Acorn Stair Lifts

4 Stars (117 Reviews)

Updated: January 25, 2023

For over 25 years, Acorn has worked to set new standards in both quality and innovation in the stairlift industry. Acorn Stairlifts has grown to become the world’s leading independent company specializing solely in the manufacture and installation of stairlifts, pioneering designs and high engineering standards. Acorn was the first company to introduce DC batteries to power their stairlifts during a power outage.

Editorial Breakdown

Customer Service

4.3 Stars

Customization

3.8 Stars

Warranty

4 Stars

Price

4.5 Stars

Overall Rating

4 Stars

Bottom Line

Acorn designs and sells three models of stair lifts – one for straight stairs, curved stairs and outdoor use. Its stair lifts are designed to easily mount on your stairs instead of the wall and require no structural changes to your home. Check out our picks for the best stair lift companies by clicking the link below.

Since 1992, Acorn Stairlifts has helped over 600,000 customers in 80 countries. The company that we named as having Great Installation in our Best Stairlifts Buyer’s Guide reports that an Acorn stairlift is installed somewhere in the world every eight minutes. With the U.S. headquarters in Florida and a network of stairlift surveyors and engineers all over the country, the U.K.-based company keeps their product line simple with three stairlifts: Straight, Curved and Outdoor. Acorn manufactures and installs every stairlift, and there is never a need for structural changes to your home.

Pros

  • Installs in under one hour
  • The only manufacturer awarded the Ease of Use Commendation from the Arthritis Foundation
  • Customers have access to a dedicated help desk every day of the year

Cons

  • Weight limits at 280 and 350 pounds are lower compared to most other stairlifts

Acorn Stairlifts Products

All three Acorn stairlifts are designed to be attached to the staircase and not the wall, so remodeling isn’t necessary. Acorn is the only stairlift company offering the FastTrack installation system featuring a variety of modular interlocking rails custom fit together to follow the flow of your staircase. With FastTrack, a curved stairway can typically be installed within a few days after the customer places the order, instead of waiting for weeks for the production of a full-length custom rail. FastTrack rails are easy to install as well, so you can use your Acorn stairlift within a couple of hours after the installers arrive at your home.

ModelTypeCapacityFeatures
Acorn 130Straight Stairlift280 to 350 poundsInertia seat belt
Acorn 180Curved Stairlift265 poundsNo remodeling required
Acorn 130 OutdoorOutdoor Stairlift280 to 350 poundsWeather-resistant cover
Acorn Stairlifts Models, Capacity and Features
  • The Acorn 130 straight stairlift is designed for straight staircases and is the most affordable of the three models. It uses electricity very efficiently.
  • The Acorn 180 is a customizable curved-rail stairlift, one of the few curved models on the market that require no structural changes before installing.
  • The Acorn 130 Outdoor stairlift comes with a weather-resistant cover and stops automatically if any debris should fall or blow into the track.

Acorn Stairlifts Costs

While you can get an idea of the cost of a stairlift from our Cost of Aging in Place Remodeling Projects chart, your home and staircase are unique, so you will need an in-home survey to get a firm estimate. Acorn offers a free one-hour, in-home survey with no obligation to buy a stairlift. An experienced surveyor comes to your home at a time you select to measure and photograph your staircase. The technician takes the time to understand your mobility needs and to explain the best options. The surveyor has samples of Acorn’s stairlift rails, paddle switches, remote controls, and other key components and will answer any questions as well as provide you with a detailed quote.

It is recommended you budget around $2,500 to $5,500 to have a stairlift installed in your home. Many homeowners choose a stairlift model in the range of $3,000 to $4,500.

Acorn Stairlifts Safety Features

Aside from a seat belt, each Acorn stairlift comes standard with carriage safety pads and footrest safety edges which stop the stairlift if there is an obstruction on the track. The stairlift won’t move if the seat is not correctly aligned, and an over speed governor and safety gear prevent uncontrolled descents down the stairs.

