Written by Mike Price, OT
Ensure efficiency, safety, and patient satisfaction in the examination room with the best medical exam table to suit your unique practice. Utilized globally throughout the healthcare delivery system, exam tables come in a wide selection of styles and size options to safely support patients in sitting, supine, prone, and side-lying positions. Choosing the right design not only improves support for examinations and procedures, but also helps to prevent injuries for the patient, practitioner, and support staff. Learn more about the best medical exam tables available today and the features you need to best care for your various patient populations.
1. Best Overall: Clinton Family Practice Exam Table with Step Stool
2. Best Minimal Design: Clinton ETA Alpha Series Treatment Table with Drawers
3. Best Storage: Brewer Access 5001 Exam Table
4. Best Bariatric: Brewer Bariatric 6000 Access High-Low Exam Table
5. Best Wheelchair Accessible: Hausmann Powermatic Wheelchair-Accessible Exam Table
Because they are used as your main interface with your patients, it’s crucial to understand what kinds of exam table features would benefit your unique patient base. While we cover these features more in-depth with our Caregiver University article on how to choose the best treatment table, here are some of the most important features to consider when you’re looking to procure the best medical exam table to meet your requirements.
If your medical practice serves obese, bariatric patients, it’s imperative to select a medical exam table with a higher weight capacity. While many power exam tables come standard with a minimum 400-pound accommodation, there are bariatric models that can safely support up to 800 pounds and beyond. Also, consider the exam table's seat width. The wider the table, the more patients you can comfortably accommodate.
For medical practices and ambulatory care clinics that serve patients living with temporary or permanent mobility impairments, a power-adjustable hi-lo exam table is highly recommended to improve access and safety. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) advises a 17-19 inch table height for safe, accessible transfers to and from a wheelchair, but most fixed-height exam tables are about 30 to 32 inches high. Studies show that height-adjustable examination tables provide benefits to patients, reducing the difficulty of entry/exit and feelings of insecurity often inherent with higher fixed-height tables. A handle or support rail is recommended by the ADA as well, providing a secure handhold during transfers and while the patient is on the table.
Ensure the medical exam table can fit by measuring the intended space and matching that to the dimensions of the table. Smaller exam rooms would do well with an all-in-one consultation and examination design that converts from a sitting position to a supine position, all within one table. These types of tables typically offer a lot of storage space as well, helping to keep supplies compactly organized. Some exam tables offer pass-through configuration of the storage space, eliminating the need for left or right-hand designation of the table design.
Quality medical exam tables typically provide a wide selection of color options when it comes to upholstery, ensuring every healthcare professional can find exactly the right look for their medical practice. Usually constructed with strong, long-lasting vinyl, some upholstery options are made thicker to stand up to hard and heavy repetitive usage, while others offer a softer feel for more sensitive-skin patients. Padding should be soft but firm so the patient can move more easily on the table’s surface.
Having a step on your exam table is a feature that is easily overlooked. A step allows your patients to comfortably place themselves on the exam table. A doctor's office can be a vulnerable place for some patients, so making them as comfortable as possible is a priority. If you choose a table that doesn't already have a step built-in, consider purchasing a step separately.
| Weight Capacity | Seat Width | Storage | Step | |
| #1 Clinton Family Practice | 400 lbs | 28.5" | 2 drawers, side cabinets, paper storage | Yes |
| #2 Clinton ETA Alpha Series | 450 lbs | 27" or 30" | 2 drawers, 1 open shelf | No |
| #3 Brewer Access 5001 | 500 lbs | 28" | 2 drawers, 2 side cabinets, paper storage | Yes |
| #4 Brewer Bariatric 6000 Access High-Low | 700 lbs | 28" | 2 drawers, 2 side cabinets, paper storage | Yes |
| #5 Hausmann Powermatic Wheelchair-Accessible | 400 lbs | 26" | 2 drawers | No |
Offering powered height adjustability to ensure easy access, the ADA-compliant Hausmann Powermatic Wheelchair-Accessible Exam Table takes the 5th position in our review as one of the best medical exam tables for ambulatory care patients and those with special needs. Perfect for practices that serve the geriatric and disabled communities, the Powermatic from Hausmann Industries offers an adjustable hi-lo height range of 20 to 32 inches. At its lowest height, it provides level access for wheelchair transfers to and from the table, while at its highest height, it facilitates ergonomic access to the patient for the practitioner. A convenient foot control allows the practitioner to keep their hands free to attend to the patient while adjusting the height.
