Renting is how most families get a hospital bed at home, whether through Medicare or by paying privately. Here’s what it costs, where to rent, and how to avoid surprises.
How much does it cost to rent a hospital bed?
With Original Medicare
Medicare pays for hospital beds as capped rentals. CMS sets a monthly amount for each bed type and area. Months 1 to 3 are paid at the full monthly amount and months 4 to 13 at 75% of it; after 13 months of continuous use, the bed is yours (42 CFR 414.229). You pay the Part B deductible and then 20% of each approved amount, if the supplier accepts assignment (Medicare.gov).
| Bed (Medicare code) | Approved monthly rental, months 1–3 | Months 4–13 (75%) | Your 20%, months 1–3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed height, rails, mattress (E0250) | $67.02–$101.57 | $50.27–$76.18 | about $13–$20 |
| Variable height, rails, mattress (E0255) | $72.42–$113.99 | $54.32–$85.49 | about $14–$23 |
| Semi-electric, rails, mattress (E0260) | $66.21–$128.15 | $49.66–$96.11 | about $13–$26 |
| Heavy duty, 350–600 lb, no mattress (E0301) | $180.03–$302.11 | $135.02–$226.58 | about $36–$60 |
| Heavy duty, 350–600 lb, with mattress (E0303) | $170.70–$324.05 | $128.03–$243.04 | about $34–$65 |
Source: CMS DMEPOS fee schedule, October 2026 (DME26-D), checked October 7, 2026. Ranges cover the 50 states and D.C., including rural and former competitive bidding areas. Our calculator looks up the exact amount for your state.
Thinking about buying instead? Our hospital bed cost guide lists purchase benchmarks by bed type, and free and low-cost hospital beds covers hospice, Medicaid, VA, and loan closet options.
To see whether you qualify, read does Medicare cover hospital beds? and Medicare hospital bed requirements.
Paying privately
Without Medicare coverage, each supplier sets its own price. Rates depend on the bed type (manual, semi-electric, full-electric, heavy duty), what’s included, the rental term, and your area. Medicare’s amounts above are a useful reference point when you compare quotes, but a private quote can be higher or lower. Expect separate charges for some or all of these:
- delivery and setup
- pickup at the end of the rental
- a deposit, refundable or not
- a mattress, rails, or trapeze if not included
- a minimum rental period
Renting vs buying vs borrowing
| Private rental | Medicare rental | Buying | Borrowing (loan closet) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low | Low (deductible applies) | High | Usually none |
| Ongoing cost | Monthly rent | 20% of approved amount, up to 13 months | None, except repairs | Usually none |
| Who handles repairs | Supplier | Supplier during rental | You (warranty may help) | You |
| Bed choice | Wide | Covered types only, unless you pay for an upgrade | Widest | Whatever is available |
| Best for | Short or uncertain needs | People who meet Medicare’s criteria | Long-term needs | Tight budgets, short needs |
Not sure which wins for you? Put your quotes into the rent vs buy calculator.
Where to rent a hospital bed
Renting a heavy-duty bed for someone over 350 lb? See bariatric bed rental for Medicare’s heavy-duty codes and the questions to ask.
- Medicare-enrolled medical equipment suppliers. Search Medicare’s supplier directory by ZIP code. Many also rent to private-pay customers.
- Through your care team. A hospital discharge planner, home health agency, or hospice team can often arrange the bed and the paperwork. In hospice, equipment comes through the hospice; see hospital beds in hospice care.
- Local programs. The Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can connect you with your area agency on aging, which may know of programs that lend equipment. See free and low-cost hospital beds.
12 questions to ask before you rent
- What is the monthly price, and is there a minimum rental period?
- Which bed is it exactly: manual, semi-electric, or full-electric? What’s the weight capacity?
- Is the mattress included? What type is it, and is it made for this bed?
- Are rails included, and are they designed for this bed and mattress?
- What do delivery, setup, and pickup cost, and how soon can you deliver?
- Is there a deposit? Is it refundable?
- Who do I call if something breaks, and how fast will you come?
- Are you enrolled in Medicare? Will you accept assignment for every rental month? (Suppliers must tell you this before delivery, under 42 CFR 414.229.)
- If I have Medicare Advantage, are you in my plan’s network, and is prior authorization needed?
- Is anything you’re supplying an upgrade I’d pay extra for?
- If I rent privately and later decide to buy, does any rent count toward the price?
- If I go into the hospital for a while, what happens to the rental?
On that last question: for Medicare rentals, a break in use of up to 60 consecutive days, plus the rest of that rental month, doesn’t end the period of continuous use, and moving or changing suppliers doesn’t restart it (42 CFR 414.230).
Before the delivery team leaves
- Check that the mattress fits snugly, with no wide gaps at the rails, head, or foot. See hospital bed safety.
- Test every function and the brakes.
- Ask for the user manual and the supplier’s service number.
- Make sure the bed fits the room with space to work on both sides. Our room-fit checker helps, and our setup guide covers the rest.
How we researched this guide
Medicare amounts come from CMS’s October 2026 fee schedule file, checked October 7, 2026. The rental rules come from 42 CFR 414.229 and 414.230, and coverage rules from LCD L33820 and Medicare.gov. We don’t rent or sell beds and don’t publish private rental prices we can’t verify.