Burlingame rebuilt itself fast after the 1906 earthquake, and a good chunk of that construction wave is still standing — multi-story homes and estates like the 63-room Kohl Mansion, finished in 1914, set the template for staircases that weren't designed with anyone's knees in mind. Up in the western foothills, where several creeks cut down toward the bay, lots get steep enough that builders stacked houses vertically instead of spreading them out, which means more stairs per household than you'd find on the flatter blocks near the shoreline. Those two things together — old staircases and sloped ground — are why stairlift calls here skew toward the hill neighborhoods more than the bayfront.
Why a stairlift installed in Burlingame, CA is planned around the way this specific community lives, not stamped out from a one-size-fits-all template.
Burlingame lies at about 39 feet elevation with significant shoreline on San Francisco Bay, but its western foothills drain several creeks toward the bay, producing sloped terrain in the hill neighborhoods.
Source ↗Much of Burlingame's residential fabric was built after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, mixing single-family homes with historic multi-story estates such as the 63-room Tudor-style Kohl Mansion completed in 1914.
Source ↗As of 2023 the median household income was $168,832, and 16.2% of the population was 65 years of age or older.
Source ↗Compare Our Burlingame Stairlifts
Select a stairlift on the leftabove to see full specs, pricing, and how it compares to the alternatives.
Stairlift Types
Bestseller · From $2,800
The go-to for Burlingame's post-war ranches in Ray Park, split-levels off Burlingame Terrace, and basement stairs across San Mateo County. Over 70% of the stairlifts we install on the Peninsula are straight rails.
vs Curved: 3x less expensive and installed in one visit. vs Home elevator: 10-15x less cost and no construction. vs Moving bedroom downstairs: Keeps your home exactly as it is.
Custom-Built · From $9,000
Custom-fabricated for the sweeping foyer staircases and 180-degree landing turns in Burlingame Park's Tudors and the hillside colonials of Burlingame Hills. The rail is laser-scanned and bent to your exact staircase geometry.
vs Straight with landing break: One smooth ride instead of transferring seats. vs Home elevator: Half the cost, no construction permits, no shaft needed. vs Moving: A fraction of what selling and relocating costs.
Weather-Tough · From $4,000
Sealed against Peninsula fog and Bay marine moisture, UV-stabilized for California sun, and rated for coastal salt-air. Every outdoor component carries IP55 weather sealing and marine-grade corrosion protection — standard on every Burlingame install.
vs Standard stairlift outdoors: Won't rust, seize, or void its warranty. vs Exterior ramp: No permits, no concrete work, no lost yard. vs Home entry renovation: Installed in a single day.
600 lb Rated · From $5,050
When comfort and capacity exceed the standard 300 lb limit. The reinforced frame carries up to 600 lb with a 22-inch padded seat — wider than any standard model and common on the wider Burlingame Hills colonials.
vs Standard stairlift: Extra capacity and wider seat for maximum comfort. vs Custom furniture lift: A fraction of the price with faster install. vs Home elevator: Much lower cost with the same weight confidence.
When you call All American Stairlifts, you'll speak directly with a licensed installer who lives and works in San Mateo, CA.
Burlingame Stairlift Specialist · 15+ years of experience
(800) 965-0350 [email protected]Proven local experience. Licensed. Insured. No surprises.
Two screens, less than 60 seconds. A Burlingame specialist calls back within 24 hours. No pressure, no obligation.
Your info stays private. We never share or sell.
Prefer a real conversation? Speak directly with a Burlingame stairlift expert. No robots, no waiting.
(800) 965-0350 Call Now. It's FreeThese are the three guides our Burlingame customers read most often before booking. Written by our installers, not marketers.
Straight vs curved, standard vs heavy-duty, indoor vs outdoor. A read that saves you from buying the wrong model.
What a stairlift really costs, line by line: installation, rail, seat, add-ons, and the price hacks installers won't tell you.
Parts vs labor, how long coverage really lasts, and the exclusions that catch buyers out; questions to ask before you sign.
From the Craftsman bungalows and Spanish Revival homes along Burlingame Avenue and Primrose Road in the downtown village, to the hillside colonials and mid-century ranches climbing the slopes of Burlingame Hills between Skyline Boulevard and Hillside Drive, our crew has measured staircases in every neighborhood. The Easton Addition features Edwardian-era homes with original steep hardwood stairways and narrow hall landings that demand precise rail placement. Ray Park homes near Washington Park have wider lot footprints with standard straight-run stairs and finished lower levels. The tree-lined blocks of Burlingame Park between El Camino Real and California Drive hold gracious two-story Tudors with sweeping curved stairways. Along Burlingame Terrace near Broadway, post-war ranches and split-levels have enclosed basement stairs.
