Stairlifts & Ramps
When steps and thresholds become a barrier, the answer isn't always moving house. A stairlift or a well-built ramp can reopen the upstairs, the front door, or the back garden — and keep someone safely aging in place. Here's how to tell which you need and how to plan it.
Two different barriers, two different fixes
Stairs are about going up; ramps are about getting over a rise
A stairlift carries a seated person along a rail mounted to the staircase — the right answer when a full flight of stairs has become unsafe but the person can transfer on and off a seat. A ramp bridges a height difference for someone using a wheelchair, walker, or scooter: a single front step, a raised threshold, or the gap up to a porch.
They solve different problems, and many homes need both — a stairlift for the indoor flight and a ramp at the entrance. The starting question is simple: is the obstacle a staircase the person must ride up, or a rise they must roll over?
Choosing the right solution
Match the equipment to the shape of the obstacle and the home.
Straight stairlift
For staircases that run in one straight line between floors with no turns or landings. Standardised parts make these the more affordable, quicker-to-install option — often fitted within a week or two.
For aging in place
Curved stairlift
For staircases with turns, landings, or a spiral. The rail is custom-built to your exact staircase, which means a digital measuring visit, a longer lead time, and a notably higher cost than a straight unit.
Home care guides
Ramps — threshold to modular
Small rubber or aluminium threshold ramps smooth a doorway lip; longer modular or portable ramps span steps and porches. Permanent builds suit a home you'll stay in; portable ramps travel.
Home hospital setupPlanning a ramp that's actually safe
A ramp that's too steep is more dangerous than the step it replaced. Slope is the number that matters most.
Know the slope rule
The widely used accessibility standard is a 1:12 slope — one foot of ramp length for every inch of rise. So a 6-inch step needs about 6 feet of ramp. Shallower is always easier and safer; steeper should only be considered for short rises with an able helper.
Adjust for who's using it
A person rolling themselves up needs that gentle 1:12. If a wheelchair is pushed by a caregiver, a slightly steeper slope can sometimes work — but never guess. When in doubt, build it longer and gentler.
Mind width, surface, and landings
Aim for at least 36 inches of clear width, a non-slip surface, edge guards so a wheel can't slip off, and a flat resting landing for long runs or where the ramp turns.
Get a professional assessment for stairlifts
A reputable installer will survey the staircase, confirm weight capacity and seat fit, and check the power supply. For curved stairs especially, this measurement step is essential — the rail is made to your home.
Questions before you commit
Could two straight stairlifts replace one curved unit?
Sometimes. If a staircase has a single landing, fitting two straight stairlifts — one per flight, with a short transfer at the landing — can cost considerably less than a single custom curved rail. It does mean getting up and moving across the landing, so it suits people who can transfer comfortably. Ask installers to price both.
Will a stairlift damage my staircase or fit my home?
The rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so it rarely affects the structure, and most staircases can take a straight lift. Narrow stairs are the usual constraint — a folding seat and footrest help, but very tight staircases may need a survey to confirm a person can still pass safely. A home assessment answers this quickly.
Is a ramp always better than a step for a walker user?
Not automatically. A short, sturdy ramp with a handrail is excellent for wheelchairs and scooters, but a long, gentle ramp can actually be tiring for someone walking with a frame. For walker users, a well-placed grab rail and a single shallow step is sometimes safer than a ramp — it depends on the person.
Planning to make the home reachable again?
Describe the stairs or steps you're trying to solve and how your loved one gets around, and we'll help you think through stairlift versus ramp before you call an installer.