Equipment Guides
Boom Lift vs. Scissor Lift: Which Should You Rent?
Boom lifts and scissor lifts both raise workers and tools, but they are designed for different kinds of access. The key question is whether the work is directly overhead or requires reaching around an obstacle.
Choose a scissor lift for vertical access
A scissor lift raises a platform mostly straight up. The platform is typically larger than a boom-lift basket, making it useful when multiple workers, tools, or materials need to be elevated together.
- Ceiling, lighting, sprinkler, and electrical work
- Warehouse and facility maintenance
- Installation along an open wall or building face
- Work requiring a larger platform and greater platform capacity
Indoor slab models are commonly selected for smooth, level floors. Rough-terrain scissor lifts are designed for outdoor conditions, but the surface, slope, and manufacturer limits still need to be reviewed.
Choose a boom lift for outreach
A boom lift moves its platform outward as well as upward. Telescopic booms provide long, direct outreach, while articulating booms bend around structures and obstacles. Boom lifts are useful where the machine cannot park directly below the work.
- Exterior building and sign work
- Access over landscaping, equipment, or lower roofs
- Steel erection and construction at varied heights
- Projects requiring side reach or obstacle clearance
Compare the jobsite requirements
| Need | Usually the better starting point |
|---|---|
| Travel mostly straight up | Scissor lift |
| Reach over or around an obstacle | Boom lift |
| Larger work platform | Scissor lift |
| Long horizontal outreach | Boom lift |
| Smooth indoor floor | Electric scissor or mast lift |
| Uneven outdoor terrain | Appropriately rated rough-terrain machine |
Measure working height—not just platform height
Rental listings may show platform height or working height. Working height is commonly estimated above the platform, but actual reach varies by worker and task. Confirm which measurement is being used and leave a sensible margin rather than selecting a machine that only barely reaches.
Questions to answer before renting
- What height and horizontal distance must be reached?
- Is the work indoors, outdoors, or both?
- What are the floor or ground conditions?
- Are there doorways, gates, overhead hazards, or weight restrictions?
- How many workers and how much material must the platform carry?
Browse BIGGS boom lifts and scissor and mast lifts, then contact us if you want help comparing options.
Need help choosing equipment?
Tell BIGGS Rentals what you need to lift, reach, move, or dig, along with your jobsite location and dates. We’ll help match the project to the right machine and provide a rental quote.
