How Narrow Is Too Narrow?
A stairlift rail is fitted to the staircase treads, not the wall. This means it takes up less room than most people assume. The minimum staircase width required for a stairlift depends on the model, but as a general guide most straight stairlifts can be installed on staircases as narrow as 740mm (approximately 29 inches) from wall to wall.
Our Synergy Straight Stairlift is specifically designed with a slim rail and compact carriage to suit narrower staircases. When the stairlift is not in use, the seat, armrests, and footrest all fold up neatly against the wall, leaving room for other household members to walk up and down the stairs normally.
For curved staircases, the minimum width requirement is similar, though the rail configuration needs more careful planning around bends and landings. Our Infinity Curved Stairlift uses a dual rail system that is custom-manufactured to fit your exact staircase, ensuring the tightest possible fit on every curve.
What If My Staircase Is Narrower Than 740mm?
If your staircase is particularly narrow, there may still be options. In some cases, minor modifications to the staircase or surrounding area can create enough clearance. For example, removing or trimming a handrail on the opposite side to the stairlift rail, adjusting a newel post at the top or bottom of the stairs, or reconfiguring the landing area slightly to improve access on and off the stairlift.
We always assess these options during our free home visit. In our experience, very few staircases in Sydney are genuinely too narrow for a stairlift — the issue is usually more about perception than reality. People see their staircase every day and assume there's no room, but once they see how compact the stairlift actually is, they're surprised by how much space remains.
What About Other People Using the Stairs?
A common worry is that once the stairlift is installed, nobody else will be able to use the stairs. This isn't the case. When the stairlift is parked at the top or bottom and the seat, arms, and footrest are folded up, the stairlift only takes up a small amount of space along one side of the staircase (around 30cm). Other household members can walk up and down the stairs comfortably.
The stairlift also comes with remote controls, so it can be called to the top or bottom of the stairs without anyone having to walk past it. And our powered hinged rail option automatically lifts the bottom section of the rail out of the way when the stairlift is parked at the top, removing any potential trip hazard at the base of the stairs.
Common Sydney Home Types We've Fitted
We've installed stairlifts in a wide range of Sydney homes. Some of the more challenging — and rewarding — installations include Victorian and federation terraces in Paddington, Balmain, Newtown, Glebe and Surry Hills where staircases are often steep and narrow with a turn at the top, post-war semis in Randwick, Coogee, Maroubra and the Inner West with narrow straight staircases, multi-level homes on the North Shore and Northern Beaches where outdoor steps leading to the front door also need a solution, split-level homes in the Hills District, Castle Hill and Baulkham Hills with half-flights and landings, and older fibro and weatherboard homes across Western Sydney and the Central Coast.
If your home is in any of these areas or has a similar staircase style, chances are we've seen something like it before and can find a solution.
How to Find Out If a Stairlift Will Fit
The easiest way to find out is to arrange a free home assessment. One of our team will visit your home, measure your staircase, assess the configuration, and let you know exactly which stairlift models will work. There's no obligation and no pressure — just honest advice about what's possible.
If you want a quick indication before booking a visit, you can measure the width of your staircase at the narrowest point (wall to wall, or wall to handrail) and send it to us along with a couple of photos. We can usually give you a preliminary answer within 24 hours.
Funding Options
If cost is a concern, remember that stairlifts can be funded through the NDIS for eligible participants under 65, My Aged Care Home Care Packages for those over 65, EnableNSW through icare for workplace or road accident injuries, and the DVA Rehabilitation Appliances Program for veterans.
We are an NDIS registered provider and can guide you through the funding process. Read our full guide on NDIS funding for stairlifts in NSW for more information.
Get in Touch
Don't assume your staircase won't work — let us take a look. We've been installing stairlifts across NSW and QLD for over 18 years and we've found solutions for staircases that homeowners were sure couldn't be fitted.
Call us on 1300 495 572 or fill in our contact form for a free home assessment. We service all of Sydney and NSW including the Central Coast, Hunter, Illawarra, Blue Mountains and South Coast.