The Harmar Summit outdoor stair lift is made for straight steps outside, and it keeps working from a 0°F winter night to a 125°F summer afternoon. On shorter rails it carries as much as 350 lb, and one retailer prices it at $4,085, plus $725 for installation. What this lift can do for you depends on the length of your steps and how cold your winters are.
Summit Specifications
Your steps have a metal track mounted along them called the rail, and the seat rides up and down on it. How much weight the Summit holds depends on how long that track is. Harmar publishes the numbers:
| Specification | Summit SL350OD |
|---|---|
| Maximum load, track up to 15 ft 9 in long | 350 lb |
| Maximum load, track from 15 ft 10 in up to 25 ft | 250 lb |
| Operating temperatures | 0°F–125°F |
| Parts warranty | 2 years |
| Covers | Included |
Weight Limits on Longer Flights of Steps
If you have 14 steps or fewer, the Summit can carry up to 350 lb. Longer staircases need more rail, and the limit drops to 250 lb. With 18 steps you need about 19 ft of rail, which goes beyond 15 ft 9 in, so on a staircase that long the Summit holds 250 lb.
Can the Summit Handle Cold Winters?
This 0°F to 125°F span is one of the widest published for any outdoor lift. Minnesota January nights average 1°F, and among six common straight lifts, just two — the Summit and the Bruno Elite Outdoor — carry a rating for winters like that. In Florida, with January nights averaging 47°F and July days hitting 92°F, all six lifts are rated for the climate.
| Outdoor straight lift | Operating temperatures | Maximum load |
|---|---|---|
| Bruno Elite Outdoor | 0°F–125°F | 400 lb |
| Leaf HomeGlide | roughly 5°F–122°F | 350 lb |
| Harmar Summit | 0°F–125°F | 350 lb, dropping to 250 lb once the track passes 15 ft 9 in |
| Stannah 320 | 14°F–105°F | 300 lb |
| Handicare 1000 Outdoor | 32°F–104°F | 350 lb |
| Savaria K2 | 14°F–104°F | 350 lb |
What the Summit Costs
Mobility Mart sells the Summit for $4,085, and installation there costs $725. Altogether, that comes to $4,810 from that retailer.
Other Harmar Outdoor Lifts
For outdoor staircases, Harmar makes a pair of lifts:
- The Summit SL350OD, built for straight steps
- The Helix, made for staircases that curve or include a landing
The Helix holds up to 350 lb, and Harmar gives it warranty coverage of 2 years, 1 year, and lifetime, depending on the part. No temperature range is published for the Helix. At one retailer, it starts at $10,995.
Common Questions
How much is a used outdoor stair lift?
A used straight outdoor lift usually costs about $1,500 to $4,500, which can be a good way to save if your steps are straight.
Which curved outdoor lift handles very cold winters?
For harsh winters, the Bruno Elite Curved Outdoor holds 400 lb and carries a rating from 0°F up to 125°F. The Handicare 4000 is rated only down to 14°F and holds 300 lb, so it isn't built for Minnesota-style January nights or for heavier riders.
How much is a new straight outdoor lift for a long flight of steps?
With eight steps, expect a new straight outdoor lift to run roughly $4,810 to $10,500 installed. A longer flight, around 20 steps, adds about $462 for the extra rail, so plan on about $5,272 to $10,962 installed.
What other choice is there for a porch?
For a porch, you might consider a porch lift — a little platform that rises straight up rather than following the steps. Porch lifts hold 750 lb. One for seven steps, roughly 54 inches of rise, runs about $12,000 to $18,000, while the Bruno VPL-3175 goes as high as 75 inches.