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Updated: June 11, 2024
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Bruno Independent Living Aids is a third-generation family business located in Wisconsin, dedicated to making lives easier for people with mobility challenges. Bruno manufactures straight and custom-curved rail stair lifts for indoor and outdoor use. The models are known for quality, performance, and customization.
Bruno makes multiple indoor and outdoor stairlifts including straight and curved stairlifts. Reviews indicate high user satisfaction, and all lifts come with a comprehensive warranty.
Bruno was founded by a US Veteran with the goal of being a leading provider of solutions for an independent lifestyle. In addition to stair lifts, Bruno designs and builds scooter and wheelchair lifts for homes, businesses and vehicles. Their stair lifts and other mobility products are sold, installed and serviced by factory-trained local dealers.
Whether the stairs are inside or outside the home, Bruno makes stairlifts to accommodate every configuration of curved or straight staircases. Bruno’s unique vertical stairlift rail system allows for maximum open space on the steps, and multiple stairlift options are available to accommodate the individual user’s needs.
Pros
ISO 9001 Certified
Indoor and outdoor stairlifts
Global brand known for quality and safety
Cons
No online purchasing
No DIY installation, must pay an installer
Bruno Stairlift Models
All Bruno stairlift models feature a chair attached to a rail that is secured on the stairs. When the rocker switch on the chair’s armrest is pushed, the stairlift travels up and down the steps. Bruno straight stairlifts use a vertical anodized aluminum rail. Bruno curved stairlifts feature a custom-made, vertical e-coated steel rail for stability and a precise fit. For details about how stairlifts work, see our Stairlifts Buyer’s Guide.
Bruno stairlifts are powered by two twelve-volt batteries, allowing the stairlift to operate in a power outage. While in a parked position at the end of the rail, Bruno curved stairlifts are automatically recharging their batteries. Bruno straight stairlift models were the first stairlifts in the industry featuring charge strips along the entire rail, which enable the unit’s batteries to constantly charge no matter where the unit is parked.
All Bruno stairlift models are equipped with standard safety features including obstruction sensors that stop the lift if the chair hits an object on the steps and a seat belt to secure the user in place.
Models
Features
Elan Straight Stairlift Indoor
Bruno’s most popular straight stairlift, with a 300 lb – lift capacity, features a vertical rail that allows the stairlift to be installed close to the wall for maximum open space. Folded rail and other power options available.
Elite Curved Stairlift Indoor
Custom hand-built rail for precise fit, and smooth, consistent ride. High performance with stylized look offers 400-lb lift capacity. Select power options to customize the Elite curve to your needs.
Elite Straight Stairlift Indoor
Custom hand-built rail for precise fit, and smooth, consistent ride. High performance with a stylized look offers a 400-lb lift capacity. Select power options to customize the Elite curve to your needs.
Elite Curved Outdoor Stairlift Outdoor
Curved rail custom built to exact specifications of stairs. Engineered to withstand harsh weather – performance tested from 0⁰ F to 125⁰F. Cover provided with stairlift.
Elite Outdoor Stairlift Outdoor
Marine-grade vinyl padded seat and arms and waterproof cover for weather protection. Anodized aluminum rail with covered gear rack. 400-lb lift capacity.
Bruno Stair Lift Options
Bruno Stairlifts Costs and Warranty
Bruno straight stairlifts have a limited lifetime warranty. Curved and outdoor models come with a comprehensive five-year limited warranty on components and two years on parts. You may get additional warranty coverage through the authorized Bruno dealer or installer.
The cost of a Bruno stairlift varies depending on the custom configuration and dealer. The price depends on the model, the rail length, upgrades, and state permitting requirements (businesses). Straight stairlifts from Bruno start at around $4,000, while custom curved models start at $11,000. The average labor cost for installation is $70 per hour, and electrical work should be around $300. Call your local government office to discuss building permits.
Bruno dealers are factory-trained to ensure proper installation of your lift. It takes an average of two-to-three hours to install a straight stairlift. A curved stairlift takes longer to install based on the complexity of the curves and length of the stairlift rail.
Where to Buy Bruno Stairlifts
You can buy Bruno stairlifts from an authorized dealer in your community. To find an authorized dealer in the United States or Canada, visit Bruno’s website. If you need to find a Bruno Stairlift dealer outside of North America, there’s a form you can complete and submit on the website. You can also request a stairlift quote on the Bruno website.
Bruno Stairlift Complaints
Bruno Independent Living Aids is rated at nearly 5 out of 5 stars with 1,550 reviews on ConsumerAffairs. Customer feedback frequently mentions the quick installation process and how well the stairlift improved mobility. Reviewers often spoke highly of the authorized dealers as being friendly and professional.
Bruno has an “A+“ rating with the Better Business Bureau, with 46 reviews and an average rating a 4.3 out of 5. Bruno resolved or offered to resolve each complaint, even contacting dealers to get customers the resolution they desired. On TrustPilot, Bruno scores 9.6 out of 10 stars across 1,854 customer reviews.
Only authorized dealers and technicians can install Bruno stairlifts. There are no DIY options available at this time.
Does insurance cover some of the costs for Bruno Stairlifts?
Most health insurance plans don’t cover the full cost of buying and installing stairlifts, and Medicare provides no coverage. See How to Pay for Aging in Place Home Remodeling for tips on making a stairlift affordable, and ask your Bruno dealer about financing.
Can you order Bruno stairlifts online?
New Bruno stairlifts must be purchased and installed by a local authorized Bruno dealer. Most Bruno dealers will not install a stairlift not purchased from them, so ordering them online is not recommended. In addition, by using a dealer, a trained specialist is able to properly measure the steps and also determine if any options are needed to customize the stairlift based on the individual user’s capabilities.
