Curved vs straight · narrow stairs
Curved stairlift prices
One 90-degree turn puts a stairlift at £3,800 to £5,500. A second turn or a half-landing takes it to £4,800 to £10,000. A straight lift on the same house would be £2,000 to £4,000. The difference is not the seat or the motor — those are the same. It is the rail.
Request a curved quote
No obligation, and nothing to pay.
Your details go to one independent engineer or supplier covering your postcode. We do not sell your details for marketing.
Curved and straight prices side by side
| Staircase | New, fitted | Reconditioned | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | £2,000 – £4,000 | from ~£1,000 | Days |
| One 90° turn | £3,800 – £5,500 | from ~£2,150 | Weeks |
| Two turns, or a half-landing | £4,800 – £10,000 | limited | Weeks |
| Two straight lifts (half-landing) | £4,000 – £8,000 | from ~£2,000 | Days |
If your stairs break at a half-landing with room to stand safely, two straight lifts can come in under one curved rail — sometimes well under, and they fit in days rather than weeks. The catch is real: the user gets off one lift, walks a few steps across the landing, and gets onto the other. That does not suit everyone, and it is not right if balance is poor. But on a price comparison it is frequently thousands of pounds, and salespeople selling curved rails do not tend to raise it.
Why the rail costs so much
A straight rail is stock. The manufacturer holds lengths, cuts one to your staircase and fits it. If the lift comes out in six years, the rail can be cut down again for someone else — which is why a used straight lift is worth £250 to £600.
A curved rail is bent to the exact geometry of your staircase: every turn, the pitch of each flight, the radius at the landing. It is measured, then manufactured to order, then delivered for one house. Three consequences follow, and they explain nearly everything about curved lifts:
- The price. You are funding a bespoke manufacturing run, not a stock item.
- The lead time. Weeks between survey and fitting, not days.
- The resale value. Almost none — nobody else's stairs are that shape. Curved lifts are usually bought back for parts only.
It also explains why curved rental barely exists, and why curved removal is charged when straight removal is often free.
Some makers, Acorn among them, build curved rails from pre-made modular segments rather than bending one continuous rail. That brings the price down and cuts the lead time sharply, and it makes reconditioned curved lifts possible because segments can be reconfigured. The trade-off is a slightly less smooth ride through the bends. If lead time or budget is tight, it is worth asking about.
Narrow staircases
The other question people arrive with. Most staircases take a stairlift; the ones that struggle are narrow and turning.
- Measure at the narrowest point, usually where the handrail or a newel post intrudes, not at the widest part of the flight.
- Slimline and folding options exist on most makes — folding seat, arms and footrest bring the parked lift close to the wall so the stairs stay usable for everyone else.
- A perch lift takes less width than a seat, because the user stands rather than sits. Standing and perch lifts →
- The rail can sometimes swap sides mid-flight or run on the outside of a turn to gain clearance. This is a survey question, not a catalogue one.
A supplier who says your stairs are impossible without measuring them has not tried. One who measures and then says so is probably right.
Questions people ask
How much is a curved stairlift?
One 90-degree turn is typically £3,800 to £5,500 fitted. Two turns or a half-landing takes it to £4,800 to £10,000. Reconditioned modular curved lifts start from around £2,150, though whether one fits your staircase depends on the rail configuration.
Why are curved stairlifts so much more expensive than straight ones?
The rail is bent to the exact geometry of your staircase and manufactured to order for one house. A straight rail is stock, cut to length. The seat, motor and controls are largely the same on both, so the whole price difference is the rail and the bespoke manufacturing behind it.
Is it cheaper to fit two straight stairlifts instead of one curved?
Often yes, if the staircase has a half-landing with room to stand safely. Two straight lifts frequently come in under a single curved rail and fit in days rather than weeks. The user has to transfer between them mid-flight, which does not suit everyone and is not right if balance is poor.
Can I get a stairlift on narrow stairs?
Usually. Measure at the narrowest point rather than the widest, and ask about slimline rails and folding seat, arms and footrest, which let the parked lift sit close to the wall. A perch lift takes less width than a seated one. Narrow and turning together is the genuinely difficult combination.
How long does a curved stairlift take to arrive?
Several weeks between survey and fitting, because the rail is manufactured for your staircase. Anyone promising a curved lift in days is fitting a reconditioned or modular rail, which is a legitimate option, but you should know that is what you are buying.
Are curved stairlifts worth anything second hand?
Very little. The rail was bent for one staircase and cannot be reused, so buy-back offers are usually £0 to £300 and the lift is bought for parts. The carriage, seat and electronics keep other lifts running.
Get a curved stairlift quote
Curved lifts have to be measured, so nobody can give you a firm figure without a survey. What we can do is pass it to a supplier who will quote properly — and flag whether two straight lifts or a modular rail would come in cheaper.
Straight stairs? Straight prices are far lower.
Request a curved quote →