Stair lifts for narrow stairs
The number that decides whether a stair lift suits narrow stairs is how far the chair sticks out from the wall when folded. Here it is for each model, from the manufacturers.
Last verified
| Model | Folded, from wall | Capacity | Stairs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harmar Pinnacle SL600 | 10.5 in, or 13 in with the folding rail | 350 lb | Straight |
| Bruno Elan SRE-3050 | 12 in | 300 lb | Straight |
| Acorn 130 | 12.25 in | 280 lb | Straight |
| Stannah Siena | 14.5 in straight, 16 in curved | about 350 lb straight | Straight or curved |
| Harmar Pinnacle SL600HD | 16.5 in | 600 lb | Straight |
What "narrow" actually means for a stair lift
A stair lift does not need a wide staircase so much as enough room left over for everyone else. The number that decides it is how far the chair sticks out from the wall when it is folded and parked, because that is what other people walk past every day. Take that number away from your stair width and what remains is the walking space.
On a 30 inch staircase, the Harmar SL600 at 10.5 inches leaves about 19.5 inches to walk past. The Stannah Siena at 14.5 inches leaves about 15.5. For someone carrying laundry, or a family member helping the rider, that difference is noticeable.
Stannah is the only manufacturer we found that publishes a minimum staircase width for a specific model: 28 to 30 inches for the Siena. The others publish folded dimensions and leave the fit to the dealer's survey.
How to measure your stairs
- Measure the clear width at the narrowest point, from the wall to the inside of the handrail or banister, not wall to wall.
- Check both sides. The rail normally goes on the side away from the banister, but the narrowest point can be a radiator, a window sill or a newel post.
- Measure the space at the bottom of the stairs. The rail usually runs a short way past the bottom step, and if a door or hallway is there, it can become a trip hazard.
- Look at the top landing. The seat swivels there so the rider can get off away from the stairs, and it needs room to turn.
When the bottom of the rail is the problem
On many narrow staircases the chair fits but the end of the rail sticks out into a doorway or a hall. Every major brand offers a way round it. Harmar sells a folding rail for the SL600, though it raises the folded width from 10.5 to 13 inches. Acorn offers a hinged section at the foot of the rail that folds up out of the way, manually or electrically. Bruno offers a power folding rail on the Elan. Ask the dealer to show you where the rail will end before you sign.
Narrow and curved
Curved lifts sit further from the wall, because the rail has to follow the turns. Stannah's curved Siena folds to 16 inches against 14.5 for its straight version. If your stairs are both narrow and turning, the dealer's survey matters more than any brochure figure, and it is worth getting more than one.
Narrow stairs and a heavier rider
Heavy duty lifts are wider. Harmar's 600 lb SL600HD folds to 16.5 inches, against 10.5 for the standard SL600. If you need both a high weight limit and a slim fold, those two needs pull in opposite directions, and the stair lift weight limit guide shows the options.
If it will not fit
A dealer survey is free from most installers, and they will tell you if no chair fits. The alternatives are a platform lift or a through floor home lift, both much more expensive, or moving the bedroom downstairs. Before deciding, check what funding programs could pay for, and how much a stair lift costs against the alternatives.
Our directory lists local installers and the brands each one installs, so you can find a dealer for the model that fits.
Folded widths and capacities are from manufacturer material: Harmar's SL600 product page (opens in a new tab) and SL600HD sell sheet (opens in a new tab), Bruno's Elan application drawing (opens in a new tab), Acorn's Acorn 130 specifications (opens in a new tab) and weight limits (opens in a new tab), and Stannah's Siena dimensions (opens in a new tab), which give capacity in kilograms (159 kg, about 350 lb). Manufacturers revise models; confirm current figures with a dealer.