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A bariatric bed is a hospital bed built for patients above the weight and width range of a standard bed. The U.S. FDA defines it as a bed for patients weighing 500 pounds and above, with a deck that can expand from 38 to 60 inches wide.
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Who uses it: hospital and long-term care staff, clinic and facility buyers, and students learning how hospital equipment is classified. After reading, you should be able to tell what the FDA means by the term, and why a spec sheet gives two weight figures and two width figures.
What a bariatric bed is
The FDA lists “Bariatric Bed” as its own device type under product code OSI. The regulatory record gives these details (openFDA classification database, checked 30 October 2026):
- Definition: “A bed intended for obese patients weighing 500 pounds and above. Beds can expand from 38 to 60 inches in width.”
- Device class: 2, under regulation number 880.5100 (the AC-powered adjustable hospital bed regulation).
- Medical specialty: General Hospital. The record is not flagged as life-sustaining or implantable.
The standard bed it is a variant of is covered in what is a hospital bed, and the height-adjustable family in hi-lo bed.
How it is built
The FDA definition describes the key design difference: a deck that expands in width. One manufacturer’s example, the Stryker MV3 bariatric bed (model 5900), is widened by a handle on the deck and offers three width settings. Its specification sheet (checked 30 October 2026) also lists four-position siderails, a bed exit alarm with a pause feature, an integrated scale, brake pedals at head and foot, obstruction sensors, and DC actuators. This is one product, not a description of every bariatric bed.
Types and variants
| Variant | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bariatric bed (FDA device type) | For patients weighing 500 lb and above; width can expand from 38 to 60 in | openFDA, product code OSI |
| Expandable-width model (example) | Three settings: 36, 42 and 48 in between siderails | Stryker MV3 spec sheet |
Sizes and specifications that matter
The example spec sheet shows that two of the most quoted numbers each have two values.
| Specification | Value (Stryker MV3, model 5900) |
|---|---|
| Safe working load | 1,102 lb (500 kg) |
| Maximum patient weight | 1,027 lb (465.8 kg) |
| Width inside siderails | 36 in (91.4 cm), 42 in (106.7 cm), 48 in (121.9 cm) |
| Width outside siderails | 40.5 in (102.9 cm), 46.5 in (118.1 cm), 52.5 in (133.4 cm) |
| Overall length | 92 in (233.7 cm) |
| Patient surface length | 80 in (203.2 cm) |
| Height of litter top | 12 in (30.5 cm) low to 28 in (71.1 cm) high |
Source: Stryker MV3 specification sheet, checked 30 October 2026. Another model will list different numbers.
Safe use and handling basics
- Use the manufacturer’s rated figures for the specific model. The safe working load is the figure for the bed as a whole; the sheet lists maximum patient weight separately and lower.
- Lifts, slings and other devices used with the bed have their own ratings. See weight limit for a Hoyer lift and what is a patient lift.
- If the bed has an integrated scale, the example sheet states its accuracy as 3% of total patient weight for patients from 225 lb (102 kg) to 1,102 lb (500 kg).
- Follow the instructions for use that come with the bed. Decisions about an individual patient belong to that patient’s clinicians.
Common mistakes
- Treating safe working load and maximum patient weight as the same number. On the example sheet they differ by 75 lb.
- Comparing a width measured inside the siderails with one measured outside. On the example sheet the difference is 4.5 inches per setting (40.5 versus 36 in, 46.5 versus 42, 52.5 versus 48), which matters when a width is compared against a doorway or room.
- Assuming a bed’s rating covers the rest of the equipment in a bariatric room. See the bariatric clinic supply checklist.
FAQ
What weight counts as bariatric for a bed?
The FDA’s device definition refers to patients weighing 500 pounds and above (openFDA, product code OSI). Individual manufacturers set their own rated loads.
How wide is a bariatric bed?
The FDA definition says beds can expand from 38 to 60 inches in width. The example model above offers 36, 42 and 48 inches inside the siderails, and 40.5 to 52.5 inches outside them.
Is a bariatric bed a regulated medical device?
Yes. The FDA classifies it as a class 2 device under 21 CFR 880.5100.
Sources
- U.S. FDA, openFDA device classification, product code OSI “Bariatric Bed” (api.fda.gov), checked 30 October 2026.
- Stryker, MV3 bariatric bed specification sheet (stryker.com), checked 30 October 2026.
Related supplies are listed in the hospital furniture category.
