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AED by Industry

AED by industry : the right device for your environment, not the brand ad budget.

A gym, a kindergarten, and a construction trailer should not buy the same AED. Each guide below matches device features to one environment’s risk profile, with placement guidance, quantity planning, applicable laws, and a manager checklist.

Match the AED to the environment, not the brand. Child-present facilities need pediatric capability like the Philips HeartStart FRx. High-exertion sites need real-time CPR feedback like the ZOLL AED Plus. Harsh sites need IP55-rated durability. Open your industry guide below, then confirm quantity with a timed walking drill.

Which industries does this hub cover, and what matters in each?

Every card opens a full buyer guide: top 3 picks with 2026 pricing, deployment zones, quantity planning, applicable laws, and a downloadable manager checklist.

Young athletes · Outdoor durable · Pediatric

AEDs for Sports & Athletics

Athletic-event mandates change fast; verify current text via the 50-state AED law tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

Electrical risk · Truck-mounted · Rugged

AED for Utility Workers

Standards and state bills change; verify current text at the official links and the 50-state AED law tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

Remote EMS gaps · Vehicle-mounted · Compact

AED for Transportation

Transit authorities and state programs add local layers; verify via the 50-state AED law tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

Pediatric · 3-min coverage · State mandates

AED for Schools

Statute text changes; verify the current version at the official links above and see the 50-state AED law tracker for your state. This is compliance information, not legal advice.

Untrained staff · Storefront · Chain fleets

AED for Retail Stores

Statutes and lease norms change; verify via the 50-state AED law tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

Front-of-house · Moisture-adjacent · Manager-led

AED for Restaurants

Statutes and city codes change; verify current text via the 50-state AED law tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

Multi-floor · Self-test · OSHA aligned

AED for Offices & Workplaces

State and city layers still apply: several states mandate AEDs for specific building or business types, and government or public buildings often carry their own requirements, which is where public-sector offices should start. All 50 states provide Good Samaritan protections for lay rescuers. Check your statute in the 50-state AED law tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

Tight budgets · Volunteers · Grant-funded

AED for Non-Profits

Grant programs open and close; verify current status on each program's own page before building a budget around it.

Tactical rugged · Manual override · Field-proven

AED for Military

Installation policies vary by service and base; confirm with your safety office. Compliance information, not legal advice.

Multi-shift · Plant-floor · OSHA aligned

AED for Manufacturing

Standards text changes; verify at the official links and the 50-state AED law tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

24/7 readiness · Front desk · Property fleets

AED for Hotels

Statute text and city rules change; verify current versions at the official links and the 50-state AED law tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

OTC labeling · Voice-guided · Untrained

AED for Home

Kids in the house? Read adult pads on infants: what the guidelines say and the pads guide before you order. In-home childcare providers should follow the stricter schools guidance.

CPR feedback · IP55+ · High exertion

AED for Gyms

More states regulate fitness-facility AEDs through general public-access rules; hotel gyms inherit these duties in several jurisdictions (see the hotels guide). Verify current text at the official links and check the 50-state AED law tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

Mixed environments · Versatile · Any buyer

AED for General Use

Small businesses and mixed-use buildings need one device that performs everywhere: clear prompts for untrained rescuers, solid environmental rating, and pediatric capability where possible. Balanced cost-to-feature ratio wins here.

Rural EMS times · Barn-mounted · Harsh exposure

AED for Farms

Verify current rules via the 50-state AED law tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

Multi-zone crowds · Insurance · Staff response

AED for Entertainment Venues

Assembly provisions vary and change; verify current text at the official links and the 50-state AED law tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

Sedation permits · Single operatory · Clinical

AED For Dental Offices

Board rules differ by state and change; verify current text at the official links and your own board's anesthesia chapter. Compliance information, not legal advice.

IP55 minimum · Drop-tested · Trailer-ready

AED for Construction Sites

Standards text changes; verify at the official links and the 50-state AED law tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

Older congregants · Volunteers · Long warranty

AED for Churches

Compliance information, not legal advice. Statute text changes; verify current rules in the 50-state AED law tracker.

