Wheelchair Platform Lift for Stairs
A wheelchair platform lift carries the user up the stairs in their chair. How it works, which staircases suit one, the comparisons and costs.
What is a wheelchair platform lift for stairs?
Also called an incline platform lift, an inclined platform stairlift or a platform stairlift, it is a lift built around a platform large enough for a wheelchair. The platform travels on a rail that follows the line of the staircase, carrying the user from the bottom landing to the top.
The key difference from an ordinary stairlift is that there is no seat to transfer onto. The user drives or is pushed onto the platform, the safety arms come down, and the lift takes them up in their chair.
How it works
Call and unfold. The user calls the lift to their landing; the platform unfolds from its parked position against the wall.
Board. A ramp lowers at the landing so the wheelchair can roll onto the platform.
Secure. Safety arms or barriers close across the platform, and the ramps lift to act as roll-off guards.
Travel. Hold-to-run controls move the lift along the rail; it stops the moment the button is released.
Exit and park. At the other landing the ramp lowers, the user drives off, and the platform folds away.
Safety edges stop the lift if the platform meets an obstruction, and most models have a battery back-up so a power cut doesn’t leave anyone halfway up the stairs. Lifts of this type are built to the EN 81-40 standard for inclined lifting platforms.
Which staircases does it suit?
Staircase | Suitable? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Straight flight | Yes | The simplest and usually least costly installation |
Curved or with turns | Yes, with a curved-rail model | The rail is made to measure to follow each turn |
Multiple flights and landings | Yes, with a curved-rail model | One lift can serve several flights in sequence |
Spiral | Sometimes | Depends on the radius and width — needs a survey |
Outdoor steps | Yes, with an outdoor specification | Weatherproof finish, controls and drainage |
For external steps, see our wheelchair lift for outside stairs guide.
Is your staircase wide enough?
Width is the most common limiting factor. Because the platform has to carry a wheelchair, a platform lift for stairs needs noticeably more room than a seated stairlift — both on the staircase itself and at the top and bottom landings, where the user boards and leaves. Many public-building staircases have the space; some narrow domestic stairs do not. An installer will measure the clear width, the landings and the headroom before recommending a model.
Platform lift vs stairlift vs vertical lift
A wheelchair platform lift for stairs isn’t the only way to get past a staircase. Here’s how it compares with the two alternatives people usually consider.
Platform lift for stairs | Stairlift | Vertical lift | |
|---|---|---|---|
User stays in wheelchair | Yes | No — transfers to a seat | Yes |
Uses the staircase | Yes — runs along it | Yes — runs along it | No — rises straight up beside it |
Stairs stay usable | Yes, when folded | Yes, when folded | Yes |
Space needed | A wide enough staircase | Most staircases | A separate footprint |
From (installed) | £8,000 | £3,400 (curved) | £6,389 (step lift) |
Vertical step lifts suit short rises of up to around 3 m. For a full storey, a through-floor lift (from £17,500) or a homelift is the vertical option.
If the user can transfer safely to a seat, a stairlift is the cheaper route. If they need to stay in their chair and the staircase is wide enough, a platform lift uses the stairs you already have. If the staircase is too narrow or you’d rather keep it completely clear, a vertical lift alongside it may be the better answer — see our step lift for home and home lifts UK guides.
Not sure your staircase will take a platform lift?
Tell us about the stairs — straight or curved, indoor or outdoor, and roughly how wide — and we’ll match you with vetted installers who can survey them and recommend the right lift. Free to you, with no obligation.
→ Enquire about a platform lift for stairs
An example: the Garaventa Artira
The Garaventa Artira is a well-known wheelchair platform lift for stairs. It follows straight, curved and spiral staircases, indoors or out, carries up to 250kg and runs on a standard single-phase supply. It is a common choice for awkward staircases in heritage buildings, schools and churches, as well as homes. Our Artira comparison looks at who it suits.
Homes and public buildings
At home, a platform lift for stairs lets a wheelchair user reach an upper floor or a lower garden level using the existing staircase. In shops, offices, schools, churches and other public buildings, it is often the most practical way to meet the Equality Act duty to make reasonable adjustments, because it fits an existing staircase without the building work of a full lift shaft. Commercial installations need regular servicing and, as passenger-carrying equipment at work, thorough examinations under LOLER.
What a wheelchair platform lift for stairs costs
Factor | Effect on cost |
|---|---|
Starting price | From £8,000 installed |
Straight or curved | Curved rails are made to measure and cost more |
Number of flights | More turns and landings mean a longer, more complex rail |
Indoor or outdoor | Outdoor models need a weatherproof specification |
Platform size and options | Larger platforms, folding seats and remote call stations add cost |
A survey gives a firm figure. Full detail is in our disabled platform lifts prices guide.
Before you choose
Measure the wheelchair — its width, length and weight with the user decide the platform size and capacity.
Check both landings — the user needs room to board, turn and drive off at the top and bottom.
Think about other users — the folded lift will take up some of the stair width; make sure the stairs stay safe for everyone.
Plan for servicing — budget for at least one service a year.
For the wider picture, see our accessible lifts guide and the wheelchair lifts UK complete guide.
Arrange a survey
Whether a platform lift will fit your stairs comes down to measurements you can’t take from a website — clear width, landing space, headroom and the line of the staircase. A survey settles it, free and with no obligation. Tell us about your stairs and we’ll match you with vetted installers who cover your area. Installers pay us only when we refer a genuine enquiry, so our interest is in matching you well, not in selling a particular lift.
→ Get matched with vetted installers
Staircase width: I haven’t given a minimum width, because it varies by model. The page explains the constraint and points readers to the survey. If you have a manufacturer figure, I’ll add it.
Product pages: your Liftak platform stairlift and Elevate Glide pages would fit this article well. Send me their URLs and I’ll link them alongside the Artira.
Outside-stairs page: add a link from that page back to this one, so the two read as a deliberate pair.
Faqs
What is a wheelchair platform lift for stairs? It is a lift with a platform large enough for a wheelchair that travels on a rail along an existing staircase. The user stays in their wheelchair throughout, and the platform folds flat when not in use so the stairs remain usable.
Can a wheelchair platform lift go round corners? Yes. Curved-rail models are made to measure to follow turns, landings and several flights in sequence. Some spiral staircases are suitable too, depending on their radius and width.
Is my staircase wide enough for a wheelchair platform lift? A platform lift needs more width than a seated stairlift, both on the stairs and at the landings where the user boards. An installer measures the clear width, landings and headroom at a free survey to confirm.
What is the difference between a platform lift and a stairlift? A stairlift has a seat, so the user must transfer out of their wheelchair. A platform lift carries the user in their wheelchair on a folding platform and needs a wider staircase.
How much does a wheelchair platform lift for stairs cost? They start from around £8,000 installed. Curved rails, several flights, outdoor specifications and larger platforms all add to the price, so a survey gives the firm figure.
Can a wheelchair platform lift be used outdoors? Yes, with an outdoor specification that includes a weatherproof finish, weather-rated controls and appropriate drainage.
