The global sales of patient lateral transfer is estimated to be worth USD 1,238.8 million in 2025 and anticipated to reach a value of USD 2,534.9 million by 2035. Sales are projected to rise at a CAGR of 7.4% over the forecast period between 2025 and 2035. The revenue generated by patient lateral transfer in 2024 was USD 1,140.6 million. The industry is anticipated to exhibit a Y-o-Y growth of 7.5% in 2024.
Patient lateral transfer is the method of transferring a patient from one surface to another-most frequently from bed to stretcher, wheelchair, or operating table-without manual lifting of the body. This is accomplished through transfer boards, sliding sheets, and mechanical lifts, among others, to minimize physical strain from healthcare professionals while ensuring the safety of the patient.
Adverse health affects caused by musculoskeletal disorder, greater concern for workplace safety, and growing application of patient lateral devices in healthcare facilities for reducing the risk of falls, discomfort, and pressure sores contribute to growing adoption of patient lateral transfer devices in the market.
In addition, increasing aging populations and patients with impaired mobility raise the demand for more effective and safer transfer techniques. Thus, increasing pressure for hospital efficiency and quality of care adds to the growing adoption of solutions for lateral patient transfer.
Global Patient Lateral Transfer Industry Assessment
| Attributes | Key Insights |
|---|---|
| Historical Size, 2024 | USD 1,140.6 million |
| Estimated Size, 2025 | USD 1,238.8 million |
| Projected Size, 2035 | USD 2,534.9 million |
| Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 7.4% |
Patient lateral transfer is an essential process in a healthcare setting which involves transfer of patient from one place to another specially used for elderly patients or patients recovering from surgery or any other disorder. Patient lateral transfer adoption is highly driven by several factors.
Growing focus of people towards improving safety practices at workplace by minimize lifting process, significantly contribute to the growing adoption of these products. Use of these devices at workplace and healthcare facilities leads to significant reduction in the risk of musculoskeletal injury. An aging population requiring more frequent care necessitates a demand for safer and more efficient transfer methods.
Moreover, healthcare systems have gained increased interest in the comfort and safety of the patients and the means of reducing patient distress for smoother transfers. There is also the issue of healthcare facilities being interested in efficiency and overall patient experience, thus witnessing growing adoption of advanced transfer technologies.
Recent developments in patient lateral transfer include automated transfer systems, ergonomic transfer belts, and advanced sliding sheets that enable smoother, safer transfers with reduced physical strain on caregivers. Such innovations are factors in the growing adoption of lateral transfer solutions to improve both patient well-being and caregiver productivity.
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Comparative analysis of fluctuations in compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the global patient lateral transfer market between 2024 and 2025 on six months basis is shown below. By this examination, major variations in the performance of these markets are brought to light, and also trends of revenue generation are captured hence offering stakeholders useful ideas on how to carry on with the market's growth path in any other given year. January through June covers the first part of the year called half1 (H1), while half2 (H2) represents July to December
The table presents the expected CAGR for the global patient lateral transfer market over several semi-annual periods spanning from 2025 to 2035. In the first half (H1) of the decade from 2024 to 2034, the business is predicted to surge at a CAGR of 8.1%, followed by a slightly slower growth rate of 7.8% in the second half (H2) of the same decade.
| Particular | Value CAGR |
|---|---|
| H1 | 8.1% (2024 to 2034) |
| H2 | 7.8% (2024 to 2034) |
| H1 | 7.4% (2025 to 2035) |
| H2 | 6.9% (2025 to 2035) |
Moving into the subsequent period, from H1 2025 to H2 2035, the CAGR is projected to decrease slightly to 7.4% in the first half and decrease moderately at 6.9% in the second half. In the first half (H1) the market witnessed a decrease of 70 BPS while in the second half (H2), the market witnessed a decrease of 90 BPS.
Growing Adoption of Innovative Patient Transfer Technology Anticipates the Growth of the Market
The increasing penetration of novel patient transfer technologies is considered a key factor that is projected to drive the growth of patient lateral transfer systems. These novel technologies are developed to enhance the safety, efficacy, and comfort level of the transferring procedures to meet the increasing demands of the healthcare sector.
The growth in the number of the aged population, which requires long-term care, further requires safer and efficient solutions for patient handling. New technologies take into consideration the comfort of the patients, offering features that eliminate discomfort and minimize the risk of pressure ulcers during transfers. Such appliances ensure that the movement of a patient is tender and stress-free, quite important in the critical care stage or post-surgery scenarios.
