The aim of a stairlift installation is to take you from one floor to the next in the most comfortable, steady and safe way possible, but one question that gets asked in abundance is about speed.
Interestingly, whilst the question of how fast a stairlift travels gets asked a lot, the answer people want to hear can vary considerably depending on their priorities, and different manufacturers have their own approaches when it comes to finding the right speed for a stairlift.
A stairlift being too fast is uncomfortable, jarring, nauseating and potentially quite dangerous, whilst a stairlift that is too slow can make for an uncomfortable journey in other ways.
The key is to find the right balance, which can be different depending on who it is built for, and the speed of a stairlift can vary dramatically depending on how old it is, the power supply and its overall condition, as well as the route it takes.
Whilst not universally the case, newer, straight stairlifts that have been recently and appropriately installed will be the fastest and most consistent with their speeds but this is not always the case.
In general, stairlifts travel at a maximum speed of 0.34 miles per hour, with a gradual acceleration at the start of the journey and deceleration at the end.
Curved stairlifts and bespoke installations can often be slower than this in order to safely navigate the more complex route whilst ensuring the user feels completely in control at all times, balanced, safe and secure.
A slower motor is also inherently quieter as well, which given how often stairlifts are used is an important quality of life feature. It also extends the life of the batteries if the stairlift is not primarily powered by an external power supply.
These speeds can often vary by brand, so it is an important question to ask a stairlift expert when making initial inquiries.