See our full California service area →
Every home is different. Here are six recent installs from San Mateo County. Tap any project to see the full gallery, tech specs, and the story behind it.
Common situations we get called out for across Burlingame's neighborhoods. Drag to scroll, or use the arrows and dots below.
We live in a 1925 Craftsman near Primrose Road that has been in the family since 1962. The original stairway is steep with narrow Douglas fir treads. Two other companies told us a stairlift would block the hallway. Luis measured, installed a slim-profile rail, and my mother rides it every morning and evening. The seat folds flat and the rest of us walk right past it.
I served 20 years in the Marines and my knees are done. The Palo Alto VA at 3801 Miranda wrote the HISA prescription and Luis prefilled every form. The grant covered $6,800 and I was riding the lift five weeks after my first call. No runaround, no paperwork headaches.
Our Tudor in Burlingame Park has a curved staircase in the front entry with a 180-degree turn at the landing. Two companies wanted to install two separate straight lifts. Luis scanned the whole run and fabricated one curved rail. My husband rides from the foyer to the upstairs hall without stopping. Six months and zero problems.
Mi abuela no habla inglés and I was worried about communication. Luis came out, conducted the entire visit in Spanish, and walked Abuela through every button twice. The Spanish manual is taped next to the controls. She calls it her escalera and uses it five times a day.
Dad needed the lift before Thanksgiving and I live in Los Angeles. I called Monday, they measured Tuesday morning, and Luis installed Thursday. The outdoor lift handles the raised tile front steps — nine steps he had not climbed in three months. He was on his own front porch watching the street by Friday morning.
I use a power wheelchair full-time and a regular stairlift was not going to work. Luis installed a platform lift along the indoor stairway with yellow safety edges so I can see exactly where to roll on. The HISA grant and the Medi-Cal HCBA Waiver together covered the full cost. I ride between floors without leaving my chair.
Answer four quick questions and a local specialist will call within 24 hours with a price you can trust, no pressure, no sales pitch, no sharing your details.
This determines the rail type and installation complexity.
This determines the motor and seat capacity we'll recommend.
Our Burlingame team can often start within 48 hours.
Your local Burlingame specialist will call within 24 hours. No spam, no sales pressure.
Straight Stairlift, Standard Use
Estimated: $3,250 – $6,400
A member of our Burlingame team is reviewing your answers right now and will call you within 24 hours. Your quote is free and there is no obligation to buy.
Adjust the options below and watch the price update in real time. This is the same pricing our team uses when they come out for a free home assessment. No hidden fees, no upsells.
Compare your options honestly. A stairlift is the only choice that keeps you in the home you love, at a fraction of every alternative.
| Your option | Upfront cost | 10-year total |
|---|---|---|
| Stairlift Installation Best value Professional install by All American Stairlifts, Burlingame CA | $3,250 – $17,400 One-time | $3,250 – $17,400 Lifetime use |
| Moving to a single-story home Selling, buying, closing, moving costs in the San Mateo market | $50,000+ Plus relocation stress | $50,000+ Loss of community ties |
| Assisted living facility San Mateo County average, private room | $4,500/mo Recurring | $540,000 And rising annually |
| In-home caregiver (8 hrs/day) Licensed home health aide, Florida market rates | $6,000/mo Recurring | $730,000+ Before wage increases |
| Home elevator installation Requires shaft construction, permits, months of work | $25,000 to $50,000 Plus renovation | $28,000 to $55,000 Includes maintenance |
Sources: AARP Cost of Care Survey 2025, Genworth Cost of Care Study, and California Department of Elder Affairs. Figures reflect Burlingame metro averages.
Most Burlingame homeowners qualify for at least one of these programs. We help you apply at no cost.
Up to $6,800 for service-connected veterans and their surviving spouses. One-time, tax-free, no repayment.
Eligibility: Veterans & surviving spousesHome & Community-Based Services Waiver may cover up to 100% of installation for income-qualified residents.
Eligibility: Medicaid + medical needWith a doctor's letter of medical necessity, the full cost is deductible on Schedule A as a qualified medical expense.
