Patient Lifts for Home Use: Hoyer, Sit-to-Stand and Portable Lifts Compared

Our quick picks

How we picked: we compared the specs, sizes and prices of each lift side by side, straight from the manufacturers' product pages at Mobility Department (checked October 28, 2026), and matched each one to the situation it suits best. This is a research-based guide, not a hands-on test. Prices change, so check the current price before you buy.

The hard part is choosing the right type. A lift that's wrong for the person's abilities is unsafe, and a lift that doesn't fit your room won't get used. This guide walks you through both.

The 3 types of patient lifts (and who each is for)

1. Full-body lifts (often called "Hoyer lifts")

The person lies or sits in a fabric sling, and the lift raises them completely off the bed or chair. "Hoyer" is a brand name, but many people use it for any full-body lift.

• Who it's for: someone who can't stand or bear weight on their legs.
• Hydraulic (manual pump): you pump a handle to raise the person. No battery to charge, and usually cheaper.
• Electric: a hand control raises and lowers the person at the push of a button. Less effort for the caregiver, but the battery has to stay charged.

2. Sit-to-stand lifts (stand aids)

The person holds on to handles, rests their knees against a pad and puts their feet on a footplate. A strap goes around their back, and the lift helps them rise from sitting to standing.

• Who it's for: someone who can bear some weight on their legs and hold on with their arms, but can't stand up safely alone.
• Good for: toilet trips and short moves between bed, chair and commode.

3. Standing turn aids

A simple platform with a handle. The person stands up, holds the handle, and the caregiver turns them to a nearby seat. There's no motor or pump.

• Who it's for: someone who can stand up and hold on by themselves, but is unsteady when turning.
• Good for: small rooms and short transfers, such as bed to commode.

Compare the six lifts side by side

*Prices from Mobility Department on October 28, 2026.

The best patient lifts for home use

BestLift PL400H: best value full-body lift

The PL400H is the lowest-priced full-body lift here at $626. It's hydraulic, so you raise the person by pumping a handle, and there's no battery to charge or wear out.

• Capacity: 400 lbs
• Weight: 82 lbs, and the store says it disassembles quickly for transport
• Lifting height: 27 in to 68 in
• Base: 40 in long, 26 in wide closed and 33 in wide open, 4.8 in high. Legs open and close by hand.
• Spreader bar: six-point
• Warranty (per the store): frame and spreader bar 3 years, hydraulic pump 1 year

Keep in mind: pumping takes some arm effort on every lift. The product page doesn't list a sling, so plan to buy one separately.

Protekt 500: best electric lift

If you'll be doing several transfers a day, an electric lift saves a lot of effort. The Protekt 500 lifts at the push of a button and is rated for 500 lbs.

• Capacity: 500 lbs
• Weight: 109 lbs
• Lifting height: 21.9 in to 71.3 in, the widest range of the full-body lifts here
• Base: 47.3 in long, 26.4 in wide closed and 39.3 in wide open
• Turning circle: 58.3 in with the base closed, 62.8 in open. Make sure your room has that much clear floor space.
• Spreader bar: six-point, which the store says works with multiple sling options
• Warranty (per the store): frame 3 years, electronics 2 years, battery 1 year

Keep in mind: keep the battery charged. A spare battery is worth considering if you depend on the lift every day. The product page also offers matching full-body slings (mesh or solid, medium to XX-large) for $67 as an add-on, so check whether one is selected before you check out.

BestLift PL228: for heavier users in small rooms

The PL228 is also rated for 500 lbs and is built for bariatric transfers. The store describes it as designed to fit small rooms with low beds.

• Capacity: 500 lbs
• Weight: 99 lbs
• Lifting height: 25.6 in to 69.5 in
• Base: about 45 in long, 25.3 in wide closed, 37.9 in inside width open, 4.5 in high
• Features: dual front casters, base that opens by hand, and electronics the store says are rated for 24/7 use
• Power: electric. Mobility Department's page doesn't say so plainly, but other US retailers list it as a full-body electric lift with a battery pack.
• Warranty (per the store): lift frame and spreader bar 3 years

Keep in mind: it costs $140 more than the Protekt 500, which has the same capacity. Compare the base size and lifting range with your room and bed to decide between them.

