Not all lifts are made the same. Some are for indoor use only and best for small warehouses, while others are ready to take on sloping outdoor job sites. Some can only hold a couple of people with a few tools and others are made to carry an entire crew.
If you want to find the best scissor lift, it’s a good idea to understand what kinds of jobs different scissor lift sizes are best for.
MAK Equipment is pleased to provide a quick rundown, organized by working height.
19 Foot Scissor Lift – 500 Lb. Capacity
The typical 19’ scissor lift has a 500 lb. overall platform capacity. The extension deck on a lift this size can usually hold somewhere around 250 lbs.
The maximum platform occupancy is usually only 1-2 people. This is best for a couple of workers with light equipment only.
These units are electric, compact, and ideal for indoor use in tight spaces. These are the nimblest scissor lifts you can get. It’s easy to maneuver them around narrow warehouse lanes and get into otherwise inaccessible areas.
A working height of 19’ can reach up to the ceiling in certain facilities. So, this lift is suitable for getting any high-level electrical wiring or ductwork done.
26 Foot Scissor Lift – 500 Lb. Capacity
A 26’ lift with a 500 lb. overall platform capacity have a maximum platform occupancy of 1-2 people and a maximum deck extension capacity of around 250 lbs.
These lifts are great for when a couple of workers need to access higher areas like building exteriors, scaffolding, siding, or windows.
Not all 26’ lifts are appropriate for outdoor use. But these models are electric and still small enough to go through aisles and doorways without a problem.
26 Foot Scissor Lift – 1,000 Lb. Capacity
A 26’ lift with a 1,000 lb. platform capacity will be wider than the 500 lb. models. These can still be used indoors but won’t be able to fit in as many areas or get through aisles.
You can do some real heavy-duty outdoor work with a lift this size, even using one to construct scaffolding or pour concrete.
But these often have a 250 lb. deck extension capacity. So, there are some limitations with these lifts.
32 Foot Scissor Lift – 500 Lb. Capacity
32’ scissor lifts with a 500 lb. capacity are versatile enough for either indoor or outdoor use. These units are small enough to fit through standard doorways and aisles.
If you need something that can handle facility maintenance or warehousing jobs, this is the right unit to go with.
Outside, they can reach as high as telephone lines or power lines. These are also great for handling construction beams or stripping forms.
However, some units this size have a smaller outdoor platform capacity. A scissor lift that can hold 500 lbs. indoors may have a maximum outdoor capacity of around 250 lbs.
32 Foot Scissor Lift – 1,000 Lb. Capacity
This is the size and load capacity where you start to get lifts with more durability for outdoor use.
You still have electric options that are great for indoor use and anything your warehouse needs to get done.
But you can also get rough terrain models with diesel or dual fuel gas/propane engines. These models can be used at 45-50% gradeability.
40 Foot Scissor Lift – 700 or 1,000 Lb. Capacity
There are several scissor lifts with a working height of around 40’. The typical platform capacity at this size will be either 700 or 1,000 lbs.
Electric 40’ scissor lifts are at home in medium and large industrial facilities. The 700 lb. capacity units have a smaller footprint and are nimble enough to get warehousing jobs done.
Electric units can still be used outdoors on slabs and are excellent at handling beam work and other tasks that require agility. These will last an entire day when charged overnight.
If you need a scissor lift that can maneuver around the site, then a rough terrain unit is the way to go. One with a 1,000 lb. capacity will be able to carry up to 4 people.
45 Foot Scissor Lift – 750 Lb. Capacity
A 45’ lift isn’t the highest you can get. And 750 lb. is half the load capacity of other models. But this can be the sweet spot for some enterprises.
Electric options are available and a model this size still has a small enough footprint to be used indoors. It’s nimble, accurate, and handles materials precisely.
It can still be taken outdoors, as long as the ground is level. And with a maximum occupancy of 3 people, a lift this size can be more practical than smaller models.
50 Foot Scissor Lift – 1,000 to 1500 Lb. Capacity
Scissor lifts currently get as high as around 50 feet which is somewhere near the height of a five-story building. These lifts come with either diesel engines or dual propane/gas power.
A lift this size is good for exterior building maintenance, heavy-duty industrial sites, and almost any kind of construction job.
These units are built to work outdoors and move around the site. It’s an ideal choice for work that requires transporting heavy equipment or materials over a distance.
A lift this size usually has a maximum platform occupancy of 4 people. So, this is the unit to go with when the project requires multiple workers with heavy equipment.
Lift size and load capacity are two of the first things to consider when evaluating scissor lifts. Also, think about the environment it needs to be used in.
MAK Equipment can help find the right scissor lift for you, just
send us a message.
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