DIY Stair Lift Installation
You may be able to handle DIY stair lift installation if the model allows homeowner fitting and you have straight indoor stairs with an outlet near the top. The catch is the warranty: doing your own installation may limit or cancel it. Curved lifts are a different matter: AmeriGlide includes fitting with its curved models, and Fixr says the manufacturer should install them.
- Self-install kits
- Straight only indoor stairs with an outlet nearby
- First DIY install
- 1 to 3 hours AmeriGlide's own estimate
- A pro fitting a lift you bought
- $550 to $850
- Warranty
- May be void check before you start
Can I Install a Stair Chair Lift Myself?
Yes, provided the lift is a straight model built for homeowners to fit. AmeriGlide makes its straight lifts so homeowners can install them, putting a first-time install at 1 to 3 hours. US Medical Supplies sells straight lifts too, letting you pick DIY or professional fitting.
According to the National Council on Aging, DIY is only sensible on straight indoor stairs that have outlets close at hand. It also points out that a beginner might spend days on work a professional wraps up in a few hours.
Curved stairs are different. AmeriGlide's curved models start at $7,599 with fitting included, so there's no DIY option, and Fixr says the manufacturer should install curved lifts.
What to Check Before Fitting a Stair Lift
Before you buy a kit, run through a few quick checks so you don't find a problem halfway up the stairs. AmeriGlide's installation guide calls for a 15 amp outlet no more than 10 ft from the top of the track. That guide also warns that a permit might be needed and that non-wood stairs call for special mounting hardware.
The Harmar SL300 manual instructs the installer to look into local building code before any work begins. These rules differ from town to town, so the check applies whether you do the fitting or pay someone to do it.
Steps Before You Start
The actual fitting steps come from your lift's own guide. This list is a quick run-through to make sure you're ready, based on AmeriGlide's guide, the Harmar SL300 manual and the National Council on Aging, not instructions for your particular lift.
- Make sure your stairs are straight, indoors and near an outlet, and that your model is one built for homeowners to fit.
- Confirm the power outlet, permits, local code and mounting hardware your stairs need.
- Check your model's guide for the tools you'll need. AmeriGlide lists a drill with a 3/8-inch socket, a Phillips screwdriver, open-end wrenches and an Allen wrench.
- Work through the model's guide one step at a time and alter nothing, since changing parts without approval voids the warranty on the Harmar SL300.
DIY or Professional Fitting
| Option | Cost | Time on site |
|---|---|---|
| Straight lift you fit yourself (AmeriGlide) | lift from $1,499 | 1 to 3 hours for a first install |
| Rave 2 straight lift you fit yourself (online dealer) | lift at $2,699 | not given |
| Handyman installing a straight lift (Fixr) | labor $300 to $500 | 4 to 5 hours |
| AmeriGlide's own fitting service (FAQ) | usually $550 | not given |
| Local installer fitting a straight lift you purchased | $550 to $850 | 2 to 4 hours |
| New straight lift, dealer-supplied and installed | $2,500 to $7,500 | 2 to 4 hours |
Online kit prices often leave out shipping (MobilityWorks notes freight is usually extra), so ask for the delivered price before you compare it with a local installer's quote.
Warranty and Safety Standards
Oakley Home Access reports that most manufacturers cancel the warranty if owners do the installation. ConsumerAffairs warns that doing it yourself may limit or void the warranty, and Williams Lifts suggests reading the warranty fine print before you start.
In the US, stair lifts fall under the ASME A18.1 safety standard, currently in its 2023 edition. AmeriGlide's guide says the lift must meet this US safety standard to qualify for the safety certification called an ETL listing. AEMA, the industry group, does not back consumers fitting lifts on their own, as quoted by Arrow Lift.
Would rather not do it yourself? Call and we pass your lift and stairs to installers near you.
Call (888) 314-9397Questions People Ask
Can I build my own stair lift?
None of the guides we found explain how to build a stair lift from scratch, and none show that a homemade one could meet the US safety standard. The Harmar SL300 is ETL certified to the US safety standard for stairway chairlifts, and its manual says unauthorized alterations void its warranty.
What does professional stair lift installation cost?
Buying a new lift through a dealer with installation runs $2,500 to $7,500 on a straight staircase, and $9,000 to $15,000 on curved stairs or where a landing sits between straight flights. For outdoor lifts, expect $4,000 to $10,500 on a straight rail and $10,000 to $20,500 on a curved one. Rail beyond the standard 15.5 ft costs roughly $80 to $100 more per foot.
How long does a professional fitting take?
On the day, an installer needs about 2 to 4 hours for a straight lift and 4 to 5 hours for a curved one. The wait before that day is longer: 1 to 15 days for a straight lift, and roughly 3 to 5 weeks for a curved lift.