An outdoor curved stairlift is basically a chair that travels along a rail shaped to match exterior steps that bend or pause at a landing. The rail itself is a metal track fixed alongside your steps, and with a curved model it is built to fit your staircase and no other. Expect a curved outdoor lift to cost about $9,500 to $16,000.
Outdoor Lifts for Stairs That Have Landings
With a curved lift, one continuous rail carries the rider around a turn or across a landing, so they never have to leave the seat between the bottom and the top. A landing is the level spot midway up where the steps break or switch direction.
Every rail is built for a single staircase. According to Bruno, its Elite curved outdoor lift matches the angles of your steps. Harmar makes the same point about the Helix, which is built for each individual staircase.
How Do Curved Outdoor Lifts Compare?
| Model | Temperature range | Weight limit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Elite Curved Outdoor | Works from 0°F up to 125°F | Holds 400 lb | $9,500 to $16,000 for curved outdoor lifts |
| Handicare 4000 Outdoor | Runs between 14°F and 104°F | Holds 300 lb | Quoted by the dealer |
| Harmar Helix | Ask the dealer; Harmar gives no range | Holds 350 lb | Starts at $10,995 |
The Handicare 4000 can be ordered with an outdoor package suited to certain climates.
Will It Handle Your Winters?
A lift's temperature rating shows the coldest and hottest conditions it is designed to work in. This table lines up average January night lows in each state against the coldest temperatures each lift is built for:
| State | Average January low | Bruno Elite Curved (rated to 0°F) | Handicare 4000 (rated to 14°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 1°F | Within range | Below range |
| North Dakota | 1°F | Within range | Below range |
| Maine | 6°F | Within range | Below range |
| Washington | 26°F | Within range | Within range |
| Virginia | 26°F | Within range | Within range |
| Georgia | 36°F | Within range | Within range |
| Florida | 47°F | Within range | Within range |
Hot summers count as well. Average July afternoon highs climb to about 95°F across Texas and Arizona, while Florida sits near 92°F, and all of those fall inside both ratings.
Weight and weather together can shrink your options. Take a curved flight in Minnesota with a rider who weighs 380 lb: just one of these two lifts works, the Bruno Elite Curved Outdoor, rated to carry 400 lb in temperatures down to 0°F.
What a Curved Outdoor Lift Costs
Expect to pay $9,500 to $16,000 for a curved outdoor lift. The Harmar Helix begins at $10,995. These cost more than straight lifts since the rail is built for your steps and yours alone.
Rail Lead Time and Installation Day
Once your steps have been measured, building a curved rail takes roughly three to five weeks. Putting it in then takes around one day. A Bruno curved lift takes about four to eight hours to fit.
Questions People Ask
Does a used curved stairlift save money?
Not by much, in most cases. Stannah points out that a refurbished curved lift requires a brand-new rail, since the original rail was shaped around another person's steps. Refurbished means a secondhand lift that has been inspected and fixed up for resale. Used straight lifts run $1,500 to $4,500, though they only work on steps without a turn or landing.
How much cheaper is a straight outdoor lift?
For eight steps, roughly 8 ft 5 in of rail, a new straight outdoor lift runs $4,810 to $10,500 installed. That comes to about half the price of a curved model, but it only suits steps that go straight from bottom to top.
Can I skip the rail on the steps?
Yes. A porch lift is a small platform that rises straight up beside the steps rather than traveling along them. For seven steps, around 54 inches of rise, the price is $12,000 to $18,000. Bruno's VPL-3175 lifts as high as 75 inches, and some porch lifts hold as much as 750 lb.
Which curved outdoor lift handles the most weight?
Bruno's Elite Curved Outdoor holds the most, up to 400 lb. Next is the Harmar Helix at 350 lb, then the Handicare 4000 at 300 lb.