How to measure your stairs for a stairlift
Six measurements are enough to check which lift fits. Each card shows where to put the tape, and your phone's motion sensor can read the stair angle. Then open the result in 3D.
Step 1
Count the steps
Count every step you climb from the bottom floor to the top floor, including the last step onto the landing.
Step 2
Step height
Measure from the top of one step to the top of the next. Measure two or three and take the average.
cmStep 3
Step depth
Measure from the front edge of one step to the front edge of the next, on a straight part. Or use your phone's angle meter.
cmStep 4
Stair width
Measure the narrowest point: wall to banister or handrail, about 30 cm above the steps.
cmStep 5
Space at the top
From the top step's front edge to the nearest wall, door or obstacle on the landing.
cmStep 6
Space at the bottom
From the bottom step to the nearest wall or door. Note any door or walkway right in front of the stairs.
cm
What you need
A tape measure, a pencil, and a phone if you want to measure the angle. It takes about five minutes. If someone else will use the lift, measure the stairs they actually use.
Tips for accurate numbers
- Measure the narrowest point of the stairs, often at a turn or where a radiator or banister sticks out.
- Count risers, not treads: the last step onto the landing counts too.
- Write down obstacles: a door at the top or bottom, a window sill, a radiator on the wall side.
- Photos help: take one from the bottom, one from the top and one of each turn. Installers use them to plan the survey.
What installers measure on their survey
For a straight stairlift, the measurements above are close to what an installer needs. For curved stairs, the installer surveys every turn exactly (some makers use photo or laser surveys) because the rail is made to measure. Your numbers still tell you early which options are realistic.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is a phone as an angle meter?
Phone tilt sensors read to about a degree. Lay the phone on a straight board across two or three step edges, not on a single step.
Which measurements matter most?
The narrowest width, the number of steps and the step height. For turning stairs, also the number of steps before each turn.
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