A straight stairlift is a chair on a rail that carries you up and down a straight flight of stairs. It’s the simplest, most reliable, and most affordable kind of stairlift — and for homes where the staircase runs straight from one floor to the next, it’s the right answer about nine times out of ten.
Who it’s for
Anyone whose stairs have become the hard part of the day: knees that won’t cooperate, balance that isn’t what it used to be, a heart or lung condition that makes the climb exhausting, or recovery from surgery. A straight stairlift takes the stairs out of the equation so the bedroom, bathroom, or laundry room on the other floor is yours again — safely and independently.
How it works
The rail bolts to your stair treads — not to the wall — so there’s no damage to your walls and the stairs themselves are all that gets drilled. At the top of the stairs, the chair swivels and locks so you can get on and off safely at the landing. Controls are simple: a rocker switch on the armrest for the rider, plus remote call/send controls at the top and bottom so family can bring the chair to whoever needs it.
When you’re not using it, the seat, footrest, and armrests fold up against the rail, leaving most of the staircase open for everyone else. And because stairlifts run on rechargeable batteries, the chair keeps working through a power outage — it charges whenever it’s parked at either end of the rail.
What to expect from the process
- Free in-home evaluation. We come out, measure your staircase, check your electrical situation, and talk through which options make sense. No pressure, no obligation.
- Same-day recommendation. We tell you straight what your stairs need — straight or curved, any special considerations — and give you a firm price.
- Installation in a day. Straight stairlifts don’t need a custom-built rail, so once you decide, most installs take a few hours. We’ll show you how everything works before we leave, and we haul away all the packaging.
Options and features to know about
- Seat and rail size: standard seats fit most people; wider seats and heavier-duty units exist for larger riders.
- Power swivel seat: turns you to face the landing at the push of a button instead of manually swiveling.
- Power folding rail: if a doorway or hallway sits right at the bottom of the stairs, the rail can fold up automatically to keep the walkway clear.
- Safety sensors: the footrest and carriage stop the chair if something’s in the way on the steps.
Models We Carry
Bruno Elan (SRE-5000)
Bruno’s current straight-rail model. Slim, quiet, and straightforward — this is the unit we recommend for most straight staircases. Brochure: Download the Bruno Elan brochure (PDF) Warranty:
Bruno Elite (SRE-2010)
The Elite straight stairlift is the step up — a wider seat and heavier-duty feel for riders who want more room or need higher capacity. A good fit for wider staircases and larger riders. Brochure: Download the Bruno Elite brochure (PDF) Warranty:
Over 20 years of experience installing stairlifts across Western PA, NY’s Southern Tier, and eastern Ohio. When you call Sunrise, you talk to the same small team that will measure your stairs and install your lift.
Main Office: (878) 287-2877 Pittsburgh area: (724) 396-5730 Northwest & Central PA: (814) 460-7977 info@getmeupstairs.com Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM