Can a stairlift be fitted to any stairs? (Straight, Curved, Narrow stairs)

If you’re reading this article, you’re most likely looking to get a stairlift fitted in your home, and you’re wondering if a stairlift will work on your particular staircase.

Perhaps you have a curved, steep, or particularly narrow set of stairs and you’re not sure if fitting a stairlift is even possible. Read on to find out what stairs can be fitted with a stairlift. 

Can a stairlift be fitted to all straight and curved stairs?

The short answer to this is most!

A stairlift can be fitted to almost any staircase, straight or curved, however, if your stairlift is especially narrow this could be a challenge. (more detail on this in the next section)

There are two basic types of stairlifts in general production; One is designed to fit on a straight staircase and the other on curved stairs that incorporate one or more bends. The one designed for straight flights is never used on a curved flight but the curved flight model that we do here at Felgains (The Flow X) can sometimes be used on straight flight staircases. This is usually when the users ‘back-to-knee measurement is too great to be housed on the staircase or when it is safer for the client to enter/exit the stairlift seat on the first floor landing away from the staircase altogether.

We offer both a straight flight lift (the Homeglide) and a curved flight one (the Flow X). Both of these lifts conform to the latest Stairlift Safety Standards EN 81-40:2020. In addition to this both of these stairlifts were recently rated at 8% higher than all of its competitors by the ‘Which’ magazine. A home survey is always carried out by Felgains.  This is entirely free of charge and carries no pressure selling tactics. We can (and do) visit dozens of clients ourselves and we are always happy to visit with a professional too. At the time of the survey, we can determine which is the best type of stairlift to recommend and prepare a quotation.

Can a stairlift be fitted on narrow stairs?

Yes, stairlifts can be fitted to most narrow staircases.

However, there can be a difficulty created by the user’s ‘back-to-knee’ measurement when seated.  We always measure this when we do a survey to ensure it will work.

Stair widths of 750mm and above are generally not a problem. Between 700mm and 750mm, careful scrutiny is needed, along with the user’s back-to-knee measurement. While we find that below 700mm can be a challenge, we can discuss options at the survey.

One option for a stairlift for narrow stairs would be the Flow X with the automatic powered rotating seat, which is possible to install on stairs that are as narrow as 620mm! – as long as there is sufficient space on the landing for the lift to turn to resume its normal position.

On very narrow stairs there is an option on the market called a ‘stand and perch’ seat. On this type of stairlift, the user’s knee projection is greatly reduced.  It is worth bearing in mind that there are increased risks if a client is standing or even perching, so this type of lift is not often recommended by healthcare professionals.

Below are some photos from a recent Flow X installation on a very narrow and steep set of stairs, showing what’s possible with this stairlift:

I hope this article has answered your questions and you are now feeling confident about whether your staircase is suitable for a stairlift.

If you’re still in doubt if a stairlift is possible in your home, give us a call, and we would be happy to discuss or even come out and do a survey. 

Feel free to check out our other resources below, or take a look at our stairlifts here.

How much does a stairlift cost in the UK? (Straight & Curved stairlift prices)

How quickly can you get a stairlift fitted in 2024? | UK stairlift delivery & installation times

Home Lift vs Stairlift: Which is best for me?

How to sell a secondhand stairlift