--- title: "Types of medical carts: crash carts, nursing carts, computer carts and more" url: https://www.kelingmed.com/blog/types-of-medical-carts/ published: 2026-08-18 updated: 2026-10-19 author: Keling Medical export team --- # Types of medical carts: crash carts, nursing carts, computer carts and more The main types of medical carts explained, from the crash cart to medication, nursing, treatment, computer, monitor and case carts, with a comparison table. ## Key points - Medical carts fall into four families: emergency carts (crash or code carts), medication and anesthesia carts, clinical carts (nursing, treatment, dressing, instrument) and equipment or support carts (computer, monitor, case, linen, food). - A crash cart is a sealed, standardized emergency cart that holds resuscitation drugs and equipment and a defibrillator; every clinical area in a hospital needs access to one. - Nursing and treatment carts support routine care at the bedside; medical computer carts carry a screen, keyboard and sometimes a battery for charting and barcode scanning. - Choosing one family of carts with the same castors, colors and drawer sizes across a hospital simplifies training, spares and cleaning. - When buying medical carts, compare drawer internal dimensions, locks, castors, material and cleaning compatibility, and ask the manufacturer for ISO 13485 and destination-country documents. The main types of medical carts are the crash cart (code cart) for emergencies, medication and anesthesia carts for drugs, nursing, treatment and instrument carts for routine clinical work, and equipment or support carts such as computer carts, monitor carts, case carts and linen trolleys. Each type is a medical cart on wheels built around one job, one set of contents and one area of the hospital. This guide explains what each type of hospital cart is for, how they differ, and what to consider when you plan and buy carts for a whole facility. ## The four families of medical carts It helps to group medical carts by what they carry. | Family | Cart types | Main features | Typical areas | |---|---|---|---| | Emergency | Crash cart, code cart, resuscitation trolley, pediatric crash cart | Sealed drawers, defibrillator shelf, oxygen holder, CPR board | Every ward, ED, ICU, OR, imaging, clinics | | Medication | Med cart, anesthesia cart, punch card cart | Locks, many small drawers, dividers, narcotic box | Wards, long-term care, OR | | Clinical | Nursing cart, treatment cart, dressing trolley, procedure cart, isolation cart, instrument table, Mayo trolley | Work surface, drawers or open shelves, waste and sharps holders | Wards, clinics, procedure rooms, OR | | Equipment and support | Medical computer cart, monitor cart, ECG and ultrasound carts, case cart, case history trolley, linen, food, oxygen cylinder and utility carts | Mounts, baskets, cable management, enclosed or open storage | Whole hospital | The terms cart and trolley mean the same thing; cart is more common in the United States and trolley in the UK, Europe, Asia and Africa. ## Crash cart (code cart) A crash cart, also called a code cart, emergency cart or resuscitation trolley, holds everything needed in the first minutes of a cardiac or respiratory arrest: emergency drugs, airway and breathing equipment, IV access supplies and a defibrillator. In a hospital, every clinical area needs a crash cart within reach, and many units also keep a separate pediatric crash cart. What defines a crash cart is standardization. It is sealed with a numbered breakaway seal or locked, stocked to a master list and checked on a fixed schedule. Typical carts have five or six drawers, a defibrillator shelf, IV pole, oxygen cylinder holder and CPR board bracket. Keling's [KL-TC020 Emergency Trolley](https://www.kelingmed.com/products/medical-trolleys/kl-tc020-emergency-trolley/) is a five-drawer ABS emergency trolley with a central lock, stainless steel top tray, IV pole and integrated sharps holder. For details on contents and checks, read our [crash cart checklist](https://www.kelingmed.com/blog/crash-cart-checklist/); for choosing the trolley itself, see the [crash cart configuration guide](https://www.kelingmed.com/blog/crash-cart-configuration-guide/). ## Medication carts and anesthesia carts A medication cart (med cart or medicine trolley) brings each patient's medications to the bedside on a round. It is locked, with drawers organized by patient or by drug, and often a separately locked narcotic box. Nursing homes use punch card carts built around blister cards. An anesthesia cart stands next to the anesthesia workstation in each operating room and holds the anesthesia provider's drugs, airway devices and IV supplies in many shallow drawers, with a clear organizer on top. Both are covered in detail in our [medication cart guide](https://www.kelingmed.com/blog/medication-cart-guide/) and [anesthesia cart guide](https://www.kelingmed.com/blog/anesthesia-cart-guide/). ## Nursing carts and treatment carts A nursing cart, or nurse cart, is the