Stairlift vs. Through-Floor Lift: Which Should You Choose?

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When climbing the stairs becomes a daily challenge, it’s natural to start thinking about adapting your home. Two of the most popular solutions are stairlifts and through-floor lifts, but they work very differently, and the right choice depends on your individual needs, your home’s layout, and your longer-term plans. Read more for a practical guide to help you understand both options.

What Is a Stairlift?

A stairlift is a motorised chair that travels along a rail fixed to your staircase, carrying you safely between floors. Stairlifts are available for straight staircases, as well as curved or narrow ones, making them a versatile option for a wide range of homes.

They’re typically the faster and more affordable solution to install, and because the rail is fitted to the stairs themselves rather than the structure of your home, they’re less disruptive to put in. Most stairlifts fold neatly against the wall when not in use, leaving the stairs accessible for other members of the household.

Stairlifts tend to suit people who:

Can sit comfortably and transfer in and out of a seat independently or with minimal assistance
Want a cost-effective, quick-to-install solution
Have a staircase in reasonable condition
Are looking for a solution that doesn’t permanently alter the structure of their home

What Is a Through-Floor Lift?

A through-floor lift, sometimes called a home lift or vertical platform lift, travels straight up through the ceiling between floors, enclosed in a self-supporting shaft. Unlike a stairlift, it doesn’t rely on the staircase at all.

Through-floor lifts can accommodate wheelchairs and powerchairs, making them the preferred choice for anyone who cannot transfer out of their chair. They require more structural work during installation and tend to be more expensive, but they offer a greater level of independence for those with more complex mobility needs.

Through-floor lifts tend to suit people who:

Use a wheelchair or powerchair and cannot transfer easily
Require a carer to accompany them between floors
Looking for a longer-term, future-proofed solution
Have space to accommodate a shaft on both floors

Which Should You Choose?

If you’re able to walk to the foot of the stairs and transfer into a seat, a stairlift is usually the most practical and affordable first step. They’re quick to install, straightforward to use, and can make a significant difference to daily life without major disruption.

If you rely on a wheelchair full-time, or if your mobility is likely to change significantly over time, a through-floor lift may be the better long-term investment. It removes the need to transfer at all, and it means your home remains accessible regardless of how your needs evolve.

It’s also worth considering whether other adaptations, such as moving a bedroom downstairs, might suit your situation better. A professional assessment can help you weigh all the options.

Talk to ARB Mobility

At ARB Mobility, we stock stairlifts and can help guide you through the full range of home adaptation options available. With over 15 years of experience assessing individual needs across Somerset and the South West, our team can help you find the right solution, not just the most obvious one.

Get in touch to arrange a consultation, or visit us at our Taunton showroom to see our range in person.

    
 
 
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Stairlift vs. Through-Floor Lift: Which Should You Choose?

What Is a Stairlift?

What Is a Through-Floor Lift?

Which Should You Choose?

Talk to ARB Mobility

Why Buy From ARB Mobility?