Stairlift Brands: Who Makes What, Where, and Whether It Matters

Every number in this table comes from manufacturer specs and our own installation data. Noise levels are measured at the rider's ear at full speed on a 14-step straight rail.

All prices are fully installed — equipment, rail, labor, and training. No promotional pricing, no refurbished units. For the full methodology behind these numbers, see our brand selection guide.

Two brands manufacture stairlifts in the United States: Bruno (Wisconsin) and Harmar (Florida). Between them, they cover the full range of residential needs — from a basic straight rail at $3,200 to a 600 lb bariatric unit at $7,500.

Bruno is a veteran-founded, family-owned company that has manufactured every unit in Wisconsin since 1984. They do not import. They do not relabel. The stairlift in the box was engineered and assembled in the same building where they answer warranty calls.

We install more Bruno units than any other brand. The Elan SRE-3000 is our mid-range workhorse — the unit we quote when someone asks for the best value on a straight staircase. The Elite SRE-2010 is what we install when the budget allows for a quieter motor, smoother start/stop, and a more refined seat. The CRE-2110 curved handles everything from a single 90-degree turn to a full spiral.

Full Bruno review — specs, pricing, pros and cons

Bruno head-to-head comparisons:

• Bruno vs. Acorn — mid-range vs. budget
• Bruno vs. Handicare — the noise question
• Bruno vs. Stannah — value vs. longevity
• Bruno vs. AmeriGlide — manufacturer vs. reseller

Harmar manufactures in Sarasota, Florida, and their product line reflects their geography. Marine-grade powder coating over galvanized steel, sealed electronics under a weather hood, and batteries rated for wider temperature swings. If you live on the Gulf Coast, in hurricane country, or anywhere that gets salt air and sustained heat, Harmar's outdoor models are purpose-built for your climate.

Their dealer network is strongest in the Southeast and Gulf states — the same territory where their outdoor expertise matters most. Coverage thins in the northern Mountain West and parts of New England.

Full Harmar review — specs, pricing, pros and cons

Three major stairlift brands manufacture in the UK or Europe and sell into the US market: Stannah (Andover, England), Handicare (originally Netherlands, now owned by Savaria of Canada), and Acorn (East Yorkshire, England). All three produce legitimate, well-engineered equipment. The trade-off vs. US-made brands is parts delivery speed — 5–14 days instead of 3–5.

Acorn is the brand most Americans encounter first, because they spend heavily on TV and direct-mail advertising. They operate a direct-to-consumer model — no independent dealers. Acorn's own crews sell, install, and service every unit. That model works well in major metros where they have crew coverage. In smaller markets and rural areas, service availability drops.

The Acorn 130 straight sits at $2,500–$3,200 installed. That is $700–$1,000 less than a Bruno Elan for comparable specs on paper. The difference shows up in the warranty (2 years vs. 5), noise level (60 dB vs. 53 dB), and ride smoothness on start/stop. Those trade-offs are real but tolerable — an Acorn 130 is infinitely better than no stairlift.

Full Acorn review — specs, pricing, pros and cons

See how Acorn compares to Bruno →

Stannah has been a family-owned engineering company since 1867. They started manufacturing stairlifts in the mid-1970s and have produced over 750,000 units. That is not a marketing number — it is a track record. Their tube-rail technology on the Siena 260 curved tracks cleanly through tight turns that trip up lesser rail systems.

The premium over Bruno on a straight install is $800–$1,200. On a curved install, it is $1,500–$3,000. Whether that premium is worth it depends on time horizon. A 70-year-old who plans to stay in the house for 20 years gets genuine value from the longer service life. A buyer who might sell in 5–7 years will not recoup the premium at resale.

Full Stannah review — specs, pricing, pros and cons

See how Stannah compares to Bruno →

Handicare's build quality matches Bruno across every measurable specification — weight capacity, battery backup, safety sensors, rail engineering. The Freecurve is their curved-rail platform, competitive with the Bruno CRE-2110 and Stannah Siena 260 for complex staircase geometry.

The trade-off is parts delivery. Handicare parts route through Savaria's North American distribution and typically arrive in 7–10 business days vs. Bruno's 3–5. That gap is invisible until something breaks — and when it breaks, the rider cannot use the stairs while waiting. For households with a single staircase and no alternative between floors, that slower pipeline is a real risk factor to weigh against the noise advantage.

Full Handicare review — specs, pricing, pros and cons

See how Handicare compares to Bruno →

AmeriGlide's model names — "Rubex HD," "Rave 2," and others — are rebadged units from other factories. This is not inherently a problem if you know what you are getting. The question to ask any AmeriGlide dealer point-blank: "What factory built this unit, and whose warranty am I actually holding?"

If the answer is "Bruno manufactures the drive, and Bruno honors the warranty" — you may be holding a Bruno at a lower price. If the answer is vague, you are holding an unknown with a warranty backed by a reseller rather than a manufacturer. Those are two very different risk profiles.

Full AmeriGlide review — what we know and what we don't

See how AmeriGlide compares to Bruno →

Each comparison below puts two brands side by side on the factors that actually matter: warranty, parts speed, noise, price, and what each brand does better than the other. No filler, no tie — every comparison picks a winner for each use case.

More comparisons coming: Harmar vs. Bruno (heavy-duty focus), Stannah vs. Handicare (quiet + longevity), Acorn vs. AmeriGlide (budget options). Check back or request a free assessment — we will walk you through the brand comparison for your specific situation in person.

If reading six brand profiles feels like too much, start here. Four questions, one answer.

1. Does the rider weigh over 350 lb?
   Yes → Harmar Pinnacle SL600 (600 lb capacity, no real competitor at this tier).
2. Is the staircase outside, in a coastal market, or in hurricane country?
   Yes → Harmar for outdoor straight. Bruno SRE-2010E for outdoor curved.
3. Is noise the top concern? (Bedroom adjacent, nighttime use, light sleepers)
   Yes → Handicare or Stannah (both ~50 dB).
4. Is the budget under $3,200 with no funding source available?
   Yes → Acorn 130. Legitimate budget option.
   No → Bruno. Best combination of warranty, parts speed, dealer coverage, and value.

For the full decision framework with all five selection factors explained, read our how to choose a stairlift brand guide.

Want to know which brands ranked highest across our 2026 installs? See our best stairlifts of 2026 rankings.

Unbranded Chinese-import stairlifts have flooded online marketplaces in the last three years. The pitch — $1,500 delivered, DIY install, fits any staircase — falls apart on contact with reality. We have removed three of these from homes in the past 12 months. All three failed within 14 months. All three had no domestic parts supply. None of the warranties were honored.

The other category to skip entirely: "modular curved" or "flexirail" systems. These are jointed rails assembled from straight sections with flexible couplings at turns. They do not track cleanly. They develop squeaks and vibration within months. No name-brand manufacturer sells them.

For real measured noise data across all brands, including the imports, see our stairlift noise level testing page.