Acorn 130 model
Acorn 130, Source: Acorn Stairlifts

If the household power goes out while the stairlift is in use, a battery backup takes over, so you are never left stranded on the stairs. The DC battery continuously charges, so it’s always ready to function, but can wear out like any other rechargeable battery. Acorn Stairlifts will send a replacement quickly, but there is no warranty for the cells.

Acorn Stairlifts Warranty

All three Acorn stairlift models come with a 12-month manufacturer guarantee covering service calls, parts and labor. The warranty also includes a full-service check of your stairlift near the end of your first year of ownership, including a comprehensive 25-point check of all major components. The company also offers a wide range of annual service agreements and extended warranties.

Where to Buy Acorn Stairlifts

Acorn sells directly to the public to keep their prices down. Contact Acorn Stairlifts to arrange for a quote by using the form on the website to provide your name, email, address and phone number. You can also call a representative at the number provided on the site to get questions answered and to schedule a free home survey.

Acorn Stairlift Complaints

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives Acorn Stairlifts an “A+” rating and has accredited the company since 2003. Acorn has a 4.8 out of 5-star consumer rating on the BBB website with 1,070 reviews. The BBB lists sixty-eight complaints, the majority made by family members wanting refunds after the stairlift user died or went into a senior living facility. Acorn Stairlifts responded to each person.

Woman seated on an Acorn 130 stair lift
Acorn 130, Source: Acorn Stairlifts

ConsumerAdvocate.com gives Acorn Stairlifts 9.5 out of 10 stars. ConsumerAffairs lists 141 consumer reviews with an average rating of 1.5 out of 5 stars. While there are some 5-star reviews, most cite issues with frequent malfunctions, customer service and waiting up to a week or more to get a stairlift repaired.

Acorn Stairlifts FAQ

Will an Acorn stairlift work with my staircase?

Acorn can almost always install a stairlift regardless of whether your staircase is curved or straight, indoors or outside, long, narrow, or steep. To learn about your options, schedule a free, no-obligation, in-home survey.

Are Acorn Stairlifts easy to operate?

Yes. Acorn stairlifts operate with a paddle control on the arm of the seat or via handheld remote control. The paddle is pressed and held in the direction of travel for the lift to operate.

I have a narrow staircase, should I consider an Acorn stairlift?

Acorn has stairlift options for narrow staircases:
A slimline model that uses less space, folding seats and footrests to keep the stairlift out of the way when not in use, and a hinged rail option that swings the stairlift around and off to the side at the top and bottom of the stairs.

Can an Acorn stairlift work on a staircase with multiple landings?

There are a few options for using an Acorn stairlift on a long staircase with one or more sub-landings. Options are a curved stairlift, a transfer platform or using multiple straight stairlifts.

What is the recommended maintenance for Acorn Stairlifts?

Acorn recommends cleaning the stairlift rails with a dry cloth weekly. They also advise customers to vacuum the steel-toothed rack mounted on the track regularly. Finally, Acorn recommends yearly servicing to expand the lifespan of the stairlift.

How can Acorn install their stairlifts in days rather than weeks like some other companies?

Acorn’s FastTrack rail system is unique as it allows even the most complex curved stairlift configurations to be fitted on site by their skilled engineers in just a few hours. An Acorn stairlift fits on your staircase, not the wall, so there’s minimal disruption to your home with no renovations.

Conclusion

Installing a stairlift and taking other fall-prevention measures can keep you safe and living in your home. Many hospitals use the patient’s degree of stair-climbing ability to decide if they can return to their home or go into assisted living or a nursing home. In these cases, an Acorn stairlift can be a game-changer. Having an Acorn Surveyor come to your house won’t cost you anything and a stairlift can be up and running in a few days if you opt to buy one.

