Accessibility compared
Home lift vs stairlift: which suits your needs?
Quick answer
A stairlift is a seat that runs along a rail fixed to your staircase. It suits someone who can transfer safely onto a seat and only needs help with the stairs.
A home lift is a cabin that moves between floors. It suits wheelchair users, people travelling with a carer, and anyone planning for changing needs. Lift Ease installs home lifts, not stairlifts, so this guide is about helping you choose well.
Side by side
Home lift vs Stairlift
| Feature | Home lift | Stairlift |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | A cabin travels between floors in a shaft, lift tower or shaft-less frame. | A seat travels along a rail fixed to the staircase. |
| Wheelchairs | Wheelchair-friendly models, including the Levare Plus (1300 mm deep cabin) and full elevators. | A standard stairlift needs the rider to transfer to the seat. The wheelchair has to be carried separately. |
| Carer or second person | Room for a carer on wheelchair-friendly models. Full elevators carry up to 5 or 6 people. | One seated rider. |
| Carrying things | Shopping, laundry and bags travel with you. | Limited to what the rider can hold. |
| Your staircase | Left as it is. The lift goes elsewhere in the home. | The rail and folded seat take up part of the stair width. |
| Space needed | A footprint for the lift. Levare needs no pit or shaft. | No extra floor space beyond the stairs. |
| Future needs | Suits changing mobility, including future wheelchair use. | Depends on the rider being able to transfer safely. |
| Building work and upfront cost | A larger investment, with professional installation and space for the lift. | Usually lower upfront, with no major construction. |
| Look and safety | An enclosed cabin that can be designed as a feature of the home. | Open and visible on the staircase. Transfers happen at the top and bottom of the stairs. |
Stairlift points are general. Lift Ease does not sell or install stairlifts.
Start with how you move, not the product
The most useful question is who will use it and how. If the rider can stand, turn and sit safely, and only the stairs are the problem, a stairlift can be a simple answer.
Think about the transfers too. Getting on and off a stairlift seat happens at the top of a staircase, and a wheelchair user would need a second wheelchair waiting upstairs. In a home lift, you roll in and roll out.
If a wheelchair is in use now or likely later, if a carer needs to travel too, or if you want to carry things between floors, a home lift is usually the better long-term fit. An occupational therapist (OT) can help assess this, and is needed for NDIS or Support at Home funding.
Our range
Lift Ease home lifts for accessibility
Wheelchair-friendly options from compact to full elevator.
Full home elevators
- Vector Pro Hydraulic
400 kg (5 person), 0.25 m/s, up to 10 m travel and 4 stops, 120 mm pit. Submerged worm screw hydraulic motor: no machine room, just a small pump cupboard.
- Atlus Electric hybrid screw drive
400 kg (5 person), 0.15 to 0.30 m/s, up to 12 m travel and 5 stops, 50 to 150 mm pit. No oil, battery backup drive. Machine-room-less.
- Zenith Ultra Electric belt drive
450 kg (6 person), 0.3 to 0.4 m/s, up to 15 m travel and 6 levels (G+5), 150 to 300 mm pit. Near-silent advanced belt drive with an energy recovery system and automatic glass doors. Machine-room-less.
Shaft-less
- Levare Plus Electric belt motor
Shaft-less, no pit, 250 kg, 1300 mm deep wheelchair-friendly cabin. Installs in about 2 days.
- Levare Compact Electric belt motor
Shaft-less, no pit, 170 kg. Installs in about 2 days.
Funding may help: NDIS home modification funding and Support at Home (AT-HM) can contribute to a lift for eligible people. NDIS & Support at Home funding →
Choosing
Which is right for you?
A home lift may suit you if
- A wheelchair is in use, or may be in future.
- A carer or family member needs to travel with the rider.
- You want to carry shopping, laundry or equipment between floors.
- You want to keep the full width of your stairs.
A stairlift may suit you if
- The rider can transfer safely onto a seat and off again.
- Only the stairs are the problem, and needs are not expected to change.
- There is no space anywhere in the home for a lift footprint.
Talk to us or your OT. We give an honest view of whether a home lift is right, and a free quote in 24 hours.
Common misconceptions
Myths debunked
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Myth You can’t add a lift to an existing house.
Fact A large share of home lifts are retrofitted. Shallow-pit and shaft-less designs such as the Atlus and the Levare range are made for existing homes.
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Myth Lifts are too expensive to run.
Fact Every Lift Ease home lift runs on standard single phase 230VAC household power, and a lift only draws significant power while it is moving. Trips are short, and the motor sits idle the rest of the day. The hydraulic Vector Pro draws around 14 A depending on configuration, less than the standard 32 A typical of electric traction. Your actual cost depends on how often you use it and your tariff.
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Myth If the power goes out, you are stuck.
Fact Home lifts have a battery backup that brings the car to the nearest landing and opens the door. The Atlus also has a backup battery drive.
FAQs
Questions we get asked
Does Lift Ease install stairlifts?
No. We design, install and service home lifts and elevators. This guide is to help you decide which type of solution suits you.
Can a wheelchair user use a stairlift?
A standard stairlift needs the rider to transfer from the wheelchair to the seat, and the wheelchair has to be moved separately. A wheelchair-friendly home lift such as the Levare Plus carries the rider in their chair.
Can a home lift fit in an existing house?
Yes. A large share of home lifts are retrofitted, and the Levare range needs no pit or shaft.
Can I get funding for a home lift?
NDIS home modification funding can cover a lift for eligible participants where it is assessed as reasonable and necessary. If you are approved for Support at Home, the AT-HM scheme can contribute up to $15,390. An OT has to prescribe the work, and we work with your OT on funding quotes.
How long does a home lift take to install?
A Levare takes about 2 days. Full home elevators take 1 to 2 weeks once the site is ready.
Will a home lift keep working in a power cut?
Home lifts have a battery backup that brings the car to the nearest landing and opens the door.
Talk to a lift specialist
Tell us about your home and we’ll recommend the right lift. Free quote in 24 hours.