Gaming floor · Hotel tower · Security response

AED for Casinos

Gaming regulations vary by jurisdiction and change; confirm with your board and the 50-state AED law tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

Small staff · Branch fleets · Customer-facing

AED for Banks

Rules change; verify via the 50-state AED law tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

14 CFR 121.803 · Terminals · Scale fleets

AED for Airports

Verify current rule text at the eCFR link and applicability with your operation's counsel; terminal rules vary by jurisdiction via the 50-state tracker. Compliance information, not legal advice.

Which AED fits which industry? One table, every environment.

Featured picks reflect each guide’s current editorial verdict and 2026 US list pricing at authorized distributors. The full verdict, alternatives, and cost breakdown live on each industry guide.

Industry	Featured pick	2026 list	Why it fits	Typical deployment*	Guide
Schools (K-12)	Philips HeartStart FRx	$1,944	Pediatric key, no pad swap under pressure	1 per building + gym	Schools
Offices	Philips HeartStart OnSite	$1,529	Value pick, simplest untrained-user flow	1 per floor	Offices
Gyms & Fitness	ZOLL AED Plus	$2,021	Real-time CPR depth + rate feedback	1-2 per facility	Gyms
Churches	HeartSine 350P	$1,295	Budget pick, one Pad-Pak consumable	1 per sanctuary	Churches
Home	Philips HeartStart OnSite	$1,529	OTC labeling, family-proof voice coaching	1 per household	Home
Hotels	Defibtech Lifeline VIEW	$1,695	Color video screen for noisy, multilingual lobbies	2-4 per property	Hotels
Dental Offices	Philips HeartStart OnSite	$1,529	Compact, sedation-permit friendly	1 per practice	In production
Construction	Philips HeartStart FRx	$1,944	IP55, drop-tested, trailer-ready	1 per site/trailer	Construction
Restaurants	Philips HeartStart OnSite	$1,529	Front-of-house simple, manager-led	1 per venue	Restaurants
Manufacturing	Powerheart G5	$2,157	Daily self-test, 8-year warranty	1 per zone/shift area	Manufacturing
Retail	Philips HeartStart OnSite	$1,529	Untrained-staff friendly, chain-fleet ready	1 per store	Retail
Casinos	Philips HeartStart FRx	$1,944	Security-cart rugged, multi-zone fleets	8-15 per property	Casinos
Airports	ZOLL AED 3	$2,240	Touchscreen, program-scale management	Per concourse zone	Airports
Banks	Powerheart G5	$2,157	Self-test reliability with tiny staff	1 per branch	Banks
Entertainment	ZOLL AED 3	$2,240	Pro-grade for trained venue staff	Per zone, drill-set	Venues
Sports	ZOLL AED Plus	$2,021	CPR feedback for athletic trainers	1 per field complex	Sports
Transportation	HeartSine 350P	$1,295	Lightest, cab-mountable	1 per vehicle/hub	Transportation
Utility Workers	Philips HeartStart FRx	$1,944	Truck-mount rugged, cold-weather tolerant	1 per crew truck	Utility
Farms	HeartSine 350P	$1,295	Affordable rural coverage, IP56	1 per operation	Farms
Military	ZOLL AED Pro	$2,365	Manual mode for trained medics, pro-grade build	Per spec sheet	Military
Non-Profits	HeartSine 350P	$1,295	Lowest total cost of ownership	1 per facility	Non-profits
General Use	Philips HeartStart OnSite	$1,529	Best all-environment balance	1 per location	General

*Typical deployment is a planning estimate from published deployments and timed-drill practice, not a legal minimum. Confirm with the AED Quantity Calculator and a walking drill. Pricing: 2026 US list at authorized distributors.

⚡ Quantity planning

How many AEDs does your facility need?

The AHA program target is simple: a responder retrieves the AED and returns to the victim in about 3 minutes, proven with a stopwatch, not a formula^[2]. The AHA publishes no square-feet-per-AED coefficient, so treat every calculator output, ours included, as a planning estimate you validate with a timed walking drill on your actual floor plan.

Survival drops with every minute of delay before defibrillation, which is why placement beats brand choice in almost every deployment^[1].

Replacing pads and batteries on schedule is where most programs quietly fail. The pads and batteries guide covers expiry cycles by model, and new buyers should start at the complete buyer’s guide or the basics in what is an AED.

Go deeper before you buy

All FDA-approved models on one shop page, plus replacement pads and batteries by device.

