We often have customers asking about the best stairlift for narrow stairs. In many cases, most stairlifts will accommodate stairs that are narrow.

One of the key issues when stairlifts don’t fit is the back to knee measurement. In the picture below you can see the Stannah 600 on a set of narrow stairs, showing the back to knee and back to toe measurements.

This particular stairlift is superb on a straight set of narrow stairs because the position of the chair is well back on the rail. Problems arise when the back to toe or back to knee measurement (whichever is greater) exceed the available space, or on a curved staircase where obstacles prevent this kind of lift being installed. 

Best Stairlift For Narrow Stairs – Cost

Often the best stairlifts for narrow stairs are the cheapest stairlift which will fit. Cost is usually a factor, and we will often recommend a customer get a reconditioned stairlift to save money when they are on a budget. When you need a specialist stairlift, in the case of very narrow/awkward stairs, a reconditioned stairlift can make the purchase more affordable.

Specialist lifts for narrow stairs include the Flow X from Access BDD (formerly Thyssen-Krupp). This stairlift is the go-to model when nothing else will fit on your stairs. This can be the case if there’s a doorway at the base, your stairs are extremely narrow, or another obstacle prevents the installation of a standard lift.

Here’s the Flow X on a very narrow staircase, where nothing else would fit:

However, the Flow X might not be necessary for your particular staircase, and often a cheaper solution might be better.

Best Stairlift For Narrow Stairs – Stannah 260 & 600 Models

Two of the best stairlifts for narrow stairs are the Stannah’s 600 and 260 models for straight and curved stairs respectively. These are often the perfect solution, particularly when choosing a reconditioned stairlift due to their superb build quality and long lasting parts.

The Stannah chair position often puts it as a forerunner when it comes to space-saving on the stairs.

The Stannah’s wafer thin chair back pictured here is no mistake! That’s specifically designed to allow more leg room on narrow staircases. It means the chair position is as far back to the rail as is physically possible – allowing far more leg room than some other makes.

Here’s the Stannah 260 on a narrow, curved staircase.

When You Need A Flow X

The Flow X is particularly good on staircases where nothing else will fit. It has a downward facing ride position which gets around the back to knee/toe minimum width issue. So if another stairlift won’t fit, this is the solution.

The Flow also has a patented ASL technology (Advanced Swivelling and Levelling). This allows it to pivot the seat position while travelling. This can allow it to navigate tight corners and bends in the staircase, where other models would struggle.

Do You Need A Digital Survey?

In many cases a standard stairlift will be fine for most stairs. But with particularly narrow staircases, or those with awkward doors or turns, a Flow might be needed. In some cases, the Flow won’t fit either! This will depend on the dimensions of your staircase and any obstacles. Doorways at the top/bottom and corridors can be a problem for some stairlifts.

When it isn’t a certainty that the Flow X can solve the problem, you might need a photo-survey of your staircase. This involves taking a number of pictures of your stairs and creating a digital map. This information is then fed directly to the Flow X manufacturers who can determine whether it is an option to install a Flow X stairlift on your stairs.

Give our team a call and arrange for a free survey.

Call 0800 0337 133 or visit our contact page here.

Do You Need A Heavy Duty Stairlift?

The Stannah 600 (heavy weight model) is calibrated up to 25 stone and the Stannah 260 up to 19 stone. The Flow X has a weight limit of just 19 stone. If you are over the weight limit for a stairlift, you may need a heavy duty stairlift with a higher weight capacity.

If your stairs are also very narrow, this can cause issues for some heavy duty stairlifts, which are larger in size and have heavier rails.

One of the best stairlifts for this scenario is the Platinum Ultimate which has a weight capacity of 25 stone and is agile on narrow curved staircases. Here’s the Platinum Ultimate stairlift.