Scissor Lift Rental

A scissor lift rental gives you a stable work platform that rises straight up for ceiling, wall and overhead work, indoors or outdoors. Choose electric for smooth indoor floors or rough terrain for outdoor sites, and make sure operators are trained before you book.

What a scissor lift is used for

Scissor lifts raise one or more workers and their tools on a wide, railed deck. Contractors use them for installing lighting, ductwork, sprinkler pipe and drywall ceilings, painting high walls, hanging signs, cleaning warehouse fixtures and stocking high shelves. Event crews use them to rig lighting and banners. Because the deck is roomy, they are often safer and faster than a ladder or rolling scaffold for overhead work that takes more than a few minutes.

A scissor lift only goes straight up. If you need to reach up and out over an obstacle, a roofline or a vehicle, you need a boom lift instead. See the boom lift rental guide for articulating, telescopic and towable booms.

Types and sizes

Mast lifts, sometimes called personnel lifts, are vertical lifts with a small platform for a single worker. They fit through standard doors and into spaces a scissor lift cannot, but carry less weight and less material.

How to choose the right scissor lift

• Work out your height. Measure to where you need to work, then compare that to the platform height listed by the supplier.
• Check the deck and capacity. Count people, tools and materials, and make sure the total stays under the rated load.
• Measure the access route. Doorways, elevators, aisles and gates all limit how wide and tall the stowed lift can be.
• Check the floor. Slab lifts need a firm, level surface; anything soft, sloped or rough calls for a rough terrain model.
• Electric versus fuel. Electric units are quiet and emission-free, so they suit indoor work. Fuel-powered rough terrain units belong outdoors.
• Indoor or outdoor rating. Some slab lifts are rated for indoor use only because of wind. Check the decal or ask the supplier.

How to use a scissor lift

1. Make sure every operator has been trained. OSHA requires employers to train workers who operate aerial lifts, and the operator should also be familiarized with this specific machine.
2. Do a pre-use check: tires, guardrails, gate, controls, emergency stop, battery charge or fuel, and any leaks.
3. Inspect the work area for holes, slopes, drop-offs, debris and overhead hazards, and keep well clear of power lines, at least 10 feet and more for higher voltages.
4. Close the entry gate or chain, keep both feet on the deck and follow the manufacturer's and supplier's fall protection guidance.
5. Test the controls at ground level: drive, steer, raise, lower and the emergency stop.
6. Raise the platform only on firm, level ground, and drive slowly while elevated, only where the machine allows it.
7. Lower fully before driving any distance, on any slope or near edges.
8. When finished, lower the platform, park on level ground, turn off the key and plug an electric unit in to charge if the supplier asks.

Mistakes to avoid

• Standing on the guardrails or putting a ladder or bucket on the deck to reach higher. That defeats the guardrails and is a common cause of falls.
• Driving with the platform raised over uneven ground, near holes or across a ramp, which can tip the lift.
• Overloading the deck with drywall, pipe or tools beyond the rated capacity.
• Using an indoor-only slab lift outside on a windy day.
• Forgetting overhead clearance and pinning yourself or the deck against beams, ductwork or a ceiling.
• Leaving the gate open or climbing in and out while the platform is raised.

Pro tips

• Load materials before you go up and organize them so you are not leaning over the rail to reach them.
• Plan your work in rows so you lower, move and raise as few times as possible.
• On electric lifts, charge overnight every night of the rental. A dead battery mid-ceiling can cost you half a day.
• Put down floor protection on finished floors and ask the supplier for non-marking tires.

For quick tasks or tight stairwells, a scaffolding rental can be a better fit. If the job is hanging sheets of ceiling drywall, look at a drywall lift rental as well.

Tips before you rent

• Confirm delivery, unloading and pickup times, and whether someone must be on site to receive the lift.
• Ask whether the supplier offers a familiarization walkthrough at drop-off.
• Check that the lift fits through every doorway and elevator on the way to the work area.
• Ask about charging for electric units and fueling for rough terrain units.
• Have a ground person on hand to watch for traffic, overhead hazards and people walking under the platform.

How to find a scissor lift rental near you

Rates are set by each supplier and vary by platform height, power type, rental length, location and delivery. Use the Browse equipment button to search by your city and rental dates on the Derental marketplace. Compare suppliers by location, delivery options and rates, check the platform height and capacity on each listing, and request the rental online.