Lift Calculator
What size scissor lift or boom lift do you need? Enter how high the work is and whether you are indoors or out. You get the platform height, the right type of lift, and the machines on our lot that fit.
Smooth floors, quiet electric drive, non-marking tires - and the narrow ones fit through doors.
The ceiling, light, sign or gutter you need to touch.
Industry standard - most people
Top 9 on our lot that fit
All scissor lifts →
2022 Snorkel S3215L 15 ft Electric Scissor Lift #0376
2017 Genie GR-20 15 ft Scissor Lift - 318 Hours
2018 JLG 1932R Electric Scissor Lift - 253 Hours
2019 Snorkel S3219E 19 ft Electric Scissor Lift - 352 Hours #6986
2018 Genie GS-1930 Electric Scissor Lift - 232 Hours
2018 Skyjack SJ3219 19 ft Electric Scissor Lift - 302 Hours
2021 MEC 1930SE 19 ft Electric Scissor Lift - 211 Hours
Genie GS-1930 19 ft Electric Scissor Lift (Used)
Skyjack SJIII 3219 19 ft Electric Scissor Lift (Used)
Common lift sizes
| Lift | Platform | Reaches about | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 ft electric scissor | 19 ft | 25 ft | Ceilings, lights, sprinklers indoors; fits a standard door |
| 26 ft electric scissor | 26 ft | 32 ft | Warehouses, gyms, retail; needs a wider door |
| 32 ft electric scissor | 32 ft | 38 ft | High-bay warehouses and shops |
| 26–33 ft rough-terrain scissor | 26–33 ft | 32–39 ft | Outdoor jobsites, framing, siding |
| 40–45 ft boom | 40–45 ft | 46–51 ft | Up and over: rooftops, signs, trees |
| 60 ft+ boom | 60 ft+ | 66 ft+ | Tall buildings, steel erection, big reach |
Lift questions
What is the difference between platform height and working height?
Platform height is how high the floor of the basket or deck goes. Working height is how high a person standing on it can reach. Manufacturers add 6 feet (the industry standard); a shorter or taller person reaches a bit less or more, which is why the calculator lets you pick 5, 6 or 7 feet. A 19 ft scissor lift gives most people about 25 ft of working height.
What size scissor lift do I need for a 20 foot ceiling?
Take 6 ft off the work height: a 20 ft ceiling needs about a 14 ft platform, so a 19 ft scissor lift (the most common size) reaches it with room to spare.
Scissor lift or boom lift?
A scissor lift only goes straight up, so it is the cheaper, steadier choice when you can drive right under the work. A boom lift reaches up and out - over a roof edge, a shelf, a ditch or a parked machine - and goes higher; scissor lifts top out around 50 ft.
Can I use an electric scissor lift outdoors?
On flat concrete or asphalt, yes. On dirt, gravel or a slope you need a rough-terrain scissor lift (bigger tires, 4-wheel drive, higher ground clearance) or a boom lift. Electric slab lifts have small solid tires and are built for smooth floors.
Will a scissor lift fit through a door?
A 19 ft electric scissor lift is about 30-32 in wide and fits through a standard commercial door. 26 ft and 32 ft slab lifts are about 46-47 in wide, and rough-terrain lifts are wider still, so they need a double or overhead door.
Not sure? Call (918) 359-1089 and tell us the job. Shipping a lift? See the freight cost calculator.