Savaria Stairlift Review

Summary

• Cost: Savaria stair lift prices range from $2,500 to $8,800, depending on the model, dealer and stair lift rail length. Savaria doesn’t publish pre-installation prices in its sales materials; instead, it relies on dealers to share their own cost breakdowns with customers.
• Comfort: Savaria’s models don’t go above and beyond to achieve exceptional user comfort, but they’re not bad. Adjustable components go a long way in making the seat adaptable and comfortable for different users.
• Usability: Savaria implements user-friendly features, such as remote control operation and the K2 model specifically is easy to use with a wheelchair.

What we like

• Sensors detect in-the-way items on stairs
• Automatic master shutoff saves battery life and electricity when stair lift is not in use
• Thin, folded-up profile of chairs keeps stairways clear when not in use

What we don’t like

• “Dealer locator” resource requires calling or submitting a form—no simple finder feature or interactive map online
• Only one or two seat style options, depending on the model
• No model for outdoor staircases with curves or landings

Founded in 1979, Savaria has grown from a small wheelchair lift company to a leading manufacturer of residential and commercial accessibility products. Today, Savaria offers stair lifts, home elevators, wheelchair lifts, ceiling lifts, commercial lifts, medical beds, slings and a wide range of other patient and adaptive care products.

The Ontario-based company is an important player in the North American market and now manufactures in Europe and China as well. Savaria’s international growth has been fueled by acquisitions of other accessibility products companies, including the recent purchase of mobility services giant Handicare.

Through all its growth in size, reach and product portfolio, the company maintains that serving the needs of aging and mobility-challenged people is at the core of its business. What’s more, Savaria CEO Marcel Bourassa founded the Bourassa Savaria Foundation in 2014 to fund organizations and charities supporting people with mobility challenges.

Savaria offers three battery-powered stair lift models for those who need help traveling between floors. See how they compare in the table below.

Savaria’s K2 and K2 Plus straight stair lift models offer two slightly different options for standard single, standard staircases with no curves or intermediate landings. The Stairfriend Stairlift is Savaria’s customizable option, intended for curved or multi-directional staircases that are either one or several stories high. A comparison page on Savaria’s website can help potential customers differentiate among the three models.

Savaria’s stair lifts are sold through authorized dealers rather than by Savaria itself. The company provides a dealer locator webpage for customers.

Comfort Features

Savaria’s lifts don’t boast many special features with added comfort in mind. For instance, they don’t include seats with cushioning materials despite this detail being a reasonably widespread industry standard. Adjustable armrests on the seat do increase comfort and allow flexibility for accommodating users of different sizes. Savaria also advertises “soft start and smooth stop operation,” meaning sensitive users are less likely to be bothered by a jolt at the beginning and end of their ride.

Safety Features

Savaria includes a number of notable safety features, such as an anti-slip material on the chair footrests and the systems’ obstacle sensors, which detect items on the staircase that might be in the way. Each chair’s swivel feature can be locked for added stability, and an overspeed brake further prevents the possibility of an accident. Only commercial models feature an emergency stop button.

Maintenance

Any official servicing of Savaria stair lifts must be arranged by authorized Savaria dealers rather than by Savaria itself. The company offers technical support to dealers only. Other than basic cleaning, users aren’t required to perform any maintenance tasks themselves for upkeep of a Savaria stair lift.

Usability

The K2 Plus’s optional Plus seat helps facilitate transfers from a wheelchair. Unfortunately, this seat isn’t available on the other Savaria models. The stairlift line overall gains points for usability with its remote control operation, and the K2 chair’s slim profile when folded is a nice usability bonus. Savaria claims this chair features the slimmest profile on the market and that it won’t get in the way of other staircase users.

All models have a flexible configuration, allowing them to be mounted on either side of a staircase. Both K2 models also offer optional rail extension brackets to remove any intrusion into a top landing when there’s a door at the top of the stairs.

The Customer Service Experience

Savaria lists contact information from which prospective customers can receive general information about products and assistance locating an authorized dealer. Further customer support must be solicited from a dealer, as Savaria only provides customer service resources directly to its dealers.

Warranties and Discounts

Savaria stair lifts are covered by a 36-month limited parts warranty, excluding cosmetic components. These warranties are administered by the dealers who perform the product installations.

One customer shared on the company website that they give their Savaria stair lift experience three out of five stars. “I purchased the Savaria K2 stair lift over two years ago, and it has been operating smoothly and consistently since then,” they wrote. “However, shortly after leaving the warranty period, both batteries failed as if on cue.”

There’s a reason Savaria’s line of stair lifts made it onto our Best Stair Lifts of 2024 list. The company’s tried-and-true reputation makes it easy for many customers to trust Savaria’s products. While there are certainly some downsides to Savaria’s offerings, its stair lift models are a good fit for a wide variety of users—and the company’s global reach ensures easy access in North America and beyond.