Ergonomically designed transfer belts and highly developed sliding sheets are just some of the innovations adding value to caregivers' and patients' experiences. These factors anticipates a significant growth in the patient lateral transfer device.
For instance, in February 2023, Bruyère, a healthcare organization announced the procurement of Able Innovations’ ALTA Platform. This technologically advanced platform is a patient transfer device similar to hospital bed.
Strategic Collaboration among Market Players for Accelerating the Development of New Products Propels Further Market Growth
Strategic collaboration is instrumental among players within the market This accelerates the development of new lateral transfer devices to meet adoption needs in healthcare. Companies involved in the manufacture of medical devices, technology, and healthcare can share knowledge in product design, technology integration, and market access. Shared resources result in much stronger R&D functions, leading to newer and more innovative solutions for transfers in emerging healthcare demands.
Besides, the collaboration will enable the company to achieve faster and more efficient regulatory approvals, access, and navigation in different global markets. By introducing new products, healthcare providers are encouraged to enhance patient outcomes. These innovations are majorly aimed to reduce injury rates, and bring efficiency in patient care.
For instance, in September 20232, Pelstar LLC, a manufacturer of patient safety products in collaboration with McAuley Medical and Bridge Healthcare introduced BridgeAir a new Breathable Air-Assisted Lateral Transfer and Repositioning Mattress. The products is aimed to reduce physical effort during patient transfer.
Therefore, through such strategic collaborations, product innovation is going to be accelerated with wide adoption, ensuring safety and quality in patient lateral transfers across various healthcare facilities.
Emphasis on Development of optimized Transfer Solutions can bring New Business Opportunities to the Patient Lateral Transfer Manufacturer
The development of optimized transfer solutions represents significant business opportunities for the manufacturers of patient lateral transfer devices to address the industry needs. Manufacturers can innovate with products like automated lifts, sensor-driven transfer systems, and sliding sheets in a position to meet these needs and ensure wide-scale adoption across hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities.
Moreover, increasing the comfort of the patient during transfer provides the opportunity to design soft-touch pressure-relieving devices from the manufacturer's perspective. It minimizes the chances of pressure ulcers and further improves the patient's comfort.
New business opportunities in transferring people may also encompass embedding smart technology in transfer solutions. An offering that would have features such as real-time monitoring, analytics, and automatic tracking of safety would be attractive to hospitals that either want to enhance operational efficiency or better patient outcomes.
As healthcare systems worldwide increasingly turn toward cost-effective, safe, and efficient solutions, manufacturers of these optimized transfer technologies can tap into growing demand-fostering long-term business growth and positioning themselves as leaders in the market.
Limited Versatility of Patient Lateral Transfer Devices to Specific Scenarios hinders its adoption in Healthcare Facilities Growth
Some of the lateral transfer devices are designed for specific conditions of patients, such as obese, elderly, or unable to mobilize themselves, but may not be suitable for other types of patients having different medical needs from those with neurological conditions or those requiring critical care. This could make health care providers leery of investing in devices which may require additional equipment for other conditions. These factor leads to increased costs and logistical complexity.
Integration of specialized devices in hospital requires greater storage requirements which is difficult in crowded hospital rooms or small care facilities. All this means that many types of equipment are needed to serve different patient conditions, leading to operational inefficiencies and overall effectiveness.
Healthcare facilities seek to use single products for a multitude of conditions and situations, they prefer multi-purpose lateral transfer devices. Inadequate versatility often lead medical care practitioners towards usage of manual handling techniques that are more adaptable to different scenarios.
The global patient lateral transfer industry recorded a CAGR of 6.2% during the historical period between 2020 and 2024. The growth of patient lateral transfer industry was positive as it reached a value of USD 1,140.6 million in 2024 from USD 895.3 million in 2020.
Patient lateral transfer represents the safe shifting of a patient from one surface to another, either from bed to stretcher or from wheelchair to chair. It is preferably adopted in healthcare facilities with respect to the prevention of injury to patients for minimizing physical strain among healthcare providers.
A number of factors have been responsible for the recent increase in the adoption of patient lateral transfer devices across healthcare facilities. One of them is growing concern over caregiver injuries, particularly musculoskeletal disorders from repetitive manual handling, which has called for safer transfer solutions.
