How Do Stairlifts Work?

A stairlift is a simple, reliable piece of equipment that carries you smoothly up and down your stairs while you sit (or, on a perch model, semi-stand). Here's how it works.

Quick answer: A stairlift carries a seat along a rail fixed to your stair treads. It's powered by a rechargeable battery, operated with a simple paddle or toggle control, and includes a swivel seat, seatbelt and safety sensors. The battery charges automatically when the lift is parked, so it keeps working even in a power cut.

The main parts of a stairlift

• Rail, the track the lift travels along, fixed to the stair treads (not the wall).
• Carriage and seat, the unit that carries you, with a padded seat, armrests and footrest.
• Motor, drives the carriage smoothly along the rail.
• Battery, rechargeable, powering the lift and charging when parked.
• Controls, a simple paddle or toggle on the armrest, plus remote controls to call or send the lift.

How the rail works

The rail is fixed directly to your stair treads, so it suits almost any staircase and doesn't touch your walls. On a straight stairlift the rail is a standard length cut to fit; on a curved stairlift it's manufactured to measure to follow the bends of your stairs.

How a stairlift is powered

A stairlift runs on rechargeable batteries, not directly off the mains. The battery tops up automatically whenever the lift is parked on its charging points. This is why the lift keeps working in a power cut, and why it's important to park it on charge rather than leaving it mid-stairs. See our battery guide for more.

How you control it

Operating a stairlift is simple: a paddle or toggle on the armrest moves it up or down while you hold it. Most lifts also come with remote controls at the top and bottom of the stairs, so the lift can be called to you or sent away for another user.

Getting on and off safely

At the top of the stairs, a powered swivel seat turns the seat towards the landing so you can get on and off safely, away from the edge of the stairs. The seat then locks back into position for the ride.

Safety features

Every quality stairlift includes:

• A seatbelt for security.
• Safety sensors that stop the lift automatically if it meets an obstruction.
• A soft start and stop for a smooth, gentle ride.
• A key or isolator switch so the lift can be turned off when not in use.

Read more about stairlift safety.

To find out which stairlift would suit your staircase, fill in the form below for a free, no-obligation quote from Acorn Stairlifts.

Where to go next: stairlift costs · Acorn Stairlifts · Acorn vs Stannah · get a free quote