Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
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Short answer: there is no single weight limit for a Hoyer lift. The limit is the manufacturer’s rating for the specific model, and the rating of the sling and connectors can be lower. In the Joerns Hoyer Classics brochure, most lifts are rated for 400 lb and one bariatric model for 700 lb; on this site’s Hoyer Advance guide the safe working load is 341 lb (155 kg). Whichever component has the lowest rating sets the limit for the whole system.
Who uses it: clinic and care-facility staff, home-care providers, and buyers who need to match a lift and sling to the people they will lift. After reading you should know which number to look for on the equipment and how to compare it with a person’s weight.
What the weight limit on a Hoyer lift means
A Hoyer lift is a patient lift: a mobile device that raises and moves a person from one place to another, such as from a bed to a chair, using a sling. The weight limit (the Hoyer lift weight limit) is the maximum load the manufacturer has rated the device to carry. Manufacturers word it differently. The Joerns brochure says “patient capacity” in its summary table and “resident capacity” in a feature list for the hydraulic model; other documents use “safe working load” (SWL). For choosing a lift these all point to the number to compare against the weight of the person being lifted.
Capacity by model
The table lists the capacities printed in the manufacturer’s own Hoyer Classics product overview, plus the Hoyer Advance value already documented in our Hoyer lift parts guide. The brand covers several classes, which is why “Hoyer lift” is not one number.
| Lift model | Stated capacity | Notes from the source | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| HPL700 / HPL700WSC | 700 lb | Power-operated base, 6-point bariatric cradle | Joerns Hoyer Classics brochure |
| HPL402 | 400 lb | Adjustable U-base | Joerns Hoyer Classics brochure |
| P-C-HLA-2 | 400 lb | Powered lifting, non-sway cradle | Joerns Hoyer Classics brochure |
| C-HLA-2, C-HLA-2T, C-HLA, C-CB-L2 | 400 lb | Chrome classic lifts | Joerns Hoyer Classics brochure |
| HML400 | 400 lb | Hydraulic pump handle | Joerns Hoyer Classics brochure |
| Hoyer Advance (electric and hydraulic) | 341 lb (155 kg) | Safe working load | Our Hoyer lift parts guide |
These values come from product literature, which is revised over time. The label on the unit and the current manual for the exact model in front of you always govern.
The lift is only as strong as its lowest-rated part
A lift is used together with a sling and sometimes other connecting parts, and each has its own rating. The Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration (a Canadian provincial regulator) states in Safety Alert 0000030, issued 26 October 2023, that the safe working load must be clearly marked on the lift, the sling and all accessories that connect the sling to the lift. It adds that “the component with the lowest SWL defines the maximum permissible load that can be lifted with the assembled system,” and that the combined SWL must be confirmed before use and compared with the weight of the client. This is Canadian provincial guidance, not US law, but the principle is general.
The same Joerns brochure shows why this matters. Its Classic slings (one-piece commode sling, one-piece sling with positioning strap, padded U-slings) are listed at 600 lb.
| Combination | Lift rating | Sling rating | Number that governs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic 400 lb lift with a Classic sling | 400 lb | 600 lb | 400 lb |
A higher-rated sling does not raise the lift’s limit; a lower-rated sling or connector would lower it. The brochure also states: “You must use Hoyer slings with Hoyer lifts.” Nova Scotia’s alert likewise says equipment and accessories must be compatible, and that injuries have occurred from improper size selection and use of incompatible slings.
Where the number is printed and who sets it
The rating is set by the manufacturer and marked on the equipment; the regulation does not set one. In the United States the FDA classifies patient lifts by power source under 21 CFR 880.5500 (AC-powered patient lift, Class II with special controls) and 21 CFR 880.5510 (non-AC-powered patient lift, defined as hydraulic, battery or mechanically powered, Class I with general controls). Both regulations describe the device as including straps or slings to support the patient, and both are exempt from premarket notification subject to 21 CFR 880.9. Neither text specifies a maximum weight.
For a wider view of lift types, see what a patient lift is; for equipment planning for larger patients in a clinic, see the bariatric clinic supply checklist; for the bed a lift often serves, see what a hospital bed is.
Safe use and handling basics
- Find the marked rating on the lift, the sling and any connecting accessory, and use the lowest.
- Compare that number with the weight of the person to be lifted before use; Nova Scotia’s alert says the combined rating must be confirmed before use.
- Choose sling type and size according to the manufacturer’s specifications and use slings that are compatible with the lift.
- Train staff on prior-to-use inspection of motors, tracks and slings, as the same alert stresses.
Common mistakes
- Treating the sling’s rating (for example 600 lb) as the system limit when the lift is rated lower.
- Assuming every Hoyer-branded lift has the same limit; the table above shows 341, 400 and 700 lb ratings.
- Relying on a rating from an old brochure instead of the label and manual of the unit in use.
- Mixing slings from another maker with a lift without confirming compatibility.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weight limit for a Hoyer lift?
It depends on the model. In the Joerns Hoyer Classics brochure it is 400 lb for most models and 700 lb for the HPL700; the Hoyer Advance covered in our parts guide has a safe working load of 341 lb (155 kg). Read the label on the specific unit.
Do slings have their own weight limit?
Yes. The Joerns brochure lists 600 lb for its Classic slings; other slings carry their own ratings, so check the label on the sling. The component with the lowest rating defines the maximum load of the assembled system.
What if the person weighs more than the limit?
A lift is not used above its marked rating. The manufacturer’s instructions for use, the manufacturer and your facility’s equipment lead are the places to ask about a lift with a higher rating. This page cannot give individual advice.
Sources
- Joerns Healthcare, Hoyer Classics Product Overview brochure (PDF; the 700 lb and 400 lb capacities and 600 lb sling capacity are printed in it), https://www.joerns.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JHC_Classic-Brochure1.pdf, checked 30 October 2026.
- Hoyer Advance 341 lb (155 kg) safe working load: casrai.org, /guides/hoyer-lift-parts, checked 30 October 2026.
- U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 880.5500 and 880.5510, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-880/subpart-F, checked 30 October 2026.
- Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, Safety Alert 0000030, Patient and Resident Lifting Equipment, 26 October 2023, https://novascotia.ca/lae/healthandsafety/documents/PatientandResidentLifts.pdf, checked 30 October 2026.
