Electric Scissor Lifts (7)

The tallest scissor lift you can rent from Budget Equipment has a 40-foot platform height, which is enough for most typical construction tasks. However, the tallest models on the market can extend upwards of 100 feet.

There are two different height measurements for scissor lifts: platform height and working height. A lift’s platform height refers to the distance between the ground and the platform, while the working height is usually about 6 feet taller because it includes the height of the worker standing on the platform.
For instance, the platform height for an SJIII 19-foot lift is 19 feet, but the working height is 25 feet. Similarly, the platform height for a JLG 4069LE 40-foot lift is 40 feet, but the working height is 46 feet.

Narrow scissor lifts are built to fit through a standard doorway, something wide lifts cannot do. A narrow lift usually measures 32 inches wide, while a wide lift is typically 46 inches wide. You’ll likely need at least a double-door to accommodate a wide-platform lift.

Weight capacities for electric scissor lifts can vary depending on the model. Common capacities range from 500 pounds up to about 800 pounds, with some models able to handle 1,000 or even 1,200 pounds. You can’t necessarily predict the weight capacity of a lift based on its height, so check to see which machine will be able to bear the load you plan to place on it.

Many scissor lifts need at least six to eight hours of charging time if you want to get a full day’s use out of them. Batteries that last longer between charges typically need more time to recharge: 12 to 16 hours on a Genie lift with E-Drive technology, so be sure to check the specs for the lift you’re using. Batteries aren’t used continuously during a work day, but when you’re raising and lowering the platform or driving the lift.

OSHA classifies a scissor lift as a mobile scaffold. However, it serves the same purpose as aerial lifts like boom lifts – to lift workers and materials up and down.

However, a scissor lift can only lift vertically. A boom lift, can extend horizontally and vertically. Its capacity is limited, but it’s more versatile, and models are available that can reach worksites much farther off the ground than a scissor lift can access.
Man lifts are similar to boom lifts but can be more limited in what they can do. For instance, boom lifts often have larger platforms and can attach to work trucks.