If there's one thing you come to learn about babies, it's that you need eyes in the back of your head. As babies and toddlers love to explore, taking measures to keep them safe by babyproofing your home is of the utmost importance. However, this can also come with a cost. So, if you happen to be looking for cheap stair gates that you can trust to keep your little one safe, our list of the best cheap stair gates will do just that.
How much are stair gates?
You can get cheap stair gates anywhere from under £20. On the other hand, baby gates can be anywhere up to £200, depending on their features and mechanisms. To save your hard-earned cash, we've included stair gates from trusted retailers for less than £40.
Why do I need stair gates?
Stair gates are essential for any parent with a set of stairs in their home. Of course, being near stairs unsupervised is extremely dangerous for little ones and poses a risk of injury. So, installing stair gates provides a locked barrier so that they're unable to crawl or toddle too close to the stairs.
Ideally, you should have two stair gates on your stairs. For the gate at the top of your stairs, you will want to fit a gate without a step over the bar to reduce the likelihood of tripping. Then, you should also fit a gate at the bottom of the stairs. This protects your tot from climbing both up and down the stairs unaided.
What type of stair gates are there?
As well as our guide to choosing the best stair gates for baby, we've included a list of the types of stair gates you might come across. That way, you can consider your options before buying. It goes without saying, always measure your space before buying, too.
-
Pressure fit: Attach securely to the wall using pressure cups, avoiding any damage to walls with screws.
-
Wall fix or screw fix: Screws to either side of the wall for a secure fit.
-
Extending: Has an option to be adjusted to the size of your doorway.
-
Wide fit: Provides an extension for wider doorways and walls.
-
No trip: No bar at the bottom of the gate to avoid trips.
-
Auto close: Gates that automatically lock behind you as they shut.
The best cheap stair gates 2022
These are the cheapest stair gates for your baby that are currently on the market. From Argos to John Lewis, these trusted brands will help make your home a safe environment for your little one.
Our top pick
www.argos.co.uk
Designed to fit in doorways and at the bottom of the stairs, this gate is another one from Argos with thousands of positive reviews which is why it makes our top picks. Sturdy and already assembled, this stair gate only takes approximately five minutes to install with all the tools provided. It also has the manufacturer's one year guarantee.
Dimensions: H 76cm x W 82cm (up to W 117cm with extenders)
Features: Squeeze and lift mechanism for one-handed opening and locking, visual indicator confirming when the gate is not locked, two-way opening, double locking, manual closing system, step over bar.
Pros:
• Strong and sturdy
• Easy to assemble
• Difficult for little ones to open
**
Cons:**
• Not for top of stairs
• According to reviews, may make noise after a while
Review: "We brought this just over a month ago to keep our tiny humans out of the kitchen, was easy to put up. Can go any way in a door and has a latch at the bottom to keep the gate from swinging through if you don't want it!"
Best pressure fit stair gate for affordability
www.argos.co.uk
This Cuggl Pressure Fit stair gate is affordable, easy to install and secure. With thousands of positive reviews on Argos, this is one of our top picks. While it's a pressure fit gate, it's worth noting that the cups which attach to the wall will also require drilling to make sure they're secure. Additionally, this product has the manufacturer's one year guarantee.
Dimensions: H 75cm x W 81cm (up to W 87cm with extenders)
Features: Two-way opening, double locking, manual closing system, one-handed opening and locking, step over bar.
Pros:
• Affordable
• Easy to assemble
**
Cons:**
• Not for top of stairs
• Doesn't come with instructions
• Some found it needed further fixing
Review: "Great safety gate, easy to operate with one hand whilst being too difficult for tiny hands to work. Easy to fit, and all fixing supplied, took my husband about 15 minutes to fit. Solid and secure when fitted. I’m confident this will keep my grandson safe, would definitely buy and very happy to recommend this safety gate."
Best extendable stair gate
On the higher end of the price point, but totally worth every penny. Just take a look at thousands of positive Amazon reviews claiming it's the best stair gate that they've ever owned. As one of our top picks, this stair gate doesn't leave any damage to your walls with its no-drill installation.
Dimensions: H 73cm x W 80cm (up to W 101cm with extenders)
Features: Squeeze and lift mechanism for one-handed opening and locking, visual indicator confirming when the gate is closed, two-way opening, stay-open mechanism, thin step over bar.
Pros:
• Strong and sturdy
• Thin step over bar to limit trips
• Can be extended to fit doorways
• Difficult for little ones to open
**
Cons:**
• Not for top of stairs
• Difficult instructions to follow
• Difficult lock mechanism
Review: "The price is perfectly reasonable. This product appealed for the flat base step, so that there is no trip hazard, particularly on stairs. The gate was very easy to install both in a doorway and also top/bottom of the stairs. They’ve been up a while now, and we couldn’t be happier with our purchase and they certainly work well at keeping our son safe!"
Best stair gate on sale
www.oliversbabycare.co.uk
We've included this set of stair gates because we couldn't resist this deal. With no drilling involved, the simple no-fuss installation of the Callowesse Kemble Pressure Fit Safety Gates will have your stairs babyproofed in no time. Plus, no need to buy another gate as they come in a pair!
Dimensions: H 75cm x W 82cm.
Features: Squeeze and lift mechanism for one-handed opening and locking, visual indicator confirming when the gate is closed, two-way opening, stay-open mechanism, auto-closing when pushed shut, double locking, step over bar.
