The first and by far most common type of stair lift is the stair chair. These lifts allow the occupants to sit in a chair and be carried up the stairs. These models make up well over 90% of the lifts that you see in homes and public areas. The chair will be sent along a metal track. The track remains stationary and is securely bolted to the stairs. Usually the track is made out of high test aluminum, which is very strong and resistant to rust.

The other, far less common, type of stair lift is the perch lift. These lifts require that the occupant remain standing on a small platform, called a perch, as they are carried up and down the stairs. Some models have a waist high pad that the occupant can lean against as the move, but the occupant still must remain in a near upright position. The reason that these are much less common is because there is a much larger risk of falling when using one of these types of lifts. They require a strong sense of balance, so unless you are medically unable to use a stair chair, you would want to stay clear of a perch lift. They do take up much less space though, so sometimes if you have a very narrow staircase, a perch lift might be one of the only options.

If you have a straight stairway or one that is 'L' shaped, you can typically install a stair lift easily and inexpensively. Many people do the installation on their own, and it can usually be done in only a few hours. These lifts are a very cost effective alternative to a residential elevator.

While those that have a straight or 'L' shaped stairway can easily install a stair lift, the cost of a curved stair lift is over a hundred times more than straight stairway lifts. For most people an elevator is a better choice in this instance. Curved stair lifts cost a lot and take several months to be built, but they loose most of this value as soon as they are built. This is because they can only be used on a stairway that is identical to the one they were made for. An elevator on the other hand will increase your homes value and when it comes time to sell your home, you will be able to get back much of the cost of the elevator.

Using an elevator or stairway lift in the home is a great way to prevent accidents on the stairs.