Stannah vs Acorn Stairlifts

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Stannah and Acorn are the two stairlift names most people have heard of, and many families end up with a quote from each. This page sets them side by side on ownership, models, weight limits, warranty, reviews and how they sell. For the wider picture, see our complete guide to stairlifts.

We have not tested either brand’s lifts. This comparison is based on published specifications, prices, warranty terms and customer review platforms, all checked in November 2026.

How do Stannah and Acorn compare side by side?

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Who makes Stannah and Acorn stairlifts?

Both brands make their own lifts in Britain and sell them direct to the public. Stannah describes itself as “the UK’s largest wholly family-owned lift business” and says it has installed more than one million stairlifts worldwide, according to The Manufacturer. A sixth-generation executive board was announced in December 2025.

Acorn’s trading company, Acorn Mobility Services Ltd, has been registered since 1991, and one shareholder has held more than 75% of it since 2016, according to Companies House. Acorn says it has factories in Yorkshire and Scotland and exports to more than 80 countries. It also owns the Brooks brand, which is sold through independent dealers.

Which has the better models and weight limits?

Acorn publishes clearer specifications, while Stannah’s model details are harder to confirm. Acorn’s straight Acorn 130 carries 127kg, or 159kg in the heavy-duty version, needs 670mm of width to swivel at the top and can run up to 10 metres. A hinged rail option is also available.

The curved Acorn 180 uses a modular rail and is rated to 120kg, lower than the straight model. If the user is heavier, that is worth raising early. Our Acorn 130 and 180 comparison covers the two models in more detail.

Stannah’s website appears to list the Starla and Siena as its current models, in curved and straight versions. We could not load those pages directly to confirm the range or the weight limits, so ask the surveyor for both in writing. Stannah’s JOYA stairlift won a Red Dot design award in 2026, as reported by THIIS. Dealer listings use “260” for Stannah’s curved rail and “600” for its straight rail.

Is Stannah more expensive than Acorn?

We cannot say for certain, because neither brand publishes prices. Both quote after a free home survey. As a guide, Which? puts a new straight stairlift at £2,000 to £4,000 and a curved one at £4,500 to £8,000 or more.

The bigger difference is what happens after the quote. Stannah told Which? that it does not allow price negotiation, and in a 2020 survey 60% of Stannah customers who tried to haggle saw no change, though 31% had extras added. In the same survey, 44% of Acorn customers who haggled got a price reduction. So an Acorn first quote may have room in it, and a Stannah quote probably will not.

Some Stannah reviewers on Trustpilot call it “a bit expensive”. Our stairlift prices guide explains what drives the cost, such as bends, landings and rail length.

Which has the better warranty and aftercare?

Stannah appears to state more: its regional pages say new stairlifts come with a two-year warranty including two free services, and reconditioned lifts with a one-year guarantee. Those pages could only be read through search-engine previews, so confirm the terms in your written quote.

Acorn’s UK website does not state a warranty length. Its servicing page recommends a service every 12 months and says its extended warranty covers all call-outs, parts and labour, but plan prices are not published. One Trustpilot reviewer disputed a £175 annual service charge, which is one person’s account. Ask either brand what the first two years include and what servicing costs after that.

What do customers say about Stannah and Acorn?

Customers rate both highly, with almost identical scores. Acorn has 4.8 from 12,308 reviews on Trustpilot and Stannah 4.7 from 7,295 reviews on Trustpilot, both checked in November 2026. Each has about 3 to 4% one-star reviews.

The complaints differ. Trustpilot’s summary for Acorn mentions some reviewers reporting a “rather rough ride” and occasional shaking. Its summary for Stannah mentions administrative delays and difficulty getting through to support.

Which? is where they separate. Stannah is a Which? Recommended Provider for stairlifts in 2026, one of only two, with five-star ratings for delivery and fitting, ease of use and reliability. Acorn was one of four brands rated in Which?’s April 2026 survey, but its score is behind the paywall and we found no Recommended Provider status for it.

How do Stannah and Acorn sell?

Both send a surveyor to your home, but Which? has reported pressure selling at Acorn. In a May 2019 Which? mystery shop, two of three Acorn sales visits used pressure tactics, including asking for an immediate decision and offering a 20% discount after calling the office. Acorn denied any breach, said it was disappointed and would not condone or tolerate poor conduct, and did not accept that a deposit was asked for.

The advertising regulator upheld a complaint against Acorn in 2012 over a “free home trial” that required signing a purchase agreement, according to the ASA. A 2013 complaint against Stannah about its 24/7 engineer claim was not upheld. These findings are years old, but they are the only independent records we found.

Can you sell a Stannah or Acorn stairlift back?

Stannah may buy back a recent lift, and Acorn will not. Which? reported in 2025 that Stannah buys back lifts under two years old that were bought new, subject to conditions such as good condition and servicing. In 2026 Which? reported that Acorn won’t buy back stairlifts. Buy-back offers in general can be as little as 5 to 10% of the original price, so don’t count on getting much back.

Which should you choose?

If neither feels right, our side-by-side guide to UK stairlift brands covers Handicare, TKE, independent dealers and more. A reconditioned lift from either maker, or from a dealer, can cost less than new.

What should you do before signing with either?

Get at least one other quote and never sign on the day. Which? explains that you normally have 14 days to cancel, but there is no cancellation right for goods made to your specifications, which usually includes curved stairlifts. Which? also suggests having a family member or friend with you at the visit.

If you’d like a figure to hold a Stannah or Acorn quote against, you can get a comparison price from a local installer. One local installer contacts you, not five, and the quote is free and no obligation.

Common questions

Is a Brooks stairlift the same as an Acorn?

Brooks and Acorn share an owner and an address, and both have a 130 model, but we found no statement from the maker that the two lifts are identical. Brooks is sold through independent dealers, so warranty and service depend on the dealer. See our Brooks stairlift review.

Do Stannah and Acorn sell reconditioned stairlifts?

Yes. Acorn sales staff offered reconditioned lifts during Which?’s 2019 mystery shop. Stannah’s pages appear to offer reconditioned lifts with a one-year guarantee, plus a rental scheme, but confirm the terms when you get a quote.

Which is better for curved stairs?

It depends on the user’s weight and the shape of the stairs. The Acorn 180 is rated to 120kg and Stannah’s curved weight limits could not be confirmed from Stannah. Our guide to curved stairlift costs and lead times explains what to ask either surveyor.

Get free quotes from a trusted local installer

Free · No obligation · One trusted local installer

What shape are your stairs?

Straight Curved Not sure

Prefer to talk? Call free 0800 000 0000 Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 9am–5pm

Advertising disclosure: we're paid by installers when you request a quote here. How we make money