Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Published · Last updated
On this page
This chart is for someone with a Hoyer-brand lift who needs to see which sling size goes with which weight range and which binding colour. The figures below come from two manufacturer documents (Joerns Healthcare, the maker of Hoyer products), not from a standard. The sizes run from XS to XL, with a separate striped range for bariatric slings. General product information only, not medical advice: a clinician or trained caregiver must choose and fit the sling for a particular person.
Check your product’s labelling. The label on the sling, not this page, states its size and safe working load. For the sling types themselves see types of slings, and for lift capacity see the weight limit for a Hoyer lift.
The Hoyer sling size chart
Standard slings, XS to XL
Joerns’ “About Hoyer Slings” brochure section gives each size a binding colour and a recommended weight range. The earlier Hoyer Sling Guide (2007) gives numbers for XS to L only; where the two differ, both are shown.
| Size | Binding colour | Recommended weight, brochure (lb / kg) | Weight guide, 2007 Sling Guide (lb / kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS (X Small) | Brown | 35 to 100 lb / 15.9 to 45.4 kg | 35 to 100 lb / 16 to 45 kg |
| S (Small) | Red | 75 to 150 lb / 34 to 68 kg | 75 to 150 lb / 34 to 68 kg |
| M (Medium) | Yellow | 125 to 200 lb / 56.7 to 90.7 kg | 125 to 200 lb / 57 to 91 kg |
| L (Large) | Green | 175 to 275 lb / 79.4 to 124.7 kg | 175 to 300 lb / 80 to 136 kg |
| XL (X Large) | Blue | 275 to 500 lb / 124.7 to 227 kg | not listed |
The brochure shows these ranges as bars on a printed weight scale, with end points at the scale marks (for Large and Extra Large, 275 lb and 500 lb). The 2007 guide states Large as 175 to 300 lb. Ranges overlap by design: a 150 lb person falls inside both Small and Medium.
Bariatric slings, striped binding
The brochure states that all Hoyer bariatric slings are rated to a safe working load of 850 lb (385 kg) and that bariatric slings use a striped binding to tell them apart from the standard range. It gives no weight bands for them.
| Bariatric size | Binding |
|---|---|
| M | Yellow with white stripes |
| L | Green with white stripes |
| XL | Red with white stripes |
| XXL | Yellow with white stripes |
| 3XL | Green with white stripes |
| 4XL | Blue with white stripes |
| 5XL | Black with white stripes |
How to read the chart
Is the chart a rule? No. The manufacturer’s guide says its sling guides “are recommendations only” and that a full risk assessment must be conducted before any sling is selected. Hoyer slings are available in a range of sizes to suit variety in height, shape and weight, so weight is one input, not the whole decision.
What does the colour tell you? The outer-edge binding is colour coded so the size is instantly recognisable. This colour code belongs to Hoyer; the brochure does not describe it as an industry standard, so do not assume another maker’s colours mean the same size. The same colour also repeats across ranges: yellow is Medium in the standard range, and yellow with white stripes is bariatric Medium and bariatric XXL.
What the label tells you
According to the Hoyer Sling Guide, the sling label carries:
- the model reference number and the type of sling
- the size
- a testing mark such as CE or similar, and the date of manufacture
- care instructions
- the safe working load (SWL), a bar code, an identification picture and space for a unique serial number for traceability and inspection records
The guide’s example label states a safe working load of 500 lb, and adds that some slings vary, so the label must always be checked before use.
Equivalence notes
- Pounds and kilograms: the manufacturer documents print both units; the table keeps their published pairs rather than recalculating them, so small rounding differences between the two documents (for example 45 and 45.4 kg) are expected.
- Size names: the brochure spells out X Small, Small, Medium, Large and X Large; the Sling Guide uses XS, S, M, L and XL for the same sizes.
- Custom sizing: the manufacturer states Hoyer slings can be customised outside the standard specification, including sizing adjustments, when a standard size is unsuitable.
Common mix-ups
- Sling rating versus lift rating. The brochure warns to check the safe working load of the lift before lifting, because it may differ from the sling’s. The lowest rating in the system governs; see weight limit for a Hoyer lift and the parts of a Hoyer lift.
- Size versus type. Sizes XS to XL apply across sling styles such as Quick Fit, Quick Fit Deluxe, Full Back and Comfort, but types give different levels of support, so size alone does not pick the sling.
- Patient-lift sling versus arm sling. Arm slings follow a different size chart; see arm sling sizes.
- Old document versus current product. The 2007 guide may not match today’s slings. Use the label and the current instructions for use that came with the sling.
FAQ
What is the Hoyer sling size chart?
It is a manufacturer table pairing sling sizes XS to XL with a binding colour and a recommended weight range, for example Medium (yellow) at 125 to 200 lb (about 57 to 91 kg). The manufacturer calls such guides recommendations only.
What are Hoyer lift pad sizes?
“Pad” is a common name for the sling. Hoyer slings come in XS, S, M, L and XL, plus bariatric M to 5XL with striped binding. Match the size on the label to an individual assessment; see what a patient lift is for how the sling and lift work together.
Does my lift’s size limit change the sling I can use?
The lift and the sling each have their own safe working load, and both must be checked. Lift dimensions are separate from sling size; see patient lift dimensions.
Sources
- Joerns Healthcare, “About Hoyer Slings” (Slings and Accessories section of the Hoyer family brochure, undated), checked 2026-11-01: Hoyer_Family_Brochure4-6.pdf.
- Joerns Healthcare, “Hoyer Sling Guide”, Part No. 6190024 Rev B, 2007, checked 2026-11-01: hoyer-sling-guide.pdf.
