What is a mechanical Hoyer lift?

A mechanical Hoyer lift uses hydraulic-powered machinery and a sling or other supports combined with caregiver assistance to lift and move a person with impaired mobility.

What is a Hoyer lift used for?

A Hoyer lift is used to lift and transport people who can’t safely walk or put weight on either leg. The lift frees caregivers from having to physically support a person’s weight when moving them from one location to another. Depending on the type of lift, it may be used to move someone in and out of bed, up and down from the floor, in and out of the bathroom or from one room to another. Hoyer lifts are also used to reduce the number of caregivers a person needs at any one time, to give the individual more autonomy and mobility, and to reduce the risk of injury to the user and their caregiver.

What is the best kind of Hoyer lift?

The best kind of Hoyer lift depends on the unique needs of the user and their caregiver(s). This is because the various types of lifts offer different functionality and features as well as cost. It’s often helpful to work with a doctor or other experienced medical professional to determine <a href="https://www.caring.com/senior-products/best-hoyer-lifts/">which Hoyer lift is best</a>.

Understanding the Three Main Types of Mechanical Lifts

Q: What is a Hoyer lift used for?

A Hoyer lift is used to lift and transport people who can&rsquo;t safely walk or put weight on either leg. The lift frees caregivers from having to physically support a person&rsquo;s weight when moving them from one location to another. Depending on the type of lift, it may be used to move someone in and out of bed, up and down from the floor, in and out of the bathroom or from one room to another. Hoyer lifts are also used to reduce the number of caregivers a person needs at any one time, to give the individual more autonomy and mobility, and to reduce the risk of injury to the user and their caregiver.

Q: What is the difference between a manual hydraulic lift and a power lift?

A manual hydraulic lift requires a caregiver to manually control the lift&rsquo;s functioning with their hand by repeatedly pushing a lever. Unlike manual lifts, power lifts are operated via electricity or a battery and are sometimes equipped with a remote control. Although they&rsquo;re often more <a href="https://www.caring.com/senior-products/best-hoyer-lifts/how-much-does-a-hoyer-lift-cost/">costly</a> to purchase, they&rsquo;re typically easier for a caregiver to use and may offer a smoother experience for the person requiring assistance.

Q: What factors should be considered when choosing a Hoyer lift?

There are many factors to consider when selecting a Hoyer lift, including: &bull; The price and whether Medicare coverage is an option &bull; The user&rsquo;s physical abilities &bull; Sling styles, sizes and whether the lift comes with a sling &bull; How much <a href="https://www.caring.com/senior-products/best-hoyer-lifts/what-is-the-maximum-weight-capacity-for-a-hoyer-lift/">weight</a> the lift can safely support &bull; The size of the lift and its ease of movement &bull; Installation and its cost &bull; Whether the lift has features such as locking wheels, a remote control or a foot pedal system

Date Updated: July 31, 2025

Written by:

Rachel Lustbader

Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.

Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers

Mechanical lifts, often referred to as Hoyer lifts, are devices designed to help caregivers move a person from a sitting to standing position and from one place to another within a room or house. There are three main types of mechanical lifts: passive floor lifts, overhead lifts, and active sit-to-stand lifts.

When deciding if a mechanical lift is needed or a good investment, cost is frequently a consideration. These devices can be expensive, but the price can vary significantly depending on the type of lift. In fact, costs can range from about $350 for manual passive lifts to over $12,000 for more complex power lifts.

Some individuals may be able to have at least a portion of the cost covered under Medicare as durable medical equipment (DME). Additionally, it’s worthwhile to compare the upfront cost against the potential benefits of owning a lift.

When a mechanical lift is used to transfer a person to different locations within their home, they’re likely to experience an improved quality of life. The increased safety of using a lift, along with the reduced physical strain it provides, could also lower the risk of injuries to both the individual and their caregiver.

This guide provides an overview of the three main types of lifts, more detailed descriptions of each one and the answers to some frequently asked questions.

Overview of the Three Main Types of Mechanical Lifts

The three main types of mechanical lifts each have some unique and similar features, and it can be difficult to keep all the details straight. This table shows the main features of each type of mechanical lift to make comparing the options easier.

	Passive Lift	Overhead Lift	Active Lift
Also Known As	Floor lift, Hoyer lift, patient lift	Ceiling lift, freestanding overhead lift	Sit-to-stand lift
Power Type(s)	Manual (hydraulic) and power (battery or electric)	Battery or electric	Manual (hydraulic) and power (battery or electric)
Main Function	To move a person in and out of bed or another type of furniture, on or off a commode or from one room to another	To move a person via a sling and motorized track in and out of bed, on or off the commode, or from one room to another	To allow a person with some leg strength/functioning to get into or out of a seat or on or off the commode
Range of movement	Moves a person up, down and side-to-side	Moves a person up, down and side-to-side; ceiling lifts may allow an individual to move around one room only, while freestanding overhead lifts may move from room to room	Moves a person up, down and side-to-side
Design	A U-shaped base supporting a pole that has an overhead horizontal arm with a cradle or spreader bar with hooks and a suspended sling	Includes a track system that can be freestanding (designed to arch over bed/furniture) or attached to the ceiling	Features a belt that wraps around the user's midsection; the individual remains somewhat vertical by placing their feet on a footrest and knees on knee pads.
Approximate Price Range	From $360 for manual/hydraulic lifts to $7,200 for power lifts	From $2,600, with an average installation cost of $8,000	From $800 for manual active lifts to $1,500 - $12,000 or more for power active lifts

Passive Floor Lifts

Passive floor lifts are freestanding and often referred to as patient lifts or Hoyer lifts. This type of lift is designed with a U-shaped base, a vertical pole and a mechanical arm that extends horizontally from the top of the pole. The end of this arm has a cradle or spreader bar with hooks for a full-body sling, which is required to safely hold a person while using the lift.

Floor lifts are available in a variety of models at different prices. Some are operated manually using a hydraulic hand pump, while others are powered by a battery or electrical cord that plugs into a household outlet.

Passive mechanical floor lifts:

Are usually equipped with wheels to easily move a person from one room to another
Can move a person up and down or side to side
Can hold a range of weights depending on the design
May be operated manually or powered by a battery or electricity
Require the use of a sling, which may be included
Don’t require a ceiling track
Are typically much easier to assemble than overhead lifts

Overhead Lifts

There are two main categories of this type of lift: ceiling overhead lifts and freestanding overhead lifts.

Ceiling Overhead Lifts

Ceiling lifts require having a track installed on the ceiling, either in one room or multiple rooms in a home. The average cost to install a ceiling track is approximately $8,000.

Freestanding Overhead Lifts

Freestanding overhead lifts also use a motorized track, but the track is part of the lift’s design that arches over an individual’s bed or other type of furniture. Because these lifts aren’t attached to the ceiling, they’re often equipped with wheels so they can be moved from one room to another.

Overhead lifts:

Are designed to move a person up, down and side-to-side using a sling suspended by a cable from an overhead motorized track
May hold more weight than other types of mechanical lifts

Active Sit-to-Stand Lifts

Active lifts differ from both passive floor lifts and overhead lifts in that they require some work from the user. They’re designed to pull a person who has some mobility and strength from a seated position into an upward “transfer” position.

Sit-to-stand lifts allow a person to experience more independence by helping them stand with the support of the device. These lifts feature a lower platform that serves as a footrest and knee pads that serve as knee rests, and the individual leans into a large, supportive band that surrounds their torso.