Mobility Lifts UK: Types, Makes, Models & Typical Prices
An independent guide to mobility lifts in the UK — comparing stairlifts, step lifts, incline platform lifts, and home lifts, with leading makes, models, and typical price ranges to help you find the right solution.
What Is a Mobility Lift?
A mobility lift is any powered lifting device that helps a person with reduced mobility move between levels — whether that's a single entrance step, a staircase, or an entire floor of a property. The term covers four main product families in the UK:
Stairlifts — a seat travelling along a rail fixed to the staircase
Step lifts — a vertical platform overcoming one to three steps
Incline platform lifts — a wheelchair platform travelling along the staircase
Home lifts — a platform or cabin travelling vertically between floors
The right choice depends on who will use the lift, whether they use a wheelchair, how much space is available, and your budget. The sections below take each in turn.
Stairlifts
A stairlift carries a seated user along a rail fixed to the staircase — the most familiar and most affordable mobility lift for people who can walk short distances and transfer safely onto a seat. Household-name manufacturers such as Stannah, Acorn, and Handicare dominate this market, with straight and curved rail options to suit most staircases.
The key limitation is the transfer: a stairlift cannot carry a wheelchair, so the user must be able to get out of their chair at the bottom of the stairs and back in at the top. For full-time wheelchair users, powered wheelchair users, or anyone for whom transferring is unsafe, a stairlift isn't the right product — an incline platform lift or home lift is (both covered below).
Typical prices: new straight stairlifts typically cost £2,000 to £5,000 installed, with curved staircases running £4,000 to £8,000 or more due to the bespoke rail. Reconditioned stairlifts can reduce this further — our reconditioned lifts guide covers what to check before buying used.
Step Lifts
A step lift is a vertical platform that rises alongside one to three steps — most commonly at a front or rear entrance — carrying a wheelchair user or someone with limited mobility over the level change without removing the steps. Step lifts suit both homes and commercial premises, indoors and outdoors, and can typically be installed within a single day.
Makes and models to know: the Pollock Vision 1m Steplift and Pollock Independence 3m Steplift cover rises up to one and three metres respectively, both rated for wheelchair and ambulant users with an attendant. The Echo 50 and Echo Go offer compact, self-contained options — the Echo range is particularly worth considering if you may move house, as some models are relocatable rather than permanently fixed.
Typical prices: step lifts start from £6,389 installed, with the final figure depending on travel height, platform size, and indoor or outdoor specification.
Incline Platform Lifts
An incline platform lift — also called a platform stairlift or stair wheelchair lift — travels along a rail fixed to the staircase like a stairlift, but carries the user on a platform together with their wheelchair, so no transfer is needed. The platform folds flat when not in use, keeping the stairs clear for everyone else. This is the standard solution for wheelchair access along an existing staircase, in homes and in commercial buildings meeting Equality Act 2010 obligations.
Makes and models to know: the Elevate Glide handles both straight and curved staircases with a custom-fabricated rail from 500mm up to 35 metres, and offers a compact 700mm x 750mm platform option for narrower staircases. The Liftak Platform Stairlift is another established option in this category.
Typical prices: straight staircase installations typically cost £8,000 to £12,000, while curved staircases requiring a bespoke rail run £12,000 to £20,000 or more depending on the complexity of the curve.
Home Lifts
A home lift travels vertically between floors through an opening in the ceiling, providing full floor-to-floor access without using the staircase at all. This is the most comprehensive mobility lift solution — suitable for full-time wheelchair users, powered wheelchairs, and anyone future-proofing a home for changing mobility — and modern models need no machine room, no pit, and no traditional shaft.
Makes and models to know: the Ava Swift and Ava Reach are popular open-platform through-floor models, with the Ava Rise and Pollock Residential Elevator offering fully enclosed cabins with automatic doors, lighting, and fold-down seats. The Pollock 20 Series is a long-established platform option, while the Cibes range — including the A5000, Air, and Cloud Plus — covers everything from practical platform lifts through to fully glazed architectural models at the premium end.
Typical prices: open or part-enclosed platform models typically cost £8,000 to £14,000 installed; fully enclosed cabin lifts run £15,000 to £30,000; and premium glazed or bespoke models start from £30,000 upward. Our through floor lifts cost guide breaks this down in detail.
Mobility Lifts Compared
Lift type | Best for | Wheelchair suitable? | Typical price installed |
|---|---|---|---|
Stairlift | Users who can transfer to a seat | No | £2,000 – £8,000+ |
Step lift | 1–3 entrance or internal steps | Yes | From £6,389 |
Incline platform lift | Wheelchair access along a staircase | Yes | £8,000 – £20,000+ |
Home lift | Full floor-to-floor access | Yes | £8,000 – £30,000+ |
If you'd like to compare these options side by side in more detail, you can download our free brochure — it covers the full range of lift types, models, and indicative pricing in one place.
VAT Relief and Grant Funding
Two forms of financial support significantly reduce the cost of a mobility lift for many buyers. Mobility lifts purchased for the personal use of a person with a disability or chronic illness qualify for zero-rated VAT, covering both the product and installation — a 20% saving on the total cost. The Disabled Facilities Grant, administered by local councils, can also fund step lifts, incline platform lifts, and home lifts where an occupational therapist assesses them as necessary — our Disabled Facilities Grant guide explains eligibility and the application process in full.
Which Mobility Lift Is Right for You?
The quickest way to narrow it down:
Can the user walk short distances and transfer safely onto a seat? A stairlift is the most affordable option for staircase access.
Is the problem one to three steps at an entrance or level change? A step lift solves it without altering the steps.
Does a wheelchair user need to travel along the staircase? An incline platform lift carries them without any transfer.
Is full floor-to-floor access needed, or is the staircase unsuitable? A home lift is the most complete long-term solution.
Every property is different, and the right answer sometimes only becomes clear at a site survey — staircase width, floor structure, and available space can all rule options in or out.
Get Independent Advice on Mobility Lifts
Platform Lift UK is a free, independent matching service. We're not an installer and we don't push one product over another — we connect homeowners and businesses across the UK with vetted specialists suited to their specific property, mobility needs, and budget, with no cost and no obligation to proceed.
If you're at the research stage, download our free brochure to compare mobility lift types and models at your own pace. If you're ready to talk specifics, book a free, no-obligation quote and we'll match you with a vetted installer covering your area — most surveys can be arranged within days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a stairlift and a mobility lift? A stairlift is one type of mobility lift — a seat travelling along the staircase. Mobility lifts also include step lifts, incline platform lifts, and home lifts, which carry wheelchair users without requiring a transfer out of the chair.
What's the cheapest mobility lift? A straight stairlift is typically the most affordable option, from around £2,000 installed — but it only suits users who can transfer safely onto a seat. For wheelchair users, a step lift from £6,389 is usually the most affordable solution for entrance steps.
Can a wheelchair user use a stairlift? Not without transferring out of the wheelchair, which isn't possible or safe for many users. Incline platform lifts and home lifts carry the user and their wheelchair together, with no transfer required.
Do mobility lifts qualify for VAT relief? Yes. Mobility lifts purchased for the personal use of a person with a disability or chronic illness qualify for zero-rated VAT on both the product and installation, saving 20% on the total cost.
Can I get a grant towards a mobility lift? The Disabled Facilities Grant can fund step lifts, incline platform lifts, and home lifts where an occupational therapist assesses them as necessary, up to £30,000 in England. Eligibility is means-tested through your local council.
How do I find the right mobility lift installer? Platform Lift UK connects you with vetted mobility lift specialists covering your area — free of charge, independent, and with no obligation to proceed.
