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Outdoor Stair Lifts for Your Weather

Tell us about the steps and who will ride, and see which lifts handle your weather. Then call to get a price.

Pick the state where the steps are to see its January and July averages next to each lift. Choose your state

Which outdoor lifts suit your steps?

Shape of the steps
About 6 ft 4 in of railfor 6 steps
Bruno EliteHarmar SummitStannah 320Handicare 1000Savaria K2Leaf HomeGlide0°F40°F80°F120°F

Lifts that fit these steps and your weather show as dark green bars. When no lift can handle your winter, the closest option appears as a copper bar. Your state's January night low and July day high mark the two ends of the shaded band (NOAA averages, 1991 to 2020). Because some nights fall below the average, a lift rated near it is flagged.

Lifts that work for your steps

6 of 6

Of the 6 straight outdoor lifts on this site, 6 can take a 220 lb rider on a rail of roughly 6 ft 4 in. Pick your state to see how each one handles your winters and summers.

Call about my 6 matching lifts

A lift adviser can go over these models with you and set up a visit to measure your steps.

  • Bruno Elite Outdoor: for riders up to 400 lb, in weather between 0°F and 125°F
  • Harmar Summit SL350OD: for riders up to 350 lb, in weather between 0°F and 125°F
  • Stannah 320 Outdoor: for riders up to 300 lb, in weather between 14°F and 105°F
  • Handicare 1000 Outdoor: for riders up to 350 lb, in weather between 32°F and 104°F
  • Savaria K2 with outdoor package: for riders up to 350 lb, in weather between 14°F and 104°F
  • Leaf Home HomeGlide Outdoor: for riders up to 350 lb, in weather between 5°F and 122°F

The ratings give a first shortlist; before quoting, a dealer looks at the landing, the steps, and the way the rider sits down and stands up.

An outdoor stair lift is a seat that rides along a metal track, called the rail, up the steps to a porch, deck or garden, and it is made to stay outside all year. For very cold winters, Bruno and Harmar are the two to look at: both handle anything from 0°F to 125°F. For milder places there is the Stannah 320, rated for 14°F to 105°F.

Compare Outdoor Stair Lifts

Side by side, eight outdoor chair lifts from six brands: the weather each one works in, how much weight it carries and what it costs. Curved models are at the bottom.

LiftWorks inRider up toPrice
Bruno Elite Outdoor (straight)0°F to 125°F400 lbAbout $7,100 from a dealer
Harmar Summit SL350OD0°F to 125°F350 lb (250 lb on long staircases)$4,810 installed
Stannah 320 Outdoor14°F to 105°F300 lbFrom $6,300 installed
Handicare 1000 Outdoor32°F to 104°F350 lbQuoted by the dealer
Savaria K2 with outdoor package14°F to 104°F350 lbQuoted by the dealer
Leaf Home HomeGlide Outdoor5°F to 122°F350 lbQuoted after a home visit
Bruno Elite Curved Outdoor0°F to 125°F400 lb$9,500 to $16,000 installed
Handicare 4000 Outdoor (curved)14°F to 104°F300 lbQuoted by the dealer

Sources: Bruno, Handicare, Harmar, Leaf Home, Savaria, Stannah.

Warranties and power sources are compared on the power, batteries and solar page.

What Makes a Stair Lift an Outdoor Stair Lift?

Everything on an outdoor stair lift is made for the weather. The seat covering keeps off rain, the rail will not rust, and a cover goes over the chair when nobody is riding. Harmar, for example, sends three covers with its Summit, and one of them fits over the whole chair.

Its rail is bolted to the steps rather than to a wall, so, as the National Council on Aging notes, it can go on open porch and garden steps. Nearly every outdoor lift has a battery that recharges while the chair is parked, so it keeps working during a power outage.

Outdoor stair lift parked at the foot of concrete porch steps dusted with snow

Snow, Rain and Salt Air

Any machine left outdoors suffers from rain, frost and the salty air near the sea. So an outdoor lift needs a technician to look it over more often than an indoor one, and Silver Cross suggests once or twice a year.

Put the cover back on after each ride: Stannah says it keeps rain, snow, dirt and harsh sun off the chair. Sweep snow and ice off the rail before anyone rides, and read your lift's manual first: AmeriGlide, for example, says its outdoor lifts should not be used in snow and ice.

Is a Permit Required for an Outside Stair Lift?

That depends on your state and town. Some ask for a permit and an inspection for every stair lift, even one at a private house. Others only ask for one at shops and other businesses, as Arrow Lift explains.

A good installer will know what your town asks for and get the permit for you. Make sure the price you are given includes the permit and inspection fees, so there are no surprises later.

More Guides to Outdoor Lifts

Common Questions About Outdoor Stair Lifts

Can a stair lift be used outside?

Yes, as long as it is an outdoor model. Those have seats, covers and rails made for wet weather, and each has its own lowest and highest working temperature. An indoor lift is not made for rain or frost, so it belongs inside the house.

Will Medicare cover an outdoor stair lift?

Usually not. The National Council on Aging explains that Medicare treats a stair lift as a change to your home, not as medical equipment, so it does not normally pay. Some state Medicaid programs (health coverage for people with low incomes) and some veterans' benefits can help, depending on where you live and your service record.

What outdoor stair lift has the highest weight limit?

The Bruno Elite Outdoor has the highest limit of the lifts compared here, 400 lb. Both the Harmar Summit and the Leaf HomeGlide take 350 lb, and the Stannah 320 takes 300 lb.

When the power fails, can an outdoor stair lift still run?

Most can. A battery lift such as the Bruno Elite Outdoor keeps going when the power is off, and recharges whenever the chair rests at either end of its rail (101 Mobility has the details). By contrast, the Harmar Summit runs off your house's power, so it stops during an outage.