The year’s category winners across budget, schools, rugged, home, and overall, with the scoring shown.

Deep dives on Philips, ZOLL, LIFEPAK, HeartSine, Cardiac Science, and Defibtech.

Start with how an AED works, manual vs automatic, and the maintenance checklist.

⚡ Editorial methodology · every guide

How we build every verdict: 4 primary sources , zero manufacturer money.

No manufacturer pays for placement and no manufacturer sees a verdict before you do. Each industry guide is rebuilt on the same evidence base, then pressure-tested against that environment’s real constraints. Every claim on this page traces to a numbered primary source.

Not sure which guide fits? Answer 5 questions.

The quiz matches your environment, training level, and budget to one specific model, with the reasoning shown next to the result. Free, no email required.

AED by industry: the questions buyers actually ask

Which industries are legally required to have AEDs?

There is no single federal AED mandate for private businesses. Requirements come from state statutes and sector rules: many states mandate AEDs in K-12 schools and health clubs, several state dental boards tie sedation permits to on-site AEDs, and 14 CFR 121.803 requires AEDs on most commercial passenger aircraft^[6]. The AED Laws by State tracker links each current statute.

How many AEDs does a business need?

Plan so a responder can retrieve the AED and return within about 3 minutes, then prove it with a timed walking drill^[2]. The AHA publishes no square-feet-per-AED formula. Use the Quantity Calculator for a planning estimate, then validate on your floor plan.

What AED features matter most across industries?

Four features decide most fits: pediatric capability where children are present, real-time CPR feedback for high-exertion sites, IP55-rated durability for harsh environments, and self-testing with a visible readiness indicator for facilities without dedicated staff. Every guide above scores its picks on the features that matter for that environment.

Does OSHA require AEDs in the workplace?

No general OSHA standard requires AEDs. 29 CFR 1910.151 requires adequate first aid provisions^[4], and OSHA Publication 3185 endorses workplace AED programs^[3]. More than 20 states mandate AEDs for at least one facility type, so check the state tracker.

How much does an AED program cost?

2026 US list prices for FDA-approved models run $1,295 to $2,450 per device at authorized distributors, before cabinets, signage, and consumable cycles. Pads and batteries add a predictable replacement schedule that varies by model. The Cost Calculator shows the multi-year math for your exact model and unit count.

Are all AEDs reviewed here FDA-approved?

Yes. Every model holds current FDA Premarket Approval, and each product page identifies its PMA family^[5]. We do not review gray-market imports or non-approved devices, and our methodology explains the scoring in full.

Independent. Verified monthly. Zero manufacturer money.

AED Best Brands is an editorial AED-review publication. We are not owned by any AED manufacturer, do not accept paid placements, and our revenue comes only from partner distributor referrals — with zero influence on editorial recommendations. Every product claim traces to the FDA PMA database, an authorized US distributor, or a peer-reviewed clinical source.

~350K

~70%

7–10%

References

GuidelineAmerican Heart Association. “2020 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.” Circulation, October 2020. Bystander AED intervention within 3 minutes of collapse remains the strongest modifiable variable in out-of-hospital SCA survival.
StatisticsCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. “Heart Disease Facts.” Out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest kills approximately 350,000 people in the United States annually. Updated 2024.
DatabaseU.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Premarket Approval (PMA) Database.” AED systems require FDA PMA approval effective 2016; accessories effective February 2022.
GuidelineAmerican Heart Association. “Adult Chain of Survival.” Survival from out-of-hospital SCA decreases 7–10 percent for every minute of delay in defibrillation.
Data sourceAuthorized US distributor list prices verified within 30 days of publication. AED Best Brands editorial pricing methodology at /methodology/. Prices exclude gray-market and unauthorized resellers.
Spec sheetManufacturer Instructions for Use (IFU) and product datasheets on file. Warranty terms, IP ratings, pad and battery life sourced from primary manufacturer documentation with version and issue date.

All statistical claims on this page trace to one of the six primary sources above. See our full editorial methodology for verification workflow. Content last updated · July 2026.

Updated · July 2026 · MD-Reviewed · Methodology · Editorial standards · Medical Advisory Board

Tier B+ Brands

Every model we review is FDA-approved via premarket approval.

Industrial + field

Best AED for Schools 2026