Eligibility: Taxpayers who itemize0% and low-APR plans through our lending partners. Soft credit pull, instant approval, no prepayment penalty.
Eligibility: All homeownersNot sure which applies? Our local specialist will walk you through every program you might qualify for during your free home assessment. Get started here →
Straight answers about cost, installation, and funding, no sales fluff. Browse by topic or call us if you have a question that isn't here.
Burlingame sits in a premium pricing band, and a straight-rail lift for a single flight generally lands in the low-to-mid thousands installed. The older multi-story homes near downtown, and the houses built into the slope in the western foothills, more often need a curved rail because the staircase has a landing or a turn — that's a custom-measured job, not a stock part, and it costs more than a straight run. With median household income at $168,832, most Burlingame families are paying out of pocket rather than waiting on a low-income grant, but it's still worth checking the funding options below before you sign anything.
Usually, yes. A flat shoreline lot tends to have a simple straight stairwell. Houses built into the slopes that drain toward the bay — the ones in the western foothills — were often built with the stairs turning partway up to work around the grade, and a turn means a curved rail. That's the single biggest cost driver we see across town.
Square footage doesn't move the price much — rail length and any bend in the staircase do. A 1910s-era home near the Kohl Mansion with a narrow, straight run can actually price lower than a smaller newer home on a foothill lot where the stairs turn. We only give firm numbers after walking the actual stairs.
A straight-rail job is typically done in a few hours, same visit. Curved rail — common in the older downtown homes and the slope-built houses in the foothills — takes longer because the rail is fabricated off a template of that specific staircase, so expect a measuring visit before the install date, not a same-day turnaround.
Sometimes. Homes from the post-1906 rebuilding era can have narrower treads or older wiring near the stair run, and we check both before committing to a rail path. It's not a permit issue — stairlifts are treated as equipment, not a structural remodel — but a narrow 1910s-1920s staircase does take more care to fit cleanly than a modern one.
Yes, but it usually means the rail has to start or stop at a mid-level landing instead of a full flight, which is common in the slope-built homes west of El Camino. We map the exact stops during the site visit.
There are two routes. The Medi-Cal HCBA Waiver has no published individual cap — a doctor puts the home modification in the plan of treatment and it's authorized case-by-case. Separately, Medi-Cal's CalAIM Community Supports program covers "Environmental Accessibility Adaptations" up to a $7,500 lifetime maximum per member, administered locally through Health Plan of San Mateo. Which one applies depends on which Medi-Cal plan you're enrolled in, so that's the first call to make.
Two nonprofits cover this. The Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities in San Mateo does free accessibility modifications for income-qualified residents, including renters — call (650) 645-1780. Rebuilding Together Peninsula's Safe at Home program also does no-cost safety and accessibility repairs for eligible homeowners at (650) 366-6597. Either one is worth a call before you assume you're paying full price.
The VA's Specially Adapted Housing grant tops out at $126,526 for FY2026, and the Special Home Adaptation grant at $25,350 — both can fund a stairlift as part of an approved accessibility plan. Call VA benefits at 1-800-827-1000 to get that process started. If you're not sure where to begin, San Mateo County's Aging and Disability Resource Connection at 1-844-868-0938 can point you to the right office.
Burlingame Stairlift Specialist · 15+ yrs
The stairwells I run into near the Kohl Mansion side of town are narrower than what you'd get in a newer build — 1910s carpentry didn't leave much margin, so we measure twice before we order rail. Up in the foothill streets, a house built into the slope often has the front door a half-flight up from the garage, and that changes where the lift needs to start. Burlingame clients ask good questions about the mechanics — probably the income level here, people research before they call.
Burlingame homeowners and San Mateo County veterans have counted on us for years. Whether you live in a 1920s Craftsman near Primrose Road, a Tudor in Burlingame Park, or a hillside colonial in Burlingame Hills, the first step is always the same: a free in-home assessment with a written quote, the marine-grade corrosion package costed in upfront for any Peninsula outdoor unit.
Call today or submit the form above. We schedule within 24 hours across San Mateo County and install the same week for straight-rail jobs.
Two quick screens. We use the full address to dispatch the installer closest to you.
A certified Burlingame technician visits your home, measures your stairs, and answers every question. 100% free. No obligation.
Most stairlifts are installed in a single day by our licensed Burlingame team. Clean, quiet, ready to ride the same afternoon.
Or call (800) 965-0350, Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm
