The deciding question: the wheelchair
A stairlift carries a seated passenger along the line of the staircase. It suits someone who can transfer from a wheelchair onto the seat and leave the chair behind. A platform lift instead travels vertically between floors and carries the wheelchair itself — with its user and a mobility scooter — on the level. Where the chair must travel too, only a platform lift will do.
| Stairlift | Platform lift | Through-floor lift | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carries a wheelchair | No | Yes | Yes |
| Keeps the staircase clear | When folded | Yes | Yes |
| Pit / building work | None | 150mm pit | 150mm pit + ceiling opening |
| Copes as mobility changes | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Typically adds property value | Little | Yes | Yes |
Cost and space
- Stairlift — lower upfront cost; fixes to the staircase; keeps the stairs usable for others only when folded.
- Platform / through-floor lift — a higher initial cost but needs only a 150mm pit and a small footprint in a corner or beside the stair, leaving the staircase completely clear.
Longevity and resale
A home lift is generally the more capable and longer-lasting solution, copes with changing needs over time, and tends to add more to a property than a stairlift. For a home being adapted around a wheelchair, or for the long term, it is usually the wiser investment.
Find a platform lift installer in your area
We install and service OnLevel platform lifts across England, with dedicated local pages for hundreds of towns. Explore the areas we cover — including London, Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Essex — or browse the full list of locations across the UK.
Request a no-obligation quotation
Every property is different, so the surest way to a firm figure is to tell us about your project — the property, the floors you need to serve and what you want to achieve. Send us those details and our SafeContractor-accredited team will prepare a written, no-obligation quotation. Request your quotation on our contact form, or see the areas we cover across the UK.