Pros:
• Comes as a set of two
• Easy to assemble
**
Cons:**
• Not for top of stairs
• No reviews as of yet
Best stair gate for affordability
www.argos.co.uk
While this is the cheapest stair gate that we could find, the sturdiness of the Cuggl Wall Fix Safety Gate is nothing to be sniffed at. Despite the fact it needs drilling into the wall, this gate is straightforward, safe and simple to install. Additionally, there's no step bar to trip over in the dark which is always a plus. Has the manufacturer's one year guarantee.
Dimensions: H 76cm x W 81cm.
Features: Two-way opening, double locking, manual closing system, one-handed opening and locking.
Pros:
• No step over bar to limit trips
• Simple to use
**
Cons:**
• Some found it needed further fixing
Review: "As a mum of three kids under five I wish I'd bought this gate earlier as it's much better than our previous one. We fitted it to the top of our stairs and it is really sturdy, impossible for my four year old to open, yet easy for an adult to use single-handed. It is really quite subtle for a stair gate in terms of blending into the decor rather than standing out."
Best simple stair gate
Likewise, this BabyDan No Trip safety gate comes with no step over bar meaning fewer trips. A screw fix wall fitted gate with quick release fittings make detaching the gate easy for adults when it's time to take the gate off. Another of Amazon's best-reviewed stair gates, this one had to make the list.
Dimensions: H 70cm x W 78 cm.
Features: Two-way opening, double locking, one-handed opening and locking.
Pros:
• Affordable
• No step over bar to limit trips
• Simple to use
• Easy to assemble
**
Cons:**
• Some found their toddlers were able to open it
Review: "These gates are perfect for what we need, and they fit in perfectly with our white doors and stairs. They come with some easy to attach plastic mounting hardware and a template which you place against the surface to mount to which aids you in drilling holes and whatnot. I would say they are quite easy to fit but you need to be somewhat confident with measuring etc. We've had one of the gates for a year now and it's still going strong - the lifting action is perhaps a little harder now than it was but I imagine some oil or something would help this.."
Best wooden stair gate
www.johnlewis.com
If a wooden baby gate is more your thing, or you'd think it would be suited to the decor, this one by John Lewis is an amazingly affordable option. This stair gate is a wall fix gate which requires drilling into the wall but has quick-release screws for when it's time to uninstall it. No step bar means a no trip hazard. Has the manufacturer's one year guarantee.
Dimensions: H 73 cm x W 72.5cm to W 78.5 cm
Pros:
• Easy to assemble and remove
• Stylish and attractive
• No trip bar
**
Cons:**
• Some found their toddlers were able to open it
• Some had problems with the fit of the gate and needed extenders
Review: "I bought two of these for when the grandkids visit. Very easy to install and extremely easy to remove when not needed. Discrete fixings. Easy to store and they look great."
Best stair gate for sturdiness
A great buy from Amazon with a selection of different colours to choose from so that you can match up to your home. With grey, blue, black, wood finish and white to choose from, your options are endless. This gate is especially sturdy due to its thickness and screw fittings that are drilled into the wall. Quick-release fittings allow you to easily take it down when needed.
Dimensions: H 75.5 cm x W 63.5 cm to W 105.5cm.
Features: Two-way opening, one-handed opening and locking.
Pros:
• No step over bar to limit trips
• Different colour choices
**
Cons:**
• Difficult to install
• Difficult instructions to follow
Review: "Nothing to dislike really. Can fit our non-standard door width, the installation was just 5 minutes with a screwdriver (while baby was sleeping!), and easy to open with one hand (for closing I sometimes help myself with a foot though as it is a bit wobbly when opened). This is a second gate (same type) we bought after being please with the first one. Definitely recommend."
Best wall fix stair gate
www.argos.co.uk
This extending screw fit stair gate provides a barrier for those wide areas. With a no trip bar, this is ideal for the top of stairs, as it can also be fixed to open one way only. Quick-release fittings mean an easy process to take down from the wall when needed. Has the manufacturer's one year guarantee.
Dimensions: H 72.5 cm x W 62.5cm to W 106.8cm
Features: Two-way opening, can be fixed to open one way, double locking, manual closing system, one-handed opening and locking.
Pros:
• Can be extended to fit stairs and doorways
• No step over bar to limit trips
• Simple to use
**
Cons:**
• Some found they needed different screws to fix to their wall
Review: "This is a fantastic baby gate. We brought 2 gates to fit either end of the stairs and are so happy we selected this particular gate. The fact that it’s extendable allows us to fit accurately, the gate opens both ways, and also has a secure lock, release and lift feature which even my fast learning toddler would not be able to unlock. It is easy to fit, however, we did secure it to the wall and bannister with longer screws and wall plugs for a more sturdy fit. This is definitely one of our best buys and money well spent."
Best wide fit stair gate
www.argos.co.uk
Similarly, for those extra-wide areas, this pressure fit gate by Cuggl is the answer. For a no-fuss installation that doesn't require any drilling, this gate is an extremely simple solution. This product also includes the manufacturer's one year guarantee.
Dimensions: H 75cm x W 81 cm (up to W 117cm with extenders)
Features: Extenders included, two-way opening, double locking, manual closing system, one-handed opening and locking, step over bar.
Pros:
• Can be extended to fit stairs and doorways
• Simple to use
**
Cons:**
• Some had problems with the fit of the gate
Review: "No drilling which is a good thing for something that will probably be temporary. Many options to make it slightly bigger or smaller if you get your measurements wrong!"