everyday workhorse of the ward: a mobile cart with drawers and a work surface for dressings, gloves, syringes, swabs, specimen tubes and paperwork. A treatment cart (treatment trolley) is similar but set up for specific procedures such as wound care, catheterization or injections. Look for drawers sized to the supplies you stock, a raised-edge top tray, side waste bins and a sharps holder, and quiet castors with brakes. Keling's [KL-TC002 Clinic Trolley](https://www.kelingmed.com/products/medical-trolleys/kl-tc002-clinic-trolley/) clinic trolley has multiple drawers with color-coded handles, a pull-out work shelf, central locking and an IV pole, while the [KL-TC022 Treatment Trolley](https://www.kelingmed.com/products/medical-trolleys/kl-tc022-treatment-trolley/) treatment trolley combines two drawers with a raised-edge ABS top tray and an open lower shelf. ### Dressing, procedure and isolation carts - **Dressing trolleys** carry sterile dressing packs, basins and waste buckets for wound care, often in stainless steel. - **Procedure carts** are set up for one recurring procedure, such as suturing, lumbar puncture or line insertion. - **Isolation carts** hold gowns, gloves, masks and eye protection outside the room of a patient on transmission-based precautions. ### Instrument tables and Mayo trolleys In operating and procedure rooms, stainless steel instrument tables, back tables and Mayo trolleys hold instruments within the sterile field. They are flat, easy to clean and usually made from grade 304 stainless steel. See our [guide to stainless steel carts and instrument tables](https://www.kelingmed.com/blog/stainless-steel-medical-trolleys/) for grades, sizes and case carts. ## Medical computer carts and workstations on wheels A medical computer cart, or medical workstation on wheels, carries a computer, screen and keyboard so staff can chart, review results and scan medication barcodes at the bedside. Options include: - **Laptop carts:** a simple height-adjustable column with a work surface - **All-in-one computer carts:** a mount for an all-in-one PC, keyboard tray and storage - **Powered carts:** an integrated battery to run the computer and scanner for a shift - **Medication workstations:** a computer cart with lockable drawers for medication administration Height adjustment, a stable base, cable management and easy-clean surfaces matter most. Powered carts that supply medical devices should be assessed against the electrical safety requirements that apply in your market, such as IEC 60601-1 for medical electrical systems. Keling's [KL-TC202 All-in-one Computer Cart](https://www.kelingmed.com/products/medical-trolleys/kl-tc202-all-in-one-computer-cart/) all-in-one computer cart has height adjustment from 980 to 1030 mm and a 25 kg (55 lb) load rating, and the [KL-TC206 Information Nursing Cart](https://www.kelingmed.com/products/medical-trolleys/kl-tc206-information-nursing-cart/) information nursing cart combines a monitor mount and work surface with lockable drawers. ### Monitor carts and equipment carts Monitor carts and equipment carts give portable devices a stable, mobile base. Common types include patient monitor carts, ECG carts, ultrasound carts and endoscopy equipment carts, each with a top platform sized to the device, a basket for cables and accessories, and sometimes a mounting arm. Check the device's footprint, weight and mounting pattern before ordering, and make sure the base is wide enough not to tip over door thresholds. ## Case carts, records and support trolleys Behind the clinical areas, hospitals run on support carts: - **Case carts** move instrument sets and supplies between sterile processing and the OR. For workflow, see our [sterile processing department guide](https://www.kelingmed.com/blog/sterile-processing-department-guide/). - **Case history trolleys** keep paper patient records locked and organized on wards that still use them. - **Linen and laundry trolleys** with color-coded bags separate clean, soiled and infectious linen. - **Hospital food carts**, often insulated stainless steel, keep meals at temperature from the kitchen to the ward. - **Oxygen cylinder trolleys** move gas cylinders safely. - **Medical supply carts and utility carts** with open shelves move bulk supplies between stores and wards. - **Medical storage cabinets**, mobile or fixed, hold stock near the point of use. ## Mobile medical carts: castors, handles and ergonomics Whatever the type, a mobile medical cart is pushed many times a day, often by one person, through doors, lifts and crowded corridors. The rolling hardware decides whether staff like or avoid it. - **Castors:** larger wheels, around 100–125 mm (4–5 in), roll more easily over thresholds and lift gaps than small ones. Quiet, non-marking treads matter on night wards. - **Brakes:** at least two braked castors, or a central brake on heavier carts, so the cart stays put while staff work. - **Handles:** a push handle at a comfortable height on the end staff usually push from. - **Bumpers:** corner or perimeter bumpers protect walls, door frames and the cart itself. - **Height:** work surfaces at roughly 900–1,000 mm (35–39 in) suit most standing tasks; height-adjustable computer carts accommodate different users. - **Weight:** a small medical cart on wheels for clinics should stay light enough to move when fully loaded. ## How to plan medical carts for a hospital Start with a room-by-room list, then group carts so you can standardize. Practical steps: 1. **List carts per area** (ward, ICU, ED, OR, clinics, support) from your equipment plan; our [hospital equipment list](https://www.kelingmed.com/blog/hospital-equipment-list/) is a starting point. 