Are Bruno stairlifts permanent?
Since Bruno Stairlifts are not permanently installed and do not require home modification, you can remove them from your home if they are no longer needed.
Will Bruno stairlifts work in a power outage?
Bruno models are battery-powered and continually charged via a wall outlet. If the power goes out, the stairlift will pull from the battery power for an additional number of rides.
Conclusion
When you’re in the market for mobility equipment such as a stairlift, it’s essential to choose the highest quality and safest product possible. Bruno Independent Living Aids has been in business for more than 35 years, stands by its products, manufactures all its lifts in the United States, and carries leading industry certifications for safety. Consumer reviews indicate that Bruno stairlifts are reliable and the company listens to customers.
The Bruno chairlift is working well. Bruno looked like it would fit our needs and they gave us the price of it, and it was affordable. The installers were courteous and kind. They cleaned up their mess when they were done. So, I was happy with that.
My dad uses the product. He's having difficulty climbing the stairs and now, he can get up and down the stairs.
Wanda B.
TN, TN
November 19 2024 6:17AM
I'm happy with our Bruno stairlift. It's great. We love it. If there's a problem and I call, the reps from Bruno come out as soon as they can and try to get it fixed for us. The guys that do this work are fabulous. I love them. A couple of them have been here. We've had that Bruno chair for a couple of years, and they were the ones that installed the first chair. So, whenever we've had a problem, they've always come back.
Our house has steps that go up. There are eight steps, then you get to a landing, and then you go around the bend and there are eight more steps. So, the stairlift comes around and comes up the first flight of steps, and then goes around and comes up to the top of the stairs there. My husband's not able to go up and down steps. He has leg problems and he can't get up. If we didn't have the chairlift, it would not be very good.
Mary Z.
Port Marion, PA
November 18 2024 1:12AM
I like Bruno's price. The salesperson who came over for a home visit was good and explained everything. I got a straight stairlift. We had some hiccups during the installation, but in the end, it was good. The stairlift is good. I'm happy with it.
Mel R.
Kentwood, MI
November 12 2024 10:46AM
Bruno did a very professional job. It didn't take them long to put the stairlift in. They came in, went to work, cleaned up by themselves, and went on about their business. I got a straight stairlift and it fits great into my home. It helps me go up and down the steps. I have a sensor on here. If you're going down the steps, sometimes if your legs are not in the right place, it stops.
Nathaniel M.
Richton Park, IL
November 10 2024 6:15AM
A nice, young gentleman from Bruno came out and he helped me out quite a bit. I needed to get the installation done as quickly as possible and he worked with the schedulers to get it in by the end of the week for me. The stairlift takes up some space on a narrow stairway, but it does the job of getting my wife up and down so she can get in and out of our house because that's the only way in. We have to do stairs to get in our house. The quality of it seems to be pretty solid. It works really well.
Richard D.
Colorado Springs, CO
November 07 2024 11:27AM
The Bruno reps were very good, very professional, and they got things done really quickly. The installation was fantastic. I like the way the stairlift goes up and down the stairs.
Rose Marie M.
Johnstown, PA
November 04 2024 9:49AM
My husband has Parkinson's. He is a veteran at the VA and they told me that a stairlift is what I need to get him up and down the steps because he was a fall risk. We got a Bruno stairlift. The sales representative who came out was a very nice gentleman. He did the measurements and told me exactly how it was going to work. It went very quickly and he said, in a couple of weeks, that the company was coming out to install it.
Two weeks later, they called, gave me the arrival date, and came out on time. As a matter of fact, they were maybe 15 or 20 minutes early. It took them less than two hours to set it up, and they showed me how to use it, what chemicals to use on it, and what not to use on it. It was the whole nine yards. It was wonderful.
The stairlift works very smoothly. It's at a pace that, when my husband was using it, he didn't feel jerky or he was going to fall out. They had a seatbelt on it. So he knew how to swing it in and secure it and get out of the chair. I'm usually at the top with him because he is a fall risk. I'm with him when he's using the stairlift, coming down with him and at the bottom because we have two more steps down and he can manage those. So, it's not a problem at all.
Katherine H.
Hampton, VA
November 01 2024 10:33AM
Bruno was very thorough, very conscientious, and knowledgeable, wiping off fingerprints that they might have gotten on the seat of the stairlift. So far, so good. The functionality of the stairlift is great. It does what it's supposed to do and it's not loud. My mother loves it. She's so thrilled that they were able to come and put it in so quickly and in time for her surgery. So, it's worked out perfectly.
Laura S.
Roseville, CA
October 13 2024 10:19AM
I am incapable of carrying groceries upstairs and trash downstairs because I live on the second floor. I decided to get a stairlift and went with Bruno. I felt it was a better quality unit and it's made in North America. I don't want a British or foreign device. I contacted Bruno and we discussed it on the phone, and I sent them pictures of the installation, and then they came to inspect the stairs.
The installation went smoothly as silk. The installer was from a nearby town who knew what he was doing. He came with the correct instruments and tools at the appointed time and did an excellent job. The stairlift is straight up and down. It seems a quality product. I'm a big guy and I carry a big load, so it's able to take me without a problem up and down. Its price was what I expected. It’s what I knew was going to happen. It’s more than I can afford, but that's all right. It serves the purpose. It's going to keep me alive and allow me to remain at home.
Rick O.
Eugene, OR
October 11 2024 11:36AM
The Bruno stairlift has been great for us. We have two landing stairs, and they set it up so that there are no problems whatsoever. We have a 42-inch stairway. So, it gives plenty of room to get up and down. The stairlift has been a game-changer for my wife. She couldn't get up and down the steps anymore. Sometimes she'd have to go up on her hands and knees to get up, depending on what was happening. So, it really made things a lot easier for her.