Other major drivers is safety for the patient; wrong transferring leads to falls, discomfort, or injury. Besides, there is a growing drive for compliance with regulations; more stringent guidelines have fostered the use of safer handling equipment for patients to minimize workplace injuries and improve standards of care.
Recent development for patient lateral transfer includes the motorized transfer systems, robotic assist devices, and sliding sheets that require very minimal physical effort from caregivers. These have been designed to enhance comfort for the patient, and to ensure smoother transitions during transfers.
The growth prospects for the future in lateral transfer devices are determined by an aging population increasing the demand for patient handling solutions, continuous development of more versatile and cost-effective devices. Besides, strategic collaborations by manufacturers, training programs, and innovations in automated transfer systems contribute to further expansion in healthcare facilities.
Tier 1 companies comprise market leaders with a market revenue of above USD 100 million capturing significant market share of 64.6% in global market. These market leaders are characterized by high production capacity and a wide product portfolio. These market leaders are distinguished by their extensive expertise in providing their services underpinned by a robust consumer base. Prominent companies within tier 1 include Stryker Corporation, Medline Industries, Inc. and Getinge AB
Tier 2 companies include mid-size players with revenue of USD 50 to 100 million having presence in specific regions and highly influencing the local market and holds around 26.7% market share. These are characterized by a strong presence overseas and strong market knowledge. These market players have good technology and ensure regulatory compliance but may not have access to global reach. Prominent companies in tier 2 include Airpal, Inc., McAuley Medical, Inc. and EZ Way, Inc.
Finally, Tier 3 companies, act as a suppliers to the established market players. They are essential for the market as they specialize in specific services and cater to niche markets, adding diversity to the industry.
Overall, while Tier 1 companies are the primary drivers of the market, Tier 2 and 3 companies also make significant contributions, ensuring the patient lateral transfer market remains dynamic and competitive.
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The section below covers the industry analysis for the patient lateral transfer market for different countries. Market demand analysis on key countries in several regions of the globe, including North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and others, is provided. The United States is anticipated to remain at the forefront in North America, with a value share of 76.7% through 2035. In Asia Pacific, South Korea is projected to witness a CAGR of 5.8% by 2034.
| Country | Value CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| UK | 5.40% |
| China | 3.60% |
| Japan | 4.20% |
| South Korea | 4.80% |
| Germany | 4.30% |
| India | 3.80% |
| GCC Countries | 2.40% |
United States patient lateral transfer market is poised to exhibit a CAGR of 5.2% between 2025 and 2035. Currently, it holds the highest share in the North American market, and the trend is expected to continue during the forecast period.
Strategic acquisitions of players within the patient lateral transfer market significantly fuel growth in the United States. Larger manufacturers can expand product portfolios through the acquisition of smaller or emerging players, integrate innovative technologies such as robotic transfer devices or automated patient handling systems into the portfolio, further strengthening positions held in the marketplace.
In addition, acquisition consolidates resources and improves operational efficiencies and smooths distribution channels, which result in cost reductions. This deal accelerates R&D activity that encourages advanced products with a broadened multifunction to meet wider areas of the needs of the patient.
For instance, in December 2020, Arjo, a company engaged in manufacturing of patient handling equipment acquired AirPal, an USA based company focused n patient transfer. This acquisition strengthened company’s presence in the market.
This proactive approach thus enables companies to stay ahead of competitors by meeting ever-growing demand created by the aging population and the dire need for safe and efficient solutions for patient handling in hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers.
Japan is anticipated to grow at a substantial CAGR of 4.2% throughout the forecast period.
Japan has one of the largest elderly populations in the world, and this leads to a tremendous demand for advanced patient handling solutions at both healthcare and long-term care facilities to handle older patients safely and efficiently. As people get older, they suffer from various issues like immobility, chronic diseases, and loss of muscular strength, and are required to change from bed to stretcher or wheelchair frequently.
The increasing demand for preventing falls and transfer-related injuries among elderly patients has motivated healthcare providers to implement innovative transfer technologies that ensure safety and comfort. In addition, caregiver safety is a major concern, as manual handling of elderly patients increases the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. The friction-reducing sheets, motorized systems, and robotic-assisted devices for smoother patient transfer have thus been well accepted by the healthcare system of Japan.
Germany is expected to have a strong foothold when it comes to technology innovation. In 2023 the country is projected to account for substantial share of the patient lateral transfer market.