2. **Choose one model per type** for the whole hospital, so drawer layouts and training are the same everywhere. 3. **Standardize castors, colors and accessories** (IV poles, bins, sharps holders) across types to simplify spares. 4. **Match material to area:** ABS for wards and emergency carts, stainless steel for OR, sterile processing and wet areas. 5. **Check fit:** corridor widths, lift sizes, door frames and parking bays. 6. **Confirm cleaning compatibility** with your disinfectants. ## Choosing medical cart manufacturers and suppliers When you compare medical cart manufacturers or suppliers, look beyond price per unit. Ask for: - The manufacturer's ISO 13485 certificate and the registration or conformity documents that apply to each model and destination country - Internal drawer dimensions, materials and castor specifications - Samples or factory inspection before a large order - Spare parts lists and lead times - Ability to supply a matched range, so one order covers emergency, medication, nursing and support carts Keling Medical manufactures 97 trolley and cart models, from crash carts and anesthesia trolleys to computer, monitor and stainless steel carts, at its ISO 13485:2016 certified factory in Yangzhou, and exports to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and South America. For a broader checklist, see [how to choose a medical equipment supplier](https://www.kelingmed.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-medical-equipment-supplier/). ## Next steps List the carts each area needs, pick one model per type, and specify drawers, locks, castors and materials in writing. Browse the [medical trolley range](https://www.kelingmed.com/products/medical-trolleys/), or [send your cart list and quantities](https://www.kelingmed.com/contact/#rfq) and we will prepare a matched quotation. ## FAQ ### What is a crash cart in a hospital? A crash cart is a wheeled cabinet with drawers that holds the drugs, airway and IV equipment and defibrillator needed in a cardiac or respiratory arrest. In a hospital it is kept sealed, stocked to a standard list and parked in a known spot on each unit, so the code team can bring it to the bedside within seconds. ### What are the different types of medical carts? The main types are crash or code carts, medication carts, anesthesia carts, nursing and treatment carts, dressing and instrument trolleys, isolation carts, medical computer carts, monitor and equipment carts, case carts, case history trolleys, and support carts for linen, food, waste and oxygen cylinders. Each is designed around one job and one area. ### What is a nursing cart? A nursing cart is a general-purpose mobile cart that carries the supplies a nurse uses on a round: dressings, gloves, syringes, swabs, specimen tubes and documentation. It usually has several drawers, a top work surface, a waste bin and sharps holder. A bedside nursing cart may also hold a laptop or screen for charting. ### What is a medical computer cart used for? A medical computer cart, also called a workstation on wheels, carries a computer or screen, keyboard and scanner so staff can chart, check orders and scan medications at the bedside. Models with a battery run the computer all shift without a power cord; powered models should meet the electrical safety requirements that apply in your country. ### What is the difference between a medical cart and a medical trolley? There is no functional difference. Cart is the usual term in the United States, and trolley is more common in the UK, Europe, Asia and Africa. A treatment cart and a treatment trolley, or a crash cart and a crash trolley, describe the same product. ### What is a data center crash cart? In IT, a crash cart is a cart carrying a monitor, keyboard and mouse that technicians wheel to a server that has failed. It shares only the name with a hospital crash cart. Medical crash carts hold resuscitation equipment and drugs and are designed and cleaned for clinical areas. ### How do I choose a medical cart manufacturer? Look for a manufacturer with an ISO 13485 quality system, a broad enough range to standardize carts across your hospital, documented materials and castors, spare parts availability and export experience to your country. Ask for the registration or conformity documents that apply to each model and destination, and inspect samples before a large order.