87%
Would recommend a stairlift
66%
Found the process smooth
58%
Feel safer, more independent, or able to stay home
49%
Compared more than one company
Key findings at a glance
Updated • based on 79 responses
- 87% would recommend a stairlift to someone in a similar position, with 62% saying they were very likely to.
- 58% report feeling safer, more independent, or able to stay in their own home since it was installed.
- 66% said nothing frustrated them during the buying process.
- 54% found the price about what they expected or lower, while 46% found it higher.
- 49% compared more than one company before deciding, and 51% got a quote from only one.
- 32% wish they had got their stairlift sooner, either definitely or a little.
Would Canadian stairlift owners recommend one to someone else?
Yes. 87% of the Canadian stairlift buyers we surveyed said they would recommend a stairlift to someone in a similar position, including 62% who said they were very likely to. Fewer than one in ten said they were unlikely to recommend one.
- 62% Very likely to recommend
- 25% Likely to recommend
- 9% Unsure
- 4% Unlikely to recommend
Question: would you recommend a stairlift to someone in a similar position? One answer per respondent.
What difference does a stairlift make to daily life?
The benefit owners mention most is staying put. 34% said the stairlift has let them stay in their own home, 32% said they feel safer and more confident, and 11% said they have regained their independence. Overall, 58% named at least one of those three.
- It has let them stay in their own home34%
- They feel safer and more confident32%
- Another benefit28%
- It has made some difference15%
- They have regained their independence11%
- It has made little difference3%
Respondents could choose up to two answers, so the figures add to more than 100%.
What makes Canadians decide it is time to get a stairlift?
Most people reach the decision gradually rather than after a crisis. 39% said they were struggling more with the stairs over time and 28% were planning ahead before it became urgent. Only 10% acted because of a fall or a near-fall.
- Struggling more with the stairs over time39%
- Planning ahead before it became urgent28%
- Another reason14%
- A fall or a near-fall10%
- Advice from a doctor or occupational therapist6%
- Advice from family3%
Question: what finally made you decide it was time to get a stairlift? One answer per respondent.
How many quotes do Canadian stairlift buyers get?
49% of the stairlift buyers we surveyed compared more than one company, while 51% got a quote from only one. Stairlifts are priced per staircase rather than published, so a second quote is what gives a buyer something to measure the first against.
- 51%Just one quote
- 35%Two quotes
- 13%Three quotes
- 1%Four or more quotes
Question: how many companies did you get a quote from? One answer per respondent.
Do stairlifts cost more than Canadian buyers expect?
For most people, no. 54% said the price was about what they expected or lower than expected, including 18% who found it lower. The remaining 46% found it higher than expected. Expectations are usually set by advertising rather than by a quote for a particular staircase, which is where most of that gap comes from.
- Much higher than expected20%
- A little higher than expected25%
- About what they expected37%
- Lower than expected18%
← More than expectedAt or below what they expected →
Question: how did the price compare to what you expected? One answer per respondent.
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What makes buyers choose one stairlift company over another?
Price is not the whole story. 38% named speed of installation, 32% named reputation and reviews, and 33% named price. Warranty and aftercare, and trust in the salesperson, were each named by 20% and 20%.
- Speed of installation38%
- Price33%
- Reputation and reviews32%
- Trusted the salesperson20%
- Warranty and aftercare20%
- Personal recommendation6%
- Finance or payment options5%
- A local or family business4%
Respondents could choose up to three answers, so the figures add to more than 100%.
What frustrates people most when buying a stairlift?
For most people, nothing does. 66% said the process was smooth. Where there was a frustration, the two most common were difficulty comparing options (10%) and companies being slow to respond (9%). Pushy salespeople were named by only 4%.
- Nothing, the process was smooth66%
- Hard to compare options10%
- Companies were slow to respond9%
- Something else6%
- Unclear or hidden pricing4%
- Pushy salespeople4%
- Too much jargon1%
Question: what frustrated you most during the process? One answer per respondent.
Do people wish they had bought a stairlift sooner?
68% felt the timing was right, which suggests most people judge the moment well once they start looking. The other 32% wish they had got their stairlift sooner, either definitely (19%) or a little (13%).
68%
- 68% No, the timing was right
- 13% A little
- 19% Yes, definitely
Question: looking back, do you wish you had got your stairlift sooner? One answer per respondent.
How this survey was carried out
Stair Lift Comparison Canada surveyed people in Canada who had previously used our service to look into buying a stairlift. The survey ran during August 2026 and produced 79 usable responses.
- Responses were anonymous. We collected no names, addresses or contact details.
- Automated and duplicate submissions were removed before analysis.
- Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number, so some charts will not total exactly 100%.
- Questions allowing more than one answer are marked as such and total more than 100%.
- This is a self-selected sample of people who had already enquired about a stairlift, so it describes active buyers rather than the Canadian population as a whole.
- With 79 respondents, differences of a few percentage points between answer options are within normal sampling variation and should not be read as meaningful.
Published by Stair Lift Comparison Canada. Last updated .
Citing this research
Journalists, researchers and writers are welcome to quote these figures. Please credit and link to this page.
Stair Lift Comparison Canada. Canadian Stairlift Buyer Survey. 79 respondents, August 2026. Available at: https://www.stair-lift-prices.com/stairlift-buyer-research/ (accessed 19 August 2026).
Stairlift buyer survey: common questions
Are stairlifts worth the money?
87% of the Canadian stairlift owners we surveyed said they would recommend one to someone in a similar position, and 58% said it has made them feel safer, more independent, or able to stay in their own home. 32% told us they wish they had bought sooner.
How many quotes should I get for a stairlift?
Two or three. 49% of the Canadian buyers we surveyed compared more than one company, and 51% got a quote from just one. Because stairlift prices are quoted per staircase rather than published, a second quote is the only practical way to tell whether a figure is competitive.
Do stairlifts cost more than people expect?
Usually not. 54% of buyers said the price was about what they expected or lower, and 46% said it was higher, with 20% describing it as much higher. Expectations are often set by advertising rather than by a quote for a specific staircase, which is where the gap comes from.
What is the most common reason people buy a stairlift?
Gradually struggling more with the stairs, named by 39% of respondents, followed by planning ahead before it became urgent at 28%. Only 10% acted after a fall or a near-fall, so most people are deciding well before a crisis.
Is buying a stairlift a difficult process?
Most people found it straightforward. 66% told us nothing frustrated them during the process. Where buyers did report a problem, the most common was difficulty comparing options between companies, named by 10%.
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