What is a chairlift?

The terms ‘chair lift’ and ‘stairlift’ are often used interchangeably. They essentially mean the same thing: a mobility aid that takes the user up and down the stairs as they sit or perch on a seat.

There are ways to differentiate between the terms, however. All chairlifts are stairlifts, but not all stairlifts are chairlifts.

Chairlifts for stairs involve a person sitting down in a sitting position on a chair. In contrast, some stairlifts are designed for those who can’t sit down comfortably and need to perch or stand instead.

Read more about different types of stairlifts.