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Sell your stairlift
A working straight stairlift is worth real money to a reconditioner — typically £250 to £600. A curved one is usually worth very little, for a reason that has nothing to do with its condition. Here is how the numbers actually work, so you know whether an offer is fair.
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What a used stairlift is worth
One thing dominates the price, and it is not the make, the age or the condition. It is whether the rail can go on somebody else's staircase.
| Type | Typical offer | Share of what it cost new | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight, working, recent make | £250 – £600 | up to ~20% | The rail can be cut down to fit another staircase, so the whole lift is resaleable |
| Straight, older or non-working | £0 – £250 | — | Worth having for spares; free removal is often the fairest outcome |
| Curved | £0 – £300 | ~10% at best | The rail was bent to fit one specific staircase and cannot be reused — usually sold for parts only |
A curved rail is manufactured to the exact geometry of the staircase it was measured for — the bends, the pitch, the landing. It is the reason curved stairlifts cost several times more than straight ones new, and the same reason they are nearly worthless used. Nobody else's stairs are that shape. What has value is the carriage, the seat and the electronics, which come off and keep other lifts running.
If you have a curved lift and someone offers you a large sum for it, ask what they intend to do with the rail. The honest answer is scrap.
What moves the number up or down
Straight rail
The single biggest factor. A straight rail can be shortened and refitted; a curved one cannot.
Still working
A lift that runs up and down under its own power is worth substantially more than one that has to be taken on trust. If it works, say so — and if you can, leave it plugged in for the visit.
Recognised make
Stannah, Acorn, Handicare, Brooks and Bison have parts availability and a resale market. A discontinued make with no spare parts is worth much less whatever its condition.
Age
Under about ten years is where the value sits. Beyond that, buyers are increasingly paying for parts rather than for a resaleable lift.
Service history
Uncommon, but it helps. If the lift has been serviced annually and you have the paperwork, it reduces the buyer's risk and that is worth money.
Access
Rarely decisive, but a first-floor flat with no lift and a tight communal stair adds real labour to the collection, and that can come off the offer.
How selling it works
Tell us what you have
Make, straight or curved, roughly how old, and whether it still runs. A photo of the seat and one looking up the rail is enough for a realistic figure.
You get a figure before anyone visits
An indicative offer based on the make and type. It should not change on the day unless what turns up is different from what was described — and if someone drops their price at the door, that is a reason to say no.
Collection and removal together
The buyer removes the lift as part of collecting it, fills the fixing holes in the treads, and takes it away. You should not be paying for removal on a lift somebody is buying from you.
You are paid on collection
Payment happens when the lift leaves, not weeks later. Bank transfer on the day is normal.
These are the same transaction. If your lift is a working straight one, "we'll take it away for free" means the company has valued the lift at roughly the cost of the removal and kept the difference. That may still be a perfectly fair deal, and it is often the simplest one. But you are entitled to ask for the two numbers separately: what the removal costs, and what the lift is worth.
Questions people ask
How much will I actually get for my stairlift?
For a working straight stairlift from a recognised make and under about ten years old, typically £250 to £600. That is roughly up to a fifth of what it cost new. Curved lifts are usually £0 to £300 because the rail cannot be reused. Anyone who quotes you a firm figure without asking whether the rail is straight or curved is guessing.
Can I sell it myself on eBay or Facebook?
You can, and for a straight lift you may get more than a trade offer. Be realistic about what it involves: you are responsible for it being removed safely, the buyer will usually want it uninstalled before they collect, and a stairlift is not something most private buyers can fit themselves. Many people start there and end up selling to a reconditioner for the convenience.
Do I have to pay for removal if I'm selling it?
No. If someone is buying the lift, collection and removal should be part of the deal. Paying a removal fee and handing over a resaleable lift for nothing is the outcome to avoid.
Does it need to be working?
Not necessarily, but it changes the figure a lot. A non-working lift is bought for its parts, so expect the offer to drop towards zero. If it has stopped for something simple — batteries, a fuse, a charge point — it may be worth getting it looked at first, because a working lift is worth more than the repair costs. Ask about a repair →
What about the Acorn or Stannah buy-back schemes?
Some manufacturers operate their own resale or trade-in schemes, usually tied to buying a replacement from them. They are worth a call if you are replacing like for like. If you are not buying anything else, an independent reconditioner is generally the better comparison.
We're clearing a house after a bereavement. Is this awkward?
Not at all, and it is a large share of what buyers deal with. There is no urgency from our side, it can be arranged by an executor or family member rather than the householder, and a collection can be booked around house clearance and probate rather than the other way round.
Find out what yours is worth
Tell us the make, whether the rail is straight or curved, and whether it still runs. You will get an indicative figure before anyone comes to the house, and you are under no obligation to accept it.
Not selling, just want it gone? See stairlift removal.
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