Start shopping for help with the stairs and you'll quickly run into a handful of names: stair chair, stair lift, chair lift, stairlift, stair chair lift. It's natural to wonder whether they're different products. In almost every case, they're not.

What is a stair chair?

A stair chair is a seat that rides along a rail mounted to your staircase, carrying you between floors while you sit. It's the same device most people call a stair lift. We use "stair chair" in our name because it describes exactly what you ride: a chair on your stairs.

Stair chair vs. stair lift vs. chair lift

Here's how the common terms line up:

  • Stair chair: a seated lift that travels along the staircase. Same as a stair lift.
  • Stair lift (or stairlift): the most widely used name for the same device, spelled as one word or two.
  • Chair lift / chair lift for stairs: another everyday name for a stair lift. (It can also mean a ski lift, which is why many people add "for stairs.")
  • Stair chair lift / stair lift chair: combinations of the same words, again describing the same equipment.

So if you're comparing a stair chair and a stair lift, you're really comparing brands, models and features, not different kinds of products.

A different "stair chair" you might see

One caution: in medical and emergency settings, "stair chair" can also mean an evacuation chair, a portable chair with tracks or wheels that a helper uses to carry someone down the stairs. Those are pushed or guided by another person and aren't installed in the home. When we talk about stair chairs, we mean the permanently installed, rail-mounted kind you operate yourself.

Which type of stair chair do you need?

What really matters isn't the name, it's the shape of your staircase:

  • A single straight flight uses a straight stair chair.
  • Stairs with a landing, turn or curve need a curved stair chair with a custom rail.

Our stair chairs overview explains both types side by side.

Features to compare

Whatever you call it, compare stair chairs on the things that affect daily use: seat comfort, a swivel seat for getting on and off safely at the top, a footrest that folds up, easy-to-use controls and safety sensors that stop the chair if something is in the way.

Stair chair FAQs

Is a stair chair the same as a stair lift?

Yes. "Stair chair" and "stair lift" describe the same rail-mounted seat that carries you between floors. You'll also see it called a chair lift, stairlift or stair chair lift.

Is a stair chair the same as an evacuation chair?

No. An evacuation chair is a portable device a helper uses to carry someone down the stairs in an emergency. A home stair chair is permanently installed and operated by the person riding it.

Can a stair chair be used outdoors?

Outdoor stair chairs are built for porch, deck and walkway steps and are designed to handle the weather. Indoor models shouldn't be used outside.

Talk with a local stair chair company

Tri-State Stair Chair sells and installs stair chairs across Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. Whether you search for a stair chair, stair lift or chair lift, call us and we'll help you find the right fit for your stairs.