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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
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A stair lift is a motorized chair that travels along a rail mounted to the treads of a staircase, carrying one seated person up or down. It is a different device from a platform lift or a patient lift, and in the United States the safety standard that governs it is ASME A18.1. This guide explains what a stair lift is, how straight and curved models differ, what the standard covers, and which documents a buyer or facility can ask a supplier about.
What a stair lift is
A stair lift is a motorized chair that travels along a rail mounted to the treads of the stairs (Winchester City Council, “Stair Lifts Useful Information”, checked 2026-11-03). It is a fixed installation in a building, not a portable aid. The ASME A18.1 standard describes the devices it covers as intended for transportation of a mobility-impaired person only, typically within household applications.
Who uses it: households, landlords, installers and building managers who specify, fit and maintain the equipment.
How it is built and installed
The rail is fixed to the stair treads rather than to the wall. The chair runs along the rail, and a stair lift will typically have a motorized footplate that turns automatically at the top of the stairs (Winchester City Council, checked 2026-11-03).
Straight vs curved stair lifts
| Type | Staircase it suits | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Straight | A single straight flight with no turns or landings | No turn, landing or change of direction |
| Curved | A staircase with a turn or curve, an intermediate landing, or any change in direction or angle of incline | Covers a turn, landing or change in direction or angle of incline |
Source: Winchester City Council, “Stair Lifts Useful Information”, checked 2026-11-03.
Stair lift vs platform lift vs patient lift
- Stair lift (stairway chairlift): a seated rider on a rail along the stairs.
- Inclined platform lift: a platform lift rather than a chair. ASME A18.1 covers inclined and vertical platform lifts as well as inclined stairway chairlifts.
- Patient lift: a device for transferring a person between surfaces such as bed and chair, not for climbing stairs. See what is a patient lift.
What ASME A18.1 covers
The standard’s title is Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts, and the current edition is A18.1-2023 (ASME product page, checked 2026-11-03). According to ASME’s summary of the key changes, residential inclines and stair chair lifts now require a speed governor, and the use of self-locking drives on them is removed. The listed changes also include free-fall overspeed testing, independent lab certification, and testing at the maximum (45 degrees) and minimum angle of product capability.
The full text is sold by ASME and ANSI; this page summarizes only what ASME states publicly and does not reproduce clause requirements.
Questions to ask a supplier
These are questions, not requirements, framed around the standard above.
- Which edition of ASME A18.1 does the model conform to?
- Is there independent laboratory certification for this model?
- Does the installer or supplier provide servicing, and on what terms?
- What warranty applies, and what does it cover? (Winchester’s grant guidance, for example, specifies a five-year warranty and servicing for council-funded installations; terms elsewhere vary.)
For how durable medical equipment coverage works in general, see Medicare DME coverage. Whether any given payer covers a stair lift is a question for that payer.
Safe use basics
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use for the specific model, and arrange servicing through the supplier or installer.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a straight model will suit a staircase that has a turn or landing; a staircase with a turn, landing or change of direction falls in the curved category.
- Confusing a stair lift with a patient lift or a platform lift.
- Treating a residential stair lift standard as the standard for other lifting equipment.
Other mobility equipment: what is a walker and the crutches, canes and ankle braces guide. Broader equipment topics are in the equipment hub. Facilities can also browse hospital furniture and facility equipment.
FAQ
What is a stair lift?
A motorized chair that travels along a rail fixed to the stair treads.
What types are there?
Straight, for a single flight without turns or landings, and curved, for staircases with a turn, landing or change in angle.
How is a stair lift different from a patient lift?
A stair lift carries a seated person along the stairs; a patient lift transfers a person between surfaces such as bed and chair.
Which standard applies in the US?
ASME A18.1, Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts, edition 2023.
Sources
- ASME, A18.1 Safety Standard for Platform Lifts and Stairway Chairlifts, product page, checked 2026-11-03: https://www.asme.org/codes-standards/find-codes-standards/a18-1-safety-standard-platform-lifts-stairway-chairlifts
- Winchester City Council, Stair Lifts Useful Information (PDF), checked 2026-11-03: https://www.winchester.gov.uk/assets/attach/34685/Stair-Lifts-Useful-Information.pdf
