Having trouble with stairs doesn’t mean the same thing for everyone. You might need help reaching an upstairs bedroom, or you might need a way to get your wheelchair from the garage into your home.
At COR Freedom, we help Michigan homeowners find a solution that fits their mobility and their home. Here’s how stairlifts and vertical platform lifts compare, with real examples from customers we’ve helped.
Stairlift or Platform Lift? Here’s the Main Difference
A stairlift carries you in a chair along your stairs, so you need to be able to get onto and off the seat. A vertical platform lift moves straight up and down and lets you stay in your wheelchair. The right choice depends on your mobility and where you need access.
How Does a Stairlift Work?
A stairlift has a chair that travels along a rail following your staircase. You sit down, ride upstairs or downstairs, and get off at the other end.
The rail mounts to the stair treads—not the wall. That’s one of the most common misunderstandings we hear from customers.
A stairlift can be a good fit for someone who has trouble climbing stairs but can safely get onto and off the seat.
Using a wheelchair doesn’t automatically rule it out. Some customers can transfer from a wheelchair onto the stairlift, then into a second wheelchair waiting at the other end. Whether that arrangement works depends on the person’s abilities and the space available at both landings.
A Customer Example: Getting Back to an Upstairs Bedroom
One customer we helped had been sleeping in their living room after an injury made climbing stairs too difficult.
A stairlift gave them access to their upstairs bedroom again. They could return to sleeping where they felt most comfortable.
That’s an important part of choosing a lift: understanding what someone wants to get back to doing in their home.
How Does a Vertical Platform Lift Work?
A vertical platform lift, often called a VPL, works more like a small elevator. A person enters the platform, the platform moves straight up or down, and they exit at the other level.
A wheelchair user can remain in their wheelchair during the ride.
Unlike a stairlift, a VPL does not follow the staircase. It needs its own space beside the raised entrance or landing. Common locations include:
• Inside a garage, between the garage floor and the door into the home.
• Outside, between the ground and a porch.
• Beside a raised doorway or deck.
VPLs can sometimes work inside a home, too. In our experience, the home’s layout often makes that more challenging than placing one in a garage or outside.
At COR Freedom, we offer VPL solutions for rises up to 72 inches.
A Customer Example: Access Through a Garage
A recent customer needed access to a back door that opened into their garage.
Using a 1:12 ramp slope as our planning guideline, the height of the doorway would have required a ramp too long to fit in the available space.
Our solution was to build a custom wooden landing at the door and place a VPL next to it. The customer could use the lift to reach the landing, then enter the home.
Garages can be especially useful locations for this type of project because they typically already have a concrete floor. The VPLs we provide need to be secured to suitable concrete.
| Consideration | Stairlift | Vertical platform lift |
|---|---|---|
| How it moves | Follows a staircase | Travels straight up and down |
| How you ride | Seated in the lift’s chair | On a platform, including in a wheelchair |
| Transfer required | Must be able to get onto and off the seat | A wheelchair user can stay in their chair |
| Common purpose | Access to an upstairs bedroom or another level reached by stairs | Access to a raised entrance, porch, or garage doorway |
| Space needed | Room along the staircase and at both ends | A separate area for the lift and access to the landing |
| Typical COR Freedom pricing | Generally $5,000 or less for a simple straight staircase, including setup | $9,000 and up, depending on make, model, and configuration | d>
| Outdoor use | Outdoor models are available | Outdoor models are available |
These prices are general starting points for planning. Your home’s layout, the lift selected, and any preparation work can affect the total.
Which Lift Makes More Sense for Your Home?
1. Start With the Ability to Transfer.
The first thing we consider is whether the person can safely transfer onto and off a stairlift seat.
If they can, a stairlift may provide the access they need. If transferring is difficult or they need to remain in their wheelchair, a platform lift may be a better option—provided the location allows for it.
2. Consider Where You Need Access.
An upstairs bedroom and a raised garage entrance present two different challenges.
A stairlift follows an existing staircase. A VPL needs a suitable location where it can move vertically and connect to a safe landing.
That’s why there isn’t one lift that works best for every home. The person’s needs and the home’s layout have to work together.
3. Talk About Future Needs.
We also discuss whether someone’s mobility may change.
A person who can transfer comfortably today may find it harder later. That possibility is worth considering before making a purchase. We explain the options and tradeoffs, and the customer decides what fits their situation.
What Do We Check During a Home Assessment?
For a stairlift, we measure the staircase’s width and length. We also measure the distance from the customer’s hips to their knees to help assess how they will fit while seated.
Weight capacity matters for both types of lifts.
For a VPL, we consider the combined weight of:
• The person using the lift.
• Their wheelchair, power chair, or other mobility device.
• Any caregiver who may ride with them, where the lift permits it.
The lift must be suitable for the full load it will carry.
For a platform lift, the site also needs attention. Manufacturer guidance identifies concrete support as an important requirement, so choosing a location involves more than finding an empty spot beside the door.
Can Stairlifts and Platform Lifts Be Used Outside in Michigan?
Yes. Both are available in models designed for outdoor use.
For an outdoor stairlift, we recommend covering the seat when it’s not in use.
For a VPL, you’ll need to keep snow cleared from the platform. Placing it under an awning is another option to consider when planning the project.
Thinking about winter use early helps you choose a practical location.
Try Both at COR Freedom’s Living Showroom
Reading about lifts helps. Trying them can make the differences much clearer.
At COR Freedom’s living showroom in Flushing, Michigan, you can try five stairlifts and two vertical platform lifts. You can experience how they work and talk with our team about your home and mobility needs.
Give COR Freedom a call—or, better yet, visit our living showroom to explore your options in person.