BestStand SA182H: best sit-to-stand lift

For someone who can bear some weight, a sit-to-stand lift is often quicker and feels more natural than a full sling lift. The SA182H is hydraulic and rated for 400 lbs.

• Capacity: 400 lbs
• Weight: 110 lbs
• Lifting range: 38 in to 60.5 in (with the spreader bar)
• Base: 37.5 in long, 24.9 in wide closed and 33.9 in inside width open, 4.9 in high
• Comfort: adjustable, removable knee pad and footplate
• Upgrade: the store lists an optional electric upgrade
• Warranty (per the store): frame 3 years, hydraulic pump 1 year

Keep in mind: it's only for people who can bear weight and hold on. It won't help someone who can't stand at all.

Molift Smart 150: best portable, folding lift

The Smart 150 folds without tools and weighs 58 lbs, the lightest full-body lift in this guide. That makes it the one to consider if you need to take a lift to a second home or on trips.

• Maximum user weight: 330 lbs
• Weight: 58 lbs
• Lifting height: about 9 to 66 in. The store's spec table lists 8.6 to 66.6 in, while its description says 10 to 66 in. Either way, it gets very low, which helps with lifts from the floor.
• Battery: NiMH, about 3 hours to charge, rated for 40 lifts per charge (at 165 lbs)
• Sling bar: four-point
• Warranty (per the store): 2 years, battery 1 year

Keep in mind: at $3,750 it's by far the most expensive, and its 330 lb limit is lower than the others.

Etac Turner Pro: lowest-cost transfer aid

The Turner Pro isn't a lift. It's a standing turn aid for people who can stand on their own. At $554 and about 16.5 lbs, it's easy to move between rooms.

• Safe working load: about 440 lbs
• Weight: about 16.5 lbs
• Handle height: adjusts from 31.5 in to 47.2 in
• Step-on height: 0.79 in, so it's a low step up
• Warranty (per the store): 2 years

Keep in mind: the person must be able to stand and hold the handle. If they can't, choose a sit-to-stand or full-body lift instead.

Measure your home before you buy

Most problems with home lifts come from space, not from the lift itself. Take these four measurements first:

1. Clearance under the bed. The lift's base legs slide under the bed. The lifts above have bases 4.5 to 4.9 in high, so you need at least that much clear space under the bed frame. Platform beds and divan bases with no gap won't work.
2. Doorway width. Compare it with the base width when closed: 24.9 in to 26.4 in for the lifts above.
3. Space beside the wheelchair or chair. The base opens to between 33 in and 39.3 in wide to go around a chair. Make sure there's room.
4. Floor type. Lifts roll best on hard floors. Thick carpet makes them much harder to push, especially with someone in the sling.

Hoyer lift sling types: choosing the right sling

The sling is what actually holds the person, so it matters as much as the lift. None of the lift product pages above lists a sling as included, so plan to buy one separately. Some pages, like the Protekt 500's, offer matching slings as an add-on.

• Full-body (divided-leg) sling: the most common type for transfers between bed and chair.
• Hammock sling: supports the whole body in one piece. Often used for people with very little muscle control.
• Toileting sling: open at the back and seat area for using a commode.
• Standing belt or vest: used with sit-to-stand lifts.

Does Medicare pay for a patient lift?

Medicare Part B covers durable medical equipment (DME) that is medically necessary and that a doctor orders for use in your home. After the Part B deductible, you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.

There's a catch: Medicare only pays for DME bought from suppliers enrolled in Medicare. If you want Medicare to pay, talk to the doctor first and ask the supplier whether they accept Medicare before you order. Many families buy a lift out of pocket instead to get it quickly or to choose a specific model. Source: Medicare.gov, Durable medical equipment coverage.

Our recommendation

• Most homes, person can't stand: the BestLift PL400H gives you a full-body lift for the lowest price.
• Daily transfers, or a caregiver with back problems: the electric Protekt 500.
• Person can bear some weight: the BestStand SA182H sit-to-stand lift.
• You need to take the lift with you: the folding Molift Smart 150.

Want to see every option side by side? Browse all patient lifts.