Scissor Lift Size, Height, & Weight Capacity: How To Choose The Right Lift For The Job

When you have a tough job to tackle high in the air, selecting the correct scissor lift size is important. These machines are quite helpful in a variety of applications. Some scissor lifts work well for indoor maintenance, while others are designed to get your crew high into the sky for outdoor work. Here’s an in-depth look at the various kinds of scissor lifts you can purchase or rent as you decide which machine is the right fit for your next job.

Standard Scissor Lift Sizes

By most industry measures, there are five common scissor lift size options on the market. The smallest is a 19-foot scissor lift. The next step up is a 26-foot model. Folks looking for a middle-of-the-pack option may find that a 32-foot scissor lift is the best match for their needs. The 45-foot models are great when you need access to spaces that are four floors off the ground. Finally, 50-foot models offer the greatest scissor lift height that you'll find commonly available.

A 19-foot scissor lift is great for tight spaces and indoor work. These smaller models generally only offer enough space for a few people to ride in them. Generally speaking, these scissor lifts are electric, meaning they won't fill an indoor workspace with harmful fumes. If you need to get more than a couple of workers in the air, a 26-foot scissor lift may be a better fit for your needs. These machines are great for trimming trees and reaching three-story ceilings to perform maintenance.

32-foot scissor lifts offer a great deal of flexibility. They can be used for simple tasks, like reaching the second story of a building to clean its windows, or for more complex industrial or construction jobs. These vehicles often come with rugged tires and all-wheel drive, making them well-suited to outdoor use, even on rough ground. 45-foot scissor lifts are similar but offer an additional 13 feet of possible height.

Finally, 50-foot scissor lifts are for crews that spend a lot of time doing things high off the ground. They offer the highest lift weight capacities and can generally fit several workers comfortably. Scissor lift load capacity is an important thing to keep in mind when picking the right machine for your next project.

Scissor Lift Types

There are a couple of ways to categorize these machines in addition to scissor lift size. First of all, scissor lifts can use different power sources. Some are electric, making them great candidates for indoor work, where their lack of fumes and quieter nature come into play. On the other hand, diesel-powered scissor lifts are generally more powerful than electric ones, but they are loud and often can’t be used indoors.

Scissor lift width is often closely tied to the vehicle's type of power source. Electric lifts can be narrower than diesel ones, allowing them to be used in tight spaces. This maneuverability can come at the expense of ruggedness, however. Diesel-powered scissor lifts are often equipped with all-wheel drive, allowing them to reach outdoor spaces that may be surrounded by difficult terrain.

Choosing the right scissor lift specifications for your work can be tough, but it’s important. If the lift is too large to fit in the warehouse you're renovating, you've got a problem. On the other hand, getting a maneuverable electric model for a job that will keep your crew outdoors may not be the way to go. You can always reach out to our professional staff to discuss your needs and the types of scissor lifts that are available.

We Offer the Right Scissor Lift Size for You

No matter the job, we've got the machines you need to get it done. Our offerings include scissor lift rental and sales options for every task. Our friendly team can help you figure out which scissor lift length will be appropriate for your job and whether an electric or fuel-powered model makes sense for your crew.

We hope that this discussion of scissor lift size options has been useful to you. When you're ready to buy or rent one of these work-ready machines, you'll find that we offer some of the best service out there. We are happy to sell or rent you the machine you need to tackle your next job and all of the ones that will come after it. You can call or visit us to review our inventory of scissor lifts today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the standard scissor lift sizes?

There are five common scissor lift size options on the market. They are:

• 19-foot
• 26-foot
• 32-foot
• 45-foot
• 50-foot

Each of these machines is perfect for certain jobs. A 19-foot model, for example, is great for indoor work. A 45-foot scissor lift, on the other hand, is great for trimming tall trees or performing maintenance outside many buildings.

How high can a scissor lift go?

The largest common scissor lift is a 50-foot-tall model. The crew standing in it will be able to reach a little higher than that, making the highest point a standard scissor lift can reach about 56 feet off the ground. Unless you're hoping to get most of the way up a skyscraper in your scissor lift, 56 feet is plenty high.

How much weight can a scissor lift hold?

The answer to this question depends on the scissor lift in question. Smaller models, like an electric 19-foot scissor lift, have lower weight capacities than larger diesel-powered machines. Reach out to our friendly team today to discuss the different scissor lift models we have available, so you can be sure to get the machine for your project.