The main transfer sling types are universal (general-purpose) slings, full-body slings, toileting slings, standing slings, hammock slings, and specialist options such as limb slings, turning slings and mesh hygiene slings. You choose by the transfer you need to do (bed to chair, toilet, bath, repositioning), how much the person can bear weight and control their head and trunk, and the sling size the lift manufacturer specifies for their body. This guide explains each type in plain terms, shows how to size one, and lists the checks to make before every lift.
TL;DR
- Match the sling to the task first: seated transfers, toileting, bathing, standing or repositioning each have a sling designed for them.
- Head and trunk control decide how much support you need. Limited control points to a full-body or hammock-style sling.
- Size comes from the manufacturer’s chart, using the person’s weight and measurements. Between two sizes, the smaller one may hold the person more securely.
- The sling and the lift must be approved by the manufacturer to work together, and neither weight limit can be exceeded.
- Ask an occupational therapist or physiotherapist to assess the choice, and have the caregiver shown the equipment before the first lift.
Table of Contents
- The main transfer sling types at a glance
- Universal and general-purpose slings
- Full-body slings
- Toileting and hygiene slings
- Standing slings for sit-to-stand lifts
- Hammock slings
- Specialist slings: limb, turning and repositioning
- How to choose: a simple decision path
- Sling sizing: how to measure and read the chart
- Safety checks before every lift
- When to involve a professional
- Perspective
- Renting a patient lift and the rest of the room
- Other transfer aids to know about
- FAQ
- Sources
The main transfer sling types at a glance
Patient lift slings fall into a handful of families. Names vary between manufacturers, so one company’s “universal” sling may be another’s “general-purpose” sling. What matters is the design underneath: how much of the back, head and legs it supports, and whether it has an opening for hygiene.
The table below summarizes the types most families meet at home.
| Sling type | Best for | Support level | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal / general-purpose | Seated transfers, bed to chair | Moderate to high | Everyday transfers when the person can sit upright with some support |
| Full-body | Maximum support | High, often with head support | People with limited trunk and head control |
| Toileting (open bottom) | Hygiene and clothing care | Moderate | Toilet transfers without removing the sling |
| Standing | Sit-to-stand lifts | Partial, person bears some weight | Toileting, dressing and vertical transfers |
| Hammock | Limited head and trunk control | High | Lifting a person who cannot hold themselves upright |
| Mesh hygiene | Showering | Moderate | Bathing; quick-drying and water-friendly |
| Limb | Supporting an arm or leg | Targeted | Lifting a limb, including after amputation |
| Turning / repositioning | Rolling or moving in bed | Targeted | Bed-based tasks rather than lifting off the bed |
The categories above follow the groupings in the IFOPA lift slings guide, which lists universal, full-body, toileting, stand-assist and hammock slings, and the Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Toolkit, which also covers supine, limb, turning and mesh hygiene slings.
Universal and general-purpose slings
A universal sling is the sling most people picture: a fabric support that wraps around the back and under the thighs, letting a person be lifted from a seated or semi-reclined position. It is designed for general seating transfers, such as moving from a bed to a wheelchair or from a wheelchair to a recliner.
It suits people who can sit with a little support and have reasonable control of their head. Some designs come in a low-back version, which supports the torso to about shoulder blade height, and a high-back version that reaches the head and neck. If the person’s head tends to drop forward or sideways during a transfer, a high-back or full-body design is the safer starting point.
Full-body slings
Full-body slings wrap more of the person: back, legs and, usually, a head and neck panel. They are designed to give maximum support and are the usual choice when trunk and head control are limited, for example after a stroke, with advanced neurological conditions, or in the first weeks after major surgery when the person has little strength.
The trade-off is practicality. A larger sling takes a little longer to position, and the person needs to be rolled carefully or positioned from a seated state to get it in place. A trained caregiver or the therapist who assessed the person can show the easiest method for that individual.
Toileting and hygiene slings
Toileting slings have an open bottom or a cut-out section so clothing can be managed and personal care done while the person stays supported. They are meant for toilet and commode transfers, and they are generally not designed for long periods of sitting. Do not leave a sling under someone between uses; the Canadian safe patient handling guidance says slings are for transitions and transfers.
Mesh hygiene slings are a related type. According to the Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Toolkit, hygiene slings are made of mesh and can be used for showering. Mesh drains and dries faster than padded fabric, which makes it the sensible option around the bath or shower. If bathing is the main concern, our guide to measuring for a shower chair helps you plan the rest of the bathroom setup.