Optimizing patient comfort and practitioner access with its adjustable pneumatic backrest, the Powermatic exam table also adjusts in length from 55 to 71 inches with its slide-out leg rest, saving space when it’s not in use. Concealed stirrups adjust in length and lateral positioning to suit diverse patient needs. Choose from two proprietary vinyl upholstery options that both offer multiple color selections to suit your decor. The Pro-FORM type of vinyl is best suited for high-volume therapy or sports medicine practices, as they offer a firmer feel, while the Comfort PLUS vinyl is softer and good for enhancing patient comfort in general practices.
The Powermatic medical exam table offers a wide array of add-on options that allow practitioners to customize its use to fit the needs of their patients and practice. Accommodating a 400-pound weight capacity, it’s available in either a right-hand or left-hand model, with or without a hospital-grade duplex electrical outlet.
Grabbing the 4th spot on our list with its exceptional storage capacity and helpful pass-through design, the Brewer Bariatric 6000 Access High-Low Exam Table safely accommodates heavier patients with its 450-pound weight capacity. Powered for convenient hi-lo adjustability from 18 to 37 inches in height, its dual controls include an intuitive foot control so practitioners can safely attend to their patients with both hands. This medical exam table from the Brewer Company boasts the highest length range of any other exam table in our review, using proprietary SafeGlide leg extension technology that can adjust the length up to 78 inches.
The Brewer 6000 highlights an innovative chair-to-table format, taking the patient from consultation to examination all in one device. Its cleverly-designed grab bars come standard, providing added security for patients entering and exiting the exam table. Adjusting from upright to flat, its pneumatic backrest provides comfortable back support for the patient in any position.
Its patented Pass-Through side drawers can be accessed by either side, eliminating any potential setup problems of left or right designation. A drawer at the front of the table adds extra storage space, along with space underneath the back of the table that’s designed to hold table paper.
UL-approved and robustly designed, the award-winning Brewer 6000 exam table offers multiple upholstery colors in both standard and plush selections. Ideal for just about any medical, therapy, or sports medicine practice, its powered adjustability, and all-in-one design make this table especially beneficial and accessible for your patients living with mobility impairments.
Highlighting ample storage, an adjustable pneumatic back, and a 5-degree pelvic tilt, the Brewer Access 5001 Exam Table takes the 3rd slot in our review as one of the best non-powered exam tables. Durably designed to accommodate a bariatric 500-pound weight capacity, this fixed-height, 32-inch tall medical exam table from the Brewer Company offers a 28-inch width to provide generous space for larger patients. Its built-in, four-leg access step is the largest on the market, offering plenty of room and optimized stability for patients entering and exiting the exam table.
Like its powered counterpart, the Brewer Bariatric 6000, this medical exam table offers the largest storage capacity with two front drawers and two side drawers. The patented Pass-Through design also eliminates any hassles associated with left or right configuration issues, as the drawers can be accessed by either side.
Optimizing patient comfort with its pelvic tilt and adjustable, extendable integrated stirrups, its pneumatic back is easy to adjust for perfect patient positioning. The exam table’s bolstered, multi-density support upholstery further enhances comfort for the patient and is available in a wide range of colors to suit your facility’s decor. Another standard highlight of this exam table is its 60-watt drawer heater to warm towels and instruments, ensuring a more pleasant experience for the patient.
Boasting the lowest price point of any medical exam table in our review, the Clinton ETA Alpha Series Treatment Table with Drawers comes in at number two with its durable, comfortable design. Constructed with a heavy-duty all-steel frame that’s been powder-coated for optimal protection, this fixed-height exam table is 31 inches high and 72 inches long, with either a 27 or 30-inch width, the widest in our review! Its 450-pound weight capacity ensures stability and safety for bariatric patients.
The exam table’s easy-to-assemble (ETA) design highlights a simplistic bolt-through set-up for dependable performance. Adjustable leg levelers on the end of each leg ensure stability on uneven flooring. Compact, with a minimalist aesthetic, this Alpha Series medical exam table by Clinton Industries still offers plenty of storage space with an open, laminate shelf and two plastic drawers. It also includes a paper dispenser. The back conveniently adjusts in angle to facilitate improved practitioner access along with patient positioning and comfort.
The seamless, rounded corner tabletop enhances safety for both the practitioner and the patient, utilizing 2-inch firm foam padding to maximize patient comfort. Covered in heavyweight, knit-backed upholstery for long-lasting comfort, protection, and functionality, practitioners can choose from a diverse assortment of color options to blend beautifully with exam room decor.
