Electric Hoyer Patient Lifts

Electric vs. Manual — What’s the Difference?

Both electric and manual patient lifts use a sling and spreader bar to support the patient. The difference is how the lifting happens.

A manual hydraulic lift uses a hand pump — the caregiver pumps a handle to raise the patient, similar to a floor jack. Manual lifts are lower cost and don’t require charging, but they require physical effort on every transfer.

An electric lift uses a rechargeable battery and a hand pendant. Press up, the patient rises. Press down, they lower. No pumping, no physical effort. For caregivers doing multiple transfers a day, or those with back or shoulder limitations, the difference is significant.

Why Choose an Electric Patient Lift Over a Manual One?

• Reduces caregiver strain – no physical lifting needed
• Improves safety – minimizes fall risk for patients
• Saves time – fast and smooth transfers with minimal effort
• Enhances comfort – gentle, controlled lifting motion
• Long-term reliability – built to last with low maintenance

All lifts on this page are battery-powered electric models. If you’re looking for a manual hydraulic lift, see our manual Hoyer patient lifts.

How to Choose the Right Electric Patient Lift

Use the filters on the left to narrow by brand, weight capacity, and special features. Here’s what those filters mean in plain English:

Weight Capacity

This is the most important spec. Choose a lift rated comfortably above your patient’s weight — not right at the limit. Working at or near a weight limit adds wear and risk. Standard lifts cover up to 400–500 lbs. If your patient is in the 500–600 lb range, filter for bariatric models.

Portability

Some lifts fold flat to fit in a car trunk — useful if you travel with your loved one or need to store the lift between uses. Most lifts are designed to stay in one location. Filter for portability if this matters for your situation.

Battery Backup

Some lifts include a second battery or an external charging cradle so you can charge one battery while using another — eliminating downtime between transfers. If the lift will be in heavy daily use, this is worth filtering for.

Power Base

The base is the part of the lift with the wheels that sits on the floor. The legs need to open wide for transfers and close to move the lift from room to room.

With a manual base, you open and close the legs by hand — using a foot pedal or lever.

With a power base, a button on the hand pendant opens and closes the legs automatically — no bending, no stepping, no physical effort. For caregivers with back or knee issues, or those doing many transfers daily, a power base makes a meaningful difference. Only a few models in our lineup offer this — filter for power base to find them.

Is This the Right Type of Lift?

A full-body electric patient lift is designed for patients who cannot bear any weight on their legs during a transfer. If your loved one still has some ability to stand or bear weight — even limited — a sit-to-stand lift may be a better and less expensive fit. Not sure which type is right? Call us at 1-800-956-6616 and we’ll help you figure it out before you buy.

Compatible Patient Lift Slings

Every electric patient lift requires a sling — the fabric support that holds the patient during a transfer. Slings are sold separately or bundled with the lift at checkout. The right sling depends on the transfer type: full body, divided leg, mesh bathing, and commode-opening styles are all available. Browse compatible patient lift slings here.

Does Medicare Cover Electric Hoyer Lifts?

Medicare Part B covers manual hydraulic patient lifts as durable medical equipment — but not electric lifts. If you’re set on an electric lift, there’s a path worth knowing about: Medicare may reimburse you for what it would have paid toward a comparable manual lift, and you pay the difference. Any Medicare benefit requires the purchase to go through a Medicare-enrolled DMEPOS supplier — which ADHME is not. If maximizing your Medicare benefit is the priority, we’d recommend going that route instead.

For private insurance, many insurers do cover electric patient lifts when prescribed as medically necessary. ADHME provides a detailed paid invoice with the HCPCS code that you can submit to your insurer for reimbursement.

Patient lifts are also generally eligible expenses under HSA and FSA accounts.