Standing slings for sit-to-stand lifts
Standing slings are used with sit-to-stand lifts. The person has to be able to bear some weight through their legs and hold their upper body reasonably upright, while the sling supports the back and under the arms. According to the Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Toolkit, standing slings help with toileting, dressing and vertical transfers.
They can also help preserve what strength a person has, because the person is asked to take part in the transfer rather than be fully carried. Whether that is appropriate is a clinical judgement. If you are comparing the two lift styles, read our piece on sit-to-stand lifts versus Hoyer-style lifts.
Hammock slings
Hammock-style slings (sometimes called in-situ or sling-seat designs) cradle the person in a seated curve. They are listed in the IFOPA guide for people with limited head and trunk control. Because they support the body in a more enclosed shape, they offer substantial security but less access for personal care than a toileting sling.
They are not an “upgrade” on every other design. Someone with good trunk control may find a hammock sling restrictive, and caregivers may find it harder to manage clothing. Again, the task and the person decide.
Specialist slings: limb, turning and repositioning
Not every sling lifts a whole person.
- Limb slings support an arm or leg, including when someone has had an amputation or needs a limb lifted for wound care or dressing.
- Turning slings help roll a person in bed.
- Repositioning slings (supine slings) support lateral transfers, bathing and repositioning, according to the Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Toolkit. They are used to boost someone up the bed or move them across to a stretcher or another bed.
If the main problem is repositioning in bed, a hospital bed with the right accessories often does as much of the work as the sling. See our overview of hospital bed accessories and how to match them before you buy or rent extras.
How to choose: a simple decision path
Work through these questions in order.
- What is the transfer? Bed to chair, toilet, shower, floor recovery or repositioning in bed. This narrows the field immediately.
- Can the person bear weight? If yes, a standing sling and sit-to-stand lift may fit. If not, a universal, full-body or hammock sling with a floor or ceiling lift is more likely.
- How much head and trunk control do they have? Low control calls for head support.
- Does hygiene access matter? If so, look at toileting or mesh designs.
- What does the lift manufacturer approve? Only slings approved for your specific lift should be used. More on that below.
This is a starting point. A clinician who knows the person’s medical history, skin condition and pain points should confirm it.
Sling sizing: how to measure and read the chart
Sizing is where most mistakes happen. A sling that is too large can let the person slip. One that is too small can squeeze or place pressure in the wrong places.
The Canadian health care assistant textbook Transferring a Client Using a Mechanical Lift advises you to observe and evaluate the person’s size and, if needed, take their weight and hip measurements, then choose the sling size using the manufacturer’s recommendations. It adds that when someone falls between two sizes, the smaller size may keep the person more secure.
A practical routine:
- Get the sizing chart for the exact sling model. Charts differ between manufacturers, and a “medium” from one is not a “medium” from another.
- Record the person’s weight. Weigh them if you can, rather than relying on an estimate.
- Measure hip width while they are seated, and, if the chart asks for it, other dimensions such as trunk height or seated hip-to-shoulder length.
- Compare each measurement with the chart. If the numbers point to different sizes, ask the therapist or supplier rather than guessing.
- Check the sling’s weight rating against the person’s weight and against the lift’s maximum.
The same principle applies to other equipment. Our clinical guide on why mobility aid sizing matters explains how poorly sized equipment affects safety and comfort.
Safety checks before every lift
Health Canada’s page on patient lifts and the risk of falls tells users to check that the lift and sling are compatible as approved by the manufacturer, that their weight specifications match, that the person’s weight does not exceed either, and that the sling is in good condition and undamaged. The same page notes that patient lifts in Canada are Class 1 medical devices, the lowest risk class. Low risk on paper still requires careful use at the bedside.
Turn that into a routine you run every time:
- Compatibility: the sling’s attachment style (loops, clips or bars) matches your lift, and the manufacturer approves the pairing.
- Weight: the person’s weight is under both the sling and lift limits.
- Condition: no fraying, torn stitching, faded labels or damaged loops. Replace a damaged sling rather than repairing it.
- Position: the sling sits properly behind the back and under the thighs with no folds, and the straps are even on both sides.
- Attachment: every loop or clip is secure before the person leaves the surface.
- Removal: take the sling out afterward unless the care plan says otherwise.
The textbook above also stresses that equipment should be demonstrated and that the person doing the task should be trained and competent to use it safely. Do not skip the demonstration because the lift looks simple.