Full of convenient features that make it perfect for private practice or clinic, the Clinton Family Practice Exam Table with Step Stool takes 1st place in our review as the best medical exam table. For comfort, overall function, storage, and economy, nothing beats this innovative exam table by Clinton Industries. Accommodating a 400-pound weight capacity, this family practice table offers a fixed, standard 31-inch height, a generous 28.5-inch width, and a 58 to 72-inch length range to suit most patients. Its adjustable, air-spring pneumatic backrest adjusts from 4 to 68 degrees in angle, optimizing patient positioning and comfort.
The adjustable leg rest is easy to pull in and out on its durable steel track. Coated, adjustable stirrups offer two positions, sliding back inside the table when they’re not needed. Also integrated to store inside the table when it’s not in use, the welded-steel step stool is simple to slide in and out for stable and supportive access. Offering ample storage space with two drawers in the front of the table, the middle cabinet also offers pass-through access for both sides, eliminating the issues often inherent with left or right-sided exam tables.
Patient comfort is further enhanced with the 2-inch firm foam padding that’s upholstered in premium types of vinyl in multiple color options. The table’s strong plywood and laminate panel construction is durable and easy to clean and maintain for years of dependable performance and functionality. It’s also completely color-customizable with numerous choices for the frame laminate, doors/drawers laminate, and handle pulls. Offering versatile functionality for patients of all ages, this family practice table is a great choice for most practitioners.
A manual exam table doesn’t offer any powered or motorized design elements, but it still offers adjustability via manual, human-powered operation or with the assistance of hydraulics and pneumatics. While most manual examination tables will not adjust in height, they do typically include an adjustable backrest and often include storage space as well. They frequently utilize a pull-out step for easier, safer patient access to and from the exam table.
Power exam tables are the most commonly used types of examination tables, enabling height and positional changes with the touch of a button. Using electricity for hi-lo height adjustment of the table, a power exam table ensures easier, safer accessibility for patients in wheelchairs, along with patients living with temporary or permanent mobility impairments. Power exam tables also typically offer powered adjustability to change the angle of the backrest and other articulating sections, providing more positioning options and improved support over manual examination tables. In addition, they help to prevent repetitive strain injuries for the practitioner as the table can be raised to a higher height, ensuring ergonomic practitioner support and access.
Exam tables vary widely in size, with the powered box or cabinet types commonly designed a bit larger than manual examination tables. Although most fixed-height tables offer a standard height of around 30-32 inches, the ADA recommends a range of 17-19 inches in height for safe, accessible entry and exit for patients with mobility disabilities and those using assistive mobility devices, such as wheelchairs. Adjustable height hi-lo tables are recommended to support patients with these disabilities. There are also a number of compact medical exam tables designed as an all-in-one consultation and examination support system, converting the patient from a seated position to a supine position all within one table.
How much weight an exam table can safely accommodate is dependent on the model. Most medical exam tables can support a minimum of 200 pounds, with the majority of quality power designs offering a maximum weight capacity of around 350-400 pounds. Bariatric exam tables are specially designed to hold a higher weight capacity, ranging anywhere from a 400-pound limit all the way up to 800 pounds or more.
The lightest exam tables usually weigh around 75 pounds, while the heaviest exam tables can weigh upwards of 500 pounds. Most manual examination tables are more minimal in design, weighing around 200 to 250 pounds. Cabinet or box-style power exam tables have more components and are heavier, usually weighing the most of any kind of exam table.
A doctor’s table is called a medical exam table, a power exam table when it uses electricity, and a manual examination table when it’s non-powered. Utilized to support patients in seated, supine, prone, and side-lying positions, these tables come in a wide array of configurations and formats to suit different practitioner and medical practice needs.
Choosing the right medical exam table for your healthcare practice is one of the most important purchasing decisions you can make as a doctor. Supporting an array of diagnostic procedures, clinical indications, and diverse patient populations, quality exam table manufacturers generally base their designs on the diagnostic needs and convenience of medical professionals. These demands drive the principles of operation, design, and configuration of medical exam tables, ensuring this equipment will meet the unique requirements of every healthcare practice.
While any of the exam tables in our review would qualify as the best choice for a given practitioner based on specific needs, we awarded the number one spot to the Clinton Family Practice Exam Table with Step Stool. Its feature-rich design offers the best overall economy, functionality, and storage, making it a great choice for most medical practices.
You can learn more about all of the tables we offer with our comprehensive medical exam and treatment table catalog. We also invite you to check out our vast selection of institutional, healthcare, and clinical products and equipment catalog, as well as our educational Caregiver University resource.
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
