Buy a seat lift – compare prices and get a quote

The installation of a seat lift is possible on almost all stairs without any problems. This applies to stairs inside or outside buildings as well as to curved or straight stairs. Seat lifts are a particularly comfortable form of stair lift, which allows people with mobility impairments comfortably and safely to cope with steps and stairs independently and safely.

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Steps and stairs can become a major obstacle for people with mobility impairments, rigorously limiting their independence. Stairlifts can help to resolve this situation. Seat lifts are particularly comfortable. They can be easily retrofitted to almost any staircase. They can be installed inside or outside buildings as well as on curved or straight staircases.

Prices and costs

A seat lift allows older people to enjoy a new lease on life. The initial cost depends on many different factors, so depending on the equipment and adaptation, the lift can be significantly cheaper or more expensive than previously thought.

Factors affecting price

The cost of a seat lift is made up of many different factors. Here it depends among other things on which model one decides, which drive is needed and which additional equipment the lift should have. Furthermore, the price is also calculated according to the height to be overcome and the load capacity. In addition, the lift must be adapted to the structural and personal situation of the customer. Basically, therefore, a seat lift is in most cases a custom-made product. So, in summary, the following factors further drive up the overall price:

The above factors thus ensure that manufacturers generally can not give a blanket price information. At the current time, the average price range for a seat lift over one floor is around 5,000 to 10,000 €. Used models are already available for less than 3,000 €, but it is important to pay close attention to whether the model is suitable at all. When buying a new seat lift, a manufacturer can only provide a cost estimate after an on-site inspection. In addition, you should consider in advance whether the seat lift must also have special or adapted equipment. In this way, the manufacturer can prepare an offer perfectly tailored to your needs.

Acquisition costs

A seat lift allows barrier-free access often without extensive reconstruction of the living environment. It can be installed within a very short time and is cheaper to purchase than conventional elevators. When buying a seat lift, you should expect to pay at least 5,000 €. These prices are usual in the market and are not related to a single manufacturer. In the case of a single-family house with 1 floor and larger conversion costs, prices of up to 15,000 € can quickly arise. If the seat lift is installed for a wheelchair user or a mobility-impaired person, up to 4,000 € subsidy can be applied for and claimed from the care insurance if a nursing care degree is available.

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The price of a seat lift depends on various factors such as the load capacity, the course of the stairs, the number of stopping points, the height, the type of drive, the model and the appearance. Outdoor seat lifts are understandably more expensive than indoor ones. The real purchase costs can be determined very accurately by obtaining several cost estimates from different lift manufacturers -and service providers. An incalculable size remains however the costs of the necessary rebuilding measures at the single family house. If larger excavations are necessary at the single-family dwelling, additional costs can develop. Therefore, before buying a seat lift, find out about “all” the costs and financial subsidies involved. In addition to the care cost subsidy for measures to improve the individual living environment, the state-subsidized KfW Bank promotes measures to reduce barriers with favorable loans of up to 50,000 €.

Prices and customization options vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer. Flat price quotations such as a price per 1 meter height or per stair step do not exist. In general, you can say that the more steps are overcome and the more weight it has to carry, the more expensive it is. For each additional meter, you should expect to pay at least 2,000 € more, not including the cost of conversion work. A seat lift that is attached to the outside staircase, has a rail length of around 2 meters, has 2 stopping points, moves via a hydraulic drive and can be used by a wheelchair user should cost at least 8,000 € with installation. The purchase is costly and should be carefully planned. With a price comparison over welcher-Sitzlift.de much money can be saved. You will receive up to three free and non-binding offers from seat lift providers from your region with an inquiry, which you can compare at your leisure and without risk.

Costs for maintenance and servicing

Seat lifts are low-emission, durable, lightweight and space-saving. A seat lift only needs to have its oil and seals changed every 5 years. The material required for this is freely available and costs around 100 €. For the professional implementation of the oil -and seal change, one should expect costs of about 500 €. The cost of labor for maintenance is about 1,000 €. As a rule, a partial or full maintenance contract is concluded with the lift manufacturer from whom the seat lift is purchased to cover maintenance for a period of five or ten years. The costs for maintenance, inspection, cleaning, lubrication, adjustment work and the replacement of wear parts are then usually regulated on a flat-rate basis.