117 Acorn Stair Lifts Reviews

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1 Star

July 12 2019 2:35PM

7/12/2019 This stair lift was purchased 2/11/2019 So a purchase of $9,950 is 5 months old and not working. We called for service on 7/8 and the soonest they can come to repair is 7/16. For people with health problems, who purchased help, what are they to do SAFELY while this is not working? I'm sorry I did not read all these reviews before I Purchased it. My BIG mistake.

Romaine C.
Arlington Heights, IL
1 Star

June 26 2019 4:36PM

Your company is shameful in the way it hard sells with scare tactics the most vulnerable of customers. And frankly if your product was any good those warranty plans wouldn't be necessary would they? To have a back up battery die within 9 months of purchase causing the unit to beep continuously is bad enough but then to not be able to get a service person out for THREE WEEKS is disgusting. Just throw a comforter over the chair to muffle the sound was the advice. Now William, our account advisor calls constantly trying to sell an extended warranty plan. Each call gets more and more threatening with the high costs of just keeping the chair operating, all the while referencing our recent repair needs. Again, doesn't speak highly of your product now, does it?

Angela P.
SPRINGFIELD, MO
1 Star

June 03 2019 7:35PM

Would give them a 0 if I could. I paid $5000.00 for a lemon Totally misrepresented their service. They are in Colorado and get handymen to install and they know nothing about them. Mine worked for 3 days. Getting a repairman is a major problem. They came out once and it ran for another 3 days. Would not take it back or exchange it and I have it laying in my basement. I bought a Stannah for $3000.00 and have had it 12 months now and never a problem. Bought locally with in-company service if needed 24 hrs. Never buy from Acorn. Don't believe anything they tell you.

Edith T.
Hohenwald, TN
2 Stars

April 09 2019 6:34PM

Purchased a 130 on a Friday and they came to install the following Tuesday. Purchase price was $3500. Saw on the company website that there was a special for $3000. Called a company rep immediately and he said he would honor that price until he realized that the installer was in the process of installing the unit, then he said there was nothing he could do so I had to pay the original $3500. I feel the sales person misrepresented the item as she should have known about any special pricing or sales and I also feel that the company should extend their special pricing to anyone that purchased the item during the time frame the special was in effect, not just to the ones who ask BEFORE the installation starts.

Shirley G.
Beatrice, NE
1 Star

March 07 2019 5:02PM

The unit sold for outdoor use is the same as the indoor model. Frequently inoperable as a result. Atrocious is an understatement when describing service. Service policies are expensive and very necessary. Hard to believe that they are able to continue their enterprise. Truly awful. Avoid!!

Edward B.
Milford, CT
1 Star

February 27 2019 7:51PM

They have a dangerously bad service policy. They advertise a 365 days service, but this only means the phone lines are open, not that the engineers are available. We are paying a FORTUNE for the annual fee, and when stair lift stopped working, we’ve been told that the engineers go home at 5pm and cant come out till "Sometime tomorrow". My mother is 96 and lives alone. She cannot get to get to her bedroom or her bathroom if the stair lift is broken. Not having any form of on-call engineering service is huge issue, and would make me strongly recommend going with any other provider. No-one we spoke with had showed any form of responsibility or even empathy for the situation. Avoid at all costs.

Gerri M.
London, SELECT A STATE
1 Star

January 23 2019 2:05AM

Acorn stairlfts unreliable. Acorn installed a 120. This stairlift was not used for approximately 6 months after installation due to patient not being released from hospital. After user started using the lift quickly stopped working, the repairman said that the limit switches weren't working and replaced them. Approximately 3 months later the emergency brake engaged, the limit switches again stop working. Had this same problem a total of 5 times. Today 5 years after install, I am told that the 120 isn't available, and some of the parts are not available for the installed version. So something that is 5 years old, trouble from very start, can't be serviced. The company told me that they can install a new stairlift. A 130 for more weight limit. I am over 60 lbs lighter than I was at the beginning. So not only did I lose weight but the operation of the lift. Very disappointed, in the company and their product. Expect to have to spend approximate $1000.00 a year with this company.

Ronald D.
Huntsville, TX
1234
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