Stair climbers – which are best – electric or manual?

One of the questions people ask themselves when deciding whether to buy a stair climber or stair climbing dolly is: "Which is best? A manually operated stair climber or an electric stair climber?"

For the sake of clarity we should specify that stair climbers for loads and goods – often called stair climbing dollies, or stair climbing hand trucks – are not the same thing as stair climbers for wheelchairs, which are used to carry disabled people with reduced motor capacity.

This article compares manual and electric stair climbers for the transport of goods on staircases.

The manual 3-wheel stair climbing hand truck

Manual 3-wheel stair climbing hand trucks allow you to transport loads on stairs thanks to a dual 3-wheel rotation mechanism on each side of the truck. This 3-wheel mechanism is found on both the left and right sides of the truck. The presence of three wheels on each side of the truck, for a total of 6 wheels, makes going up and down stairs much easier compared to a normal manual truck with only two wheels. Thanks to the rotation mechanism, there is always a wheel resting on the step. This means less physical effort for the operator compared to traditional trucks, which are not suitable for transporting goods on stairs.

What is the load capacity of manual 3-wheel stair climbers?

On the market you can find manual wheeled stair climbers with a load capacity of up to 300 kg. The use of these stair climbers is not recommended as they represent a risk for the operator, who must push the weight up the stairs while keeping the load balanced during transport. In addition to a health risk, there is also a risk to the safety of the goods, in the event of overturning on the stairs.

Manual 3-wheel stair climber: only for light goods, up to 25 kg

The wheeled stair climber, due to its instability during load transport on stairs, is suitable for occasional and private, non-professional use. It is advisable to load only light goods, not exceeding 25 kg. This weight is the maximum limit set by the ISO 11228-1:2003 and ISO/TR 12295:2014 standards which govern manual handling, ergonomics, lifting and manual load transport. Learn more about the difference between tracked stair climbers and wheeled stair climbers.

Recommended use of the manual wheeled stair climber:

• For occasional transport
• Up to a maximum load of 25 kilograms

Electric stair climber with wheels

The electric wheeled stair climber is equipped with a motor that allows goods to be carried on stairs with less effort. There are 2-wheel and 6-wheel electric stair climbers (with three wheels per side of the truck). In this case, the rotation mechanism is the same as that seen previously for manual 3-wheel stair climbing trucks.

Load capacity of electric stair climbers with wheels

Electric wheeled stair climbers can have a load capacity of up to 400 kg. For this reason, many believe that, thanks to the electric motor, they are suitable for transporting heavy loads. However, this conclusion is incorrect. The load capacity is not the only value to consider: attention must also be paid to the mechanics and technology of the stair climbing truck, as these determine how the load is kept in balance. Unlike the manual 3-wheel stair climber, with the electric wheeled stair climber the operator does not have to push the load during transport on the stairs, as the motor takes care of that. However, the operator must still keep the load balanced during transport.

Suitable for light and medium-weight goods, up to 100 kg

The electric wheeled stair climber is suitable for transporting light and medium-weight goods, up to 100 kg. This applies regardless of the actual load capacity of the stair climber, which may be much higher. The reason is that this type of truck always requires the operator to keep the load balanced, a very dangerous manoeuvre that can lead to serious accidents. In the event of load overturning, it can roll down the stairs. It does not take much imagination to understand the danger of a 200 kg load falling from the top floor of a staircase. Recommended use of the electric wheeled stair climber:

• For professional transport
• For transporting light goods, such as washing machines and refrigerators
• In many cases also usable on spiral staircases
• Up to a maximum load of 100 kilograms

For this reason, Zonzini's wheeled stair climbers, despite being equipped with an electric motor, have a maximum load capacity of 160 kg. They are the ideal stair climbing trucks for transporting household appliances, cardboard boxes and small furniture. This video shows the transport of a washing machine on stairs with the Buddy Lift electric stair climbing truck.

The electric tracked stair climber: the only one suitable for heavy goods on stairs

The ideal stair climbing truck for transporting heavy goods on stairs is the electric tracked stair climber. A tracked truck with a load capacity of 400 kg allows heavy goods reaching this weight to be transported safely.

Load capacity of electric tracked stair climbers

Electric tracked stair climbers generally have a load capacity exceeding 250 kg, but can transport goods up to 350 kg – for example our Skipper stair climber – and even reach 400 kilograms of load capacity, like the Domino Plasmoid electric tracked truck.

The ideal stair climbers for loads up to 400 kilograms

Thanks to the fact that the operator does not have to keep the weight of the load balanced, transporting heavy goods on stairs – even up to 400 kilograms – with electric tracked stair climbers is very safe. Some advanced models, like the Domino Automatic robot, feature advanced electronic technology for automatic tilting of the goods during transport on stairs. This particular robotic tracked stair climber is operated with a simple joystick. The truck operator does not have to exert any physical effort, either to transport the goods or to keep the load balanced while going up or down the steps. Among the limitations normally attributed to tracked trucks are poor manoeuvrability, weight and bulk, which do not allow their use on helical staircases. This is only true for spiral staircases, which are too narrow to allow goods to be transported with a tracked truck, so a wheeled truck must be used. Regarding manoeuvrability on helical staircases, the specific characteristics of the stair climber must be considered. The most modern tracked stair climbers also have two motors, one for each track. The dual electric motorisation allows a full 360° rotation (very useful on stair landings). Maximum safety combined with ease of use and great manoeuvrability.

A single person can transport a heavy photocopier on a helical staircase using the Domino Automatic stair climber.

Learn more

The following videos and images show some examples of transporting heavy goods on stairs

Gym equipment

Doors and windows

Here are more examples of transporting heavy goods on stairs with our Domino Automatic and Skipper electric stair climbers.

To learn more about the goods and loads you can transport on stairs with Zonzini stair climbers, visit the Testimonials section on this website.

Transport of a vending machine on an outdoor staircase

Transport of an ATM on the London Underground staircase

Transport of a billiard table weighing 400 kg

Transport of a sofa on stairs