Hospital-type beds are used in a variety of applications from hospitals themselves to community care homes and private use at home. They can cost anything from £800 right up to £5,000+. If you're looking to purchase a hospital bed for care and support, this guide will give you an idea of what you should expect to pay for the different types of hospital profiling beds.
In Short: Hospital Bed Pricing
| Type | Price Range | Functions and Features |
| Standard | £800 - £1,500 |
|
| Premium | £1,500 - £4,000 |
|
| Wide and Dual | £2,000 - £6,000 |
|
| Specialist | £5,000 - £20,000 |
|
| Hospital Mattresses | £250 - £2,000+ |
|
Take a look at Opera’s Hospital Bed Range
Types of Hospital Beds and Their Costs
Standard
Standard hospital-style beds for community use are found widely across care homes, private homes, and by local authorities/councils to facilitate hospital discharges. They are a 3ft single size and have all the standard functionality including nursing height adjustment. They are designed to be practical and easy to use and usually have side rails, wired handset controls, and castors for easy manoeuvrability.
You should expect to pay anything from £800 to £1500, prices will vary based on quality and additional functions. Some community care beds can be as low as £500 but these are invariably cheap imports and compromise on quality with uncomfortable slats and plastic components that break easily. Look out for warranty terms and user reviews.
Price Range: £800 - £1,500
Example Bed: Opera® Classic Hospital Profiling Bed
Premium
Premium hospital beds have an extensive all-in-one height range which means they can lower close to the floor and raise right up to nursing height. This flexibility accommodates more advanced care needs with the lower height making it easier to swing legs into the bed and providing a safe sleeping height, and the high nursing height helps carers as the bed raises to waist level. All-in-one beds are particularly recommended for care at home as this height flexibility is future-proof should needs change (e.g. home-visit carers are required in the future or the risk of bed falls increase).
These beds also have more premium design options than a regular community hospital bed with upholstered surrounds and headboard style options to help create a more homely care environment.
Prices start at £1500 and rise to as much as £4000 for beds that have floor height, premium upholstered surround, and telescopic side rails. Prices will vary based on functions and features.
Price Range: £1,500 - £4,000
Example Bed: Opera® Signature Upholstered Hospital Profiling Bed
Wide and Dual
As standard, hospital beds are a 3ft single size. In recent years wider and larger size hospital beds have become increasingly popular, particularly when being used at home and also in some premium care homes. The larger size gives extra room and reduces the risk of falls when side rails are not in use.
Wider hospital beds typically come in 3ft6 and 4ft wide versions. They start at around £2000 and go up to as much as £5000 for a 4ft premium bed with bariatric weight capacity for plus-size users.
Dual beds are also on the rise with split mattress adjustment so couples can sleep together and still enjoy the benefits of adjusting their own mattress. Fully height adjustable dual profiling beds are around £4000 to 6000.
Price Range: £2,000 - £6,000
Example Bed: Opera® Signature Comfort Dual Hospital Profiling Bed
Specialist
Specialist acute hospital beds are the kind you would see in an NHS or private hospital ward. They are advanced medical beds designed for heavy-use contract environments and to facilitate complex care needs across multiple different patient requirements. They are constructed solely from steel and moulded plastic surfaces for infection control and maximum durability. Intensive care unit (ICU) beds will have even more sophisticated functions such as additional lateral tilt, drip stand compatibility, and extra positions.
These beds are very costly and are usually only ever used on actual hospital wards or in palliative care hospices.
Price Range: £5,000 - £20,000
Hospital Mattress and Accessory Costs
Once you have selected your preferred bed, the other consideration is a mattress and any accessories you require for your bed. Pressure care mattresses range in price from £250 for a foam pressure-relieving mattress to £2000+ for dynamic air mattress and pump systems. Accessories you may want to add to your bed include grab rails, overbed tables, and side rail padding bumpers.
Hopefully, this guide has helped to give you an idea of what a hospital bed will cost. If you need help in choosing a bed for yourself or a loved one, you can use our online bed selector tool or give our advice team a call on 0333 222 8584
