Stairlifts
Stairlift or through-floor lift?
A stairlift moves a seated person up the stairs. A through-floor lift moves a person — or a wheelchair — between floors in a small cabin. The gap in price is large, and so is the gap in what they solve.
Most people comparing these start with a stairlift and only discover the alternative when a supplier mentions it. They are not really competitors: they solve different problems, and the right answer usually follows from whether a wheelchair is involved.
A through-floor lift is also called a home lift or vertical platform lift. It travels through an opening in the ceiling, typically between a downstairs room and the bedroom above.
Side by side
| Stairlift | Through-floor lift | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical installed cost | £2,000 – £10,000 | £10,000 – £25,000+ |
| Carries a wheelchair | No | Yes, most models |
| Needs the user to transfer | Yes, onto the seat | No, if using a wheelchair |
| Structural work | None | An opening cut through the floor |
| Space taken | The staircase | Floor area in both rooms |
| Install time | Hours to a day | Several days |
| Keeps the staircase usable | Mostly, when folded | Entirely |
| Removal | Screw holes in treads | Floor and ceiling made good |
When a through-floor lift is the right call
The clearest case is a wheelchair user. A stairlift requires transferring onto a seat at the bottom and off at the top, and if that transfer is unsafe or impossible, a stairlift does not solve the problem however cheap it is.
It is also worth considering where the staircase is unsuitable — very narrow, steeply winding, or the only fire escape route — and where a carer needs to travel with the person.
When a stairlift is plenty
Most people. If the user can walk a few steps and transfer safely onto a seat, a stairlift does the job at a fraction of the cost, with no structural work and no loss of floor space.
It is also far quicker to install, easier to remove, and much simpler if the property is rented or you expect to move.
The practical constraints
A through-floor lift needs a suitable spot with clear floor above and below, and enough headroom. It requires structural work to form the opening, so a survey by someone qualified to assess the floor is essential.
Planning permission is not normally needed for an internal lift, but building regulations apply to the structural work. In a listed building or a leasehold flat there are further consents to check.
Both need a power supply, and both should be surveyed in person. Neither should be quoted over the phone.
Funding applies to both
A Disabled Facilities Grant can cover either, following an occupational therapist assessment — and where a wheelchair is involved, the OT may well recommend the through-floor option.
VAT relief applies to both for a person with a disability or long-term illness. On a £20,000 lift that relief is substantial, so make sure it has actually been applied to the quote.
The short answer
Wheelchair user, or an unsafe transfer onto a seat: through-floor lift, and start with an occupational therapist assessment.
The user can walk a few steps and transfer safely: a stairlift, at a fraction of the cost and disruption.
Either way, ask the council about a Disabled Facilities Grant before paying, and check the VAT relief has been applied.
Ready to compare stairlifts?
Compare Stairlifts is our dedicated site for this category, with the detail, local coverage and a quote form.
Common questions
Do I need planning permission for a through-floor lift?
Not normally for an internal lift, but building regulations apply to the structural opening. Listed buildings and leasehold flats need additional consents.
How much space does a through-floor lift need?
Roughly the footprint of a small wardrobe, with clear space directly above and below, plus adequate headroom. A survey establishes whether your layout works.
Can it be removed later?
Yes, and the floor and ceiling are made good. It is a bigger job than removing a stairlift, which leaves only screw holes in the treads.
Will a grant cover it?
A Disabled Facilities Grant can cover either option where the assessment supports it. It is means-tested for adults.
Before you request a quote
What this should cost, what moves the price, and the questions to put to any supplier.
Stairlifts
A straight stairlift and a curved one are the same idea at completely different prices, because one comes off a shelf and the other is manufactured for your staircase.
Costs and buying guide →Health & Mobility
Mobility and hearing products are sold by people who visit your home, which makes an unhurried comparison harder and more valuable.
See the category →How to compare quotes
A method that works whether you are buying a stairlift or renewing a waste contract.
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