.
What is the most common reason people buy a stairlift?
Gradually struggling more with the stairs, named by 53% of respondents, followed by planning ahead before it became urgent at 13%. Only 11% acted after a fall or a near-fall, so most people are deciding well before a crisis.
Is buying a stairlift a difficult process?
Most people found it straightforward. 58% told us nothing frustrated them during the process. Where buyers did report a problem, the most common was difficulty comparing options between companies, named by 11%.
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