When to involve a professional
Choosing a sling is a clinical decision as much as a shopping one. Have an occupational therapist or physiotherapist assess the person’s sling type, size and transfer method when:
- a lift is being used for the first time, or the person’s condition has changed after a hospital stay, surgery or a fall;
- the person’s head or trunk control, weight or skin condition changes;
- the person has pain, pressure injuries, contractures or an amputation;
- more than one caregiver will be doing the transfers, so everyone follows the same method.
Public programs show how seriously this is taken. In Nova Scotia, for example, the Home Lift Program requires an assessment by an occupational therapist or physiotherapist before a mechanical lift system is loaned. Rules differ by province, so check what your health authority in British Columbia offers, and ask your discharge team or home care case manager where to begin.
Perspective
We see the same pattern with families who call us after a hospital discharge: the lift is booked, the date is set, and the sling is an afterthought. In our experience, it should be the other way round. The sling decides whether the transfer is comfortable, and the lift only does what the sling allows.
Our approach is to treat the lift and the sling as one system. When a family rents an electric patient lift from us, we want the conversation to start with the person: their weight, how they sit, whether they can help with the transfer, and what the therapist has recommended. Equipment that is sanitized, delivered the same day and set up properly is only useful if it fits the person in the bed.
That is why we offer rental terms with no deposit. Needs change quickly in the first weeks of recovery, and a family should be able to adjust the setup without worrying about being locked in. Our team is here for ongoing support after delivery, not just on the day the equipment arrives.
Chandan
Renting a patient lift and the rest of the room
A sling is only one piece of a home transfer setup. Most families also need a bed that raises and lowers, a wheelchair for the other end of the transfer, and sometimes a scooter for outings once the person is more mobile.
We rent an electric patient lift for full-body transfers from $250 per week, delivered in Greater Vancouver and surrounding areas such as Surrey, Burnaby and Richmond. The large install delivery fee is $250 one-off, and small items carry a $30 to $60 one-off delivery and pickup fee per way; the details are on our delivery fees page. There is no deposit, and equipment is sanitized before it reaches you.
To pair the lift with the rest of the room:
- A hospital bed rental, electric and adjustable, is available from $175 per week. Our guide to the best hospital bed for home use after surgery walks through the options.
- A standard wheelchair rental starts from $75 per week.
- A mobility scooter rental starts from $200 per week.
If you are not sure which combination you need, tell us what the therapist or care team recommended and we will help you match the rental to it. You can browse everything on our rentals page.
Other transfer aids to know about
Slings are not the only way to move someone safely. A gait belt helps a caregiver guide a person who can stand and walk with help. A transfer board bridges the gap between two seated surfaces for someone who can slide across. Each has its place, and each suits a different level of ability.
Our comparison of a gait belt versus a transfer board sets out the differences, and the guide on how to use a transfer board walks through the steps. For a wider view of what a caregiver may need at home, see our caregiver’s guide to choosing mobility equipment.
FAQ
What is the difference between a universal sling and a full-body sling?
A universal sling is designed for general seated transfers and works for people who can sit with some support. A full-body sling covers more of the back and usually includes head and neck support, so it suits people with limited trunk and head control. A therapist can tell you which one fits the person you are caring for.
How do I know what size sling to order?
Use the manufacturer’s chart for the exact sling model, with the person’s current weight and hip measurements. If the person falls between two sizes, the smaller size may keep them more secure, according to a Canadian health care assistant textbook. Confirm the choice with a therapist before the first lift.
Can I use any sling with any patient lift?
No. Health Canada advises checking that the lift and sling are compatible as approved by the manufacturer, and that their weight limits match the person’s weight. Use only the slings approved for your lift, and replace any sling that is damaged.
Can the sling stay under the person after the transfer?
Generally no. Canadian safe patient handling guidance describes slings as being for transitions and transfers, and says not to leave one under a patient between uses. If your care plan says otherwise, follow your therapist’s written instructions.
Who should choose the sling for someone recovering at home?
An occupational therapist or physiotherapist who has assessed the person is the right professional. They can recommend the sling type, the size and the safest transfer method, and show your caregivers how to do it. If you have no therapist yet, ask your hospital discharge team or home care coordinator.
Sources
- Lift Slings, IFOPA guidebook
- Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Toolkit
- Transferring a Client Using a Mechanical Lift, Health Care Assistant textbook
- Patient lifts and risk of fall, Health Canada
- Safe Patient Handling, Canadian guidance
- Home Lift Program, Nova Scotia