Increasing aging population and growing prevalence of several chronic and age-related disorders, leads to increase in demand for nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities that has capabilities of providing special care to their patients.
Inclusion of patient lateral transfer devices at their facilities aid rehabilitation facility providers to stand out from the competition. Air-assisted transfer mats, and motorized transfer boards provide safer and more ergonomic approaches to patient care. These reduces the physical strain imposed on staff and ensure comfort and safety for patients. As these facilities continue to grow and expand such devices become increasingly important in maintaining high standards of patient care
Additionally, Germany's healthcare policies emphasize preventive measures to reduce caregiver injuries and enhance patient safety, further encouraging facilities to adopt advanced transfer technologies. This demand for efficient, cost-effective, and patient-friendly transfer systems aligns.
The section contains information about the leading segments in the industry. By product, air-assisted transfer devices segment hold highest share of the market.
| Product | Value Share (2024) |
|---|---|
| Air-assisted Transfer Devices | 56.7% |
The dominance of air-assisted transfer devices in the patient lateral transfer market is due to their efficiency, safety, and ergonomic benefits. These devices utilize a cushion of air to create a low-friction surface, which leads to a significant reduction in the physical effort that has to be put down by carrier to move a patient. This reduces the risk of musculoskeletal injuries and leads to improvement in the comfort and safety of patients during transfers.
Air-assisted systems, in particular, come in handy when the patients are unable to move or bariatric and critical; thus, this equipment finds much favor in hospitals, long-term care institutions, and rehabilitation centers. They offer fast, safe, and efficient ways of transfers, especially compared to manual and slide-sheet methods. Further impetus toward wider adoption has come with an increased focus on workplace safety regulations and patient-centered care.
| End User | Value Share (2034) |
|---|---|
| Hospitals | 64.3% |
The hospital segment is anticipated to hold a share of 64.3% and is poised to expand at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period.
The hospital segment dominates the patient lateral transfer market due to the high frequency of handling and transferring patients in acute care. Several types of patients, including those in critical conditions, with limited mobility, or post-surgery recovery, are treated within hospitals, and therefore, the demand for efficient and safe transfer solutions is very high.
The use of patient lateral transfer devices minimizes musculoskeletal injuries among health workers, therefore meeting worker safety and improving workplace ergonomics standards. Besides, the comfort and safety of the patient remain crucial in hospitals, and therefore, air-assisted lateral shift devices rank among the state-of-the-art options in ensuring minimal complications and discomfort from transfers.
The continuous demand for enhanced healthcare infrastructure and quality care further compels hospitals to adopt innovative patient handling technologies and solidifies their dominant market position.
Substantial investments and focus is seen in the patient lateral transfer industry towards launch of new series of services to the market. Another key strategic focus of these companies is to actively look for strategic partners to bolster their product portfolios and expand their global market presence.
Recent Industry Developments in Patient Lateral Transfer Market:
In terms of product, the industry is divided into air-assisted transfer devices, slide sheets and transfer accessories
In terms of usage, the industry is divided into single patient use, and reusable
The industry is classified by end user as hospitals, clinics and ambulatory surgical centres
Key countries of North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia and Pacific, and Middle East and Africa (MEA) have been covered in the report.
The global patient lateral transfer industry is projected to witness CAGR of 7.4% between 2025 and 2035.
The global patient lateral transfer industry stood at USD 1,140.6 million in 2024.
The global patient lateral transfer industry is anticipated to reach USD 2,534.9 million by 2035 end.
UK is set to record the highest CAGR of 5.4% in the assessment period.
The key players operating in the global patient lateral transfer industry include Arjo, Getinge AB, Stryker Corporation, Medline Industries, Inc., McAuley Medical, Inc., Sizewise Rentals, LLC, EZ Way, Inc., Alimed Inc., Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc and Blue Chip Medical Products, Inc
| Market Expected Value (2023) | USD 619.5 million |
|---|---|
| Market Forecast Value (2033) | USD 993.6 million |
| Market Expected CAGR (2023 to 2033) | 4.8% |
| Market Valuation (2023) | USD 496.7 Million |
|---|---|
| Market Valuation (2033) | USD 1,038.4 Million |
| Market CAGR (2023 to 2033) | 7.7 % |
| Patient Engagement Platforms Market CAGR (2022 to 2032) | 17% |
|---|---|
| Patient Engagement Platforms Market (2027) | USD 42.5 Billion |
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Patient Lateral Transfer Market
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