Energy costs

The energy costs for a sit lift are made up of consumption during travels and standby times. For a seat lift in a single-family house with 1,500 trips per year, i.e. about 4 trips per day, one should expect energy costs of 200 kWh standby power and 100 kWh travel power. At an electricity price of 0.26 €/kWh, this results in annual costs of approx. 78 €. Platform lifts in single-family homes stand still 99% of the time. The energy costs therefore depend primarily on how much the elevator is used, whether the installed drive is suitable for the particular usage situation and what height the seat lift has to overcome. As a rule, more than 50% of the power consumption of seat lifts is consumed in standby (idle) mode. To save energy costs, you should make sure when buying that LED lamps are installed instead of halogen or incandescent lamps and that a timer function exists for lighting and electronics.

Rent or pay in installments

Many manufacturers also offer the possibility to rent the seat lift or to pay off monthly by installment. Here it is advisable to compare the prices of the different offerers in detail and in peace with one another – that saves cash money. Furthermore, it can’t hurt to talk to your bank advisor about a financing model. In some cases, a bank loan may have lower interest rates than a loan through the respective lift manufacturer. In addition, an on-site inspection and estimate should be non-binding and free of charge.

Features of the seat lift

Different stair lifts usually work on the same principle. A rail is mounted on the steps of the stairs. The stairlift moves on this rail along the course of the stairs. In the form of the seat lift, a safe and comfortable seat is used. Thus, the user can safely take a seat during transportation. Additional safety is usually provided by a belt and stable armrests. The control of the seat lift is usually also integrated into these armrests.

PhotosSource: tkelevator.com | © ThyssenKrupp AG

The seat can be rotated to allow safe and comfortable boarding and alighting. During the ride, various sensors detect potentially hazardous situations (such as obstacles in the stair area) and automatically stop the ride in an emergency. The seat lift is driven electrically and usually by gears. When not in use, most seat lifts can be folded. This ensures that the stairs can be used without restrictions.

Application areas of seat lifts

Seat lifts can be installed on almost any staircase. Especially easy is the installation on a straight staircase. Since a straight guide rail can also be used here, it is possible to use standard components. These can be delivered quickly and assembled within a short time. The installation of a seat lift on a curved staircase is considerably more complex. Here, particularly precise measurements are required, because the guide rail usually has to be individually manufactured or at least adapted.

However, it is also possible to access several floors with one seat lift. If doors are located in the area of the guide rail, the rail can be folded away automatically when not in use. Installation on very narrow staircases or staircases with very small curve radii (spiral staircases) is difficult. However, outdoor use of a seat lift is not a problem. Many models are also available in special versions that are protected against weather conditions.

Prices of seat lifts

Seat lifts are available from just under 4,000 €. At this price, however, you only get simple models that are suitable for short and straight stairs. Therefore, one should not be blinded by blanket price quotations. Before buying, it is important to obtain individual offers and compare them with each other. Only in this way is it possible to determine the most favorable price for a stairlift. Price differences come about due to the different equipment features and requirements of the users.

PhotosSource: tkelevator.com | © ThyssenKrupp AG

The greatest influence, however, is exerted by the structural design of the staircase. For example, seat lifts for curved stairs are far more expensive than those for straight stairs. The reason is the guide rail, which has to be individually manufactured or adapted to the course of the stairs. For curved staircases, you should therefore factor in a five-figure budget. A surcharge should also be calculated if the seat lift is to be installed outdoors. Due to other materials and the weather-resistant construction, the costs usually increase by at least 1,000 €.

Save costs when buying

You can also buy used or rent seat lifts. This can save a lot of money. Since stairlifts can remain in use for many years with proper maintenance and care, they have a correspondingly long service life. Even when buying a used seat lift, one should compare individual offers. There are dealers who specialize in selling used stairlifts. This is usually safer than buying from private.

When buying used, you can save up to 50 percent of the cost. However, this usually only applies to seat lifts for straight stairs. Seat lifts for curved staircases are rarely traded second-hand and cost significantly more, because the guide rail can usually not be used further. Renting a seat lift is worthwhile if the need is only of a temporary nature. Here too, however, only models for use on straight stairs are usually offered.

Subsidies and funding

From the care insurance fund, purchasers of a seat lift can receive a grant of up to 4,000 € if the seat lift is medically necessary and at least nursing care level I is present. However, full financing via care insurance is usually not possible. Health insurance companies do not subsidize the purchase of a seat lift. Important: The corresponding application to the care insurance must be made before the purchase. Interested parties should therefore seek advice before buying. Most suppliers of stair lifts know themselves well in this area. The own contribution with the purchase of a seat lift, in particular with curved stairs, is nevertheless considerable. The KfW, however, at least offers the possibility of low-interest financing if the purchase can not be made with their own financial resources.