What to know about a stairlift before anyone measures your stairs

October 17, 2026

A stairlift is one of the few pieces of mobility equipment that is built around your house rather than around you alone. That is why someone has to measure the stairs before anyone can promise a fit. But you do not have to wait for that visit to start making good decisions. A little homework beforehand means you will know what to ask, what to look for in the answers, and which models are even worth discussing.

This guide walks through what to settle in your own mind first, using figures published by the makers themselves.

Start with the person who will ride it

Every stairlift has a published weight capacity, and it is the first thing to check. Capacities vary more than many people expect. Bruno lists the Elan at a 300 lb lift capacity and the Elite indoor straight model at 400 lb. Harmar lists the Pinnacle SL300 at 300 lb, the Pinnacle SL600 at 350 lb and the Pinnacle SL600HD at 600 lb.

Use the rider's real weight, including heavy shoes or anything carried up and down regularly, and leave yourself some room. If the rider's needs may change, say so early, because it can steer the choice toward a higher-capacity model now rather than a replacement later.

Think too about how the rider gets on and off. Bruno describes a 90-degree "easy-turn" seat on the Elite, and Harmar says the SL600HD seat swivels 85 degrees at the top. A seat that turns lets the rider face the landing instead of the drop of the stairs, which many people find steadier. Options such as a power swivel or power footrest, listed by Bruno for the Elite, are worth asking about if bending or twisting is difficult.

Look honestly at the shape of your stairs

The biggest single question is whether the staircase is straight from bottom to top. A straight run can usually take a straight rail. A landing, a turn, a curve or winding steps mean a curved rail, which is made for that one staircase. Harmar says its Helix curved stairlift is custom-made for your staircase, and Bruno describes the Elite Curve rail as handcrafted for your stairs. That custom work is the reason a curved rail needs careful measuring.

Count the steps, note any landings, and take a few photos from the bottom and the top. These help any conversation, even before a measurement.

Steepness and length matter too

Stairlifts are built for a range of stair angles. Harmar publishes incline limits of 27 to 52 degrees for the SL300 and SL600, and 27 to 48 degrees for the SL600HD. For all three, Harmar notes that inclines above 45 degrees may need local approval. The Helix is listed for inclines up to 58 degrees.

Track length has limits as well. Harmar lists the SL300 track at 15 ft 6 in standard and up to 36 ft, and the SL600 from 15 ft 6 in to 70 ft. You do not need to measure the angle yourself; that is part of the professional measurement. It is simply useful to know that very steep or very long stairs narrow the field.

How much room will be left on the stairs?

A stairlift sits along one side of the stairs, so everyone else in the house will walk past it. The folded width, measured from the wall, tells you how much of the stair width it will take up when not in use. Harmar lists the folded width as 11 in for the SL300, 10.5 in for the SL600 and 16.5 in for the SL600HD.

Look at the bottom of the stairs as well. If the rail would run past the last step into a hallway or across a doorway, ask about a folding rail. Bruno lists a folding rail option for the Elite and the Elan, and Harmar gives a separate folded width with a folding rail for the SL300 and SL600 (13 5/8 in).

What happens in a power cut?

Ask how each model behaves when the power goes out. Harmar says the SL300 and SL600 give up to 60 trips in a power outage. The SL350AC, by contrast, runs on household current and is listed by Harmar as powered by 24V AC. Neither approach is wrong, but you should know which one you are choosing.

Indoors or outdoors?

If the stairs are outside, or the lift might be exposed to weather, that is a separate category of product. Our guide to outdoor stairlifts covers it in detail. For now, note that several indoor models are not meant for outdoor use, and that warranties can depend on it. For example, Harmar's SL300 warranty states that it does not apply if the lift is installed outdoors or in a commercial building.

Read the warranty before you sign

Stairlift warranties often treat parts, major components and labor differently, and they can depend on who installs the lift and on registering it in time. Bruno's warranty for the Elite indoor straight model covers major components for life while the original purchaser owns the lift, all parts for two years after installation by a Bruno Authorized Dealer, and labor for 30 days after installation. Harmar's SL300 warranty asks you to register within 10 days of installation and states that labor is not covered. Put any registration deadline on the calendar the day the lift goes in.

A short list to have ready

The rider's weight, and whether it may change.
Whether the stairs are straight, or have a landing, turn or curve.
Photos from the top and the bottom.
Anything at the foot of the stairs that a rail might block, such as a door or hallway.
Whether the rider can turn safely on a seat, or would benefit from a swivel or powered options.
Whether the stairs are indoors or outside.
Who else uses the stairs and how much width they need.

Where we come in

You can compare straight and curved models in our stairlifts collection, including the Bruno Elan SRE-5000, the Bruno Elite Indoor Straight SRE-2010, the Harmar Pinnacle SL300, the Harmar Pinnacle SL600HD and the Bruno Elite Curved Stairlift CRE-2110. We work with a team of credentialed local specialists to guarantee timely, safe, and optimal delivery and installation. If you would like help thinking it through, contact us by email.

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