The scissor lift is the mobile elevating work platform configuration with purely vertical lifting motion — the work basket is pushed upwards by a scissor mechanism of multiple crossed struts. Characteristic: large platform area (typically 2.3-3.5 m² depending on model) and higher load capacity than boom lifts (typically 300-750 kg versus 200-250 kg). Ideal for work with tool and material requirement and multiple people in the basket.
Types: electric scissor lifts for indoor use (hall, warehouse, indoor construction) with typical working heights 6-14 m — JLG ES1932/ES2632, Genie GS-1932/GS-3246, Skyjack SJ3219/SJ4740, Haulotte Compact 8/10. Diesel or hybrid rough-terrain scissor lifts for outdoor sites with all-wheel drive and diesel engine up to 22 m working height — JLG 4394RT/6394RT/8394RT, Genie GS-4390RT/GS-5390RT, Haulotte Compact 12DX. Skyjack, with a broad range of compact and standard scissor lifts, is the global volume market leader in the segment.
Core parameters: electric indoor platform 10 m working height: platform 2.3×1.2 m, capacity 320 kg, machine weight 1,400-1,900 kg (light enough for lift transport on high-rise sites), 24-V battery with 4-6 h runtime, charging 6-8 h at 230 V. Diesel rough-terrain platform 18 m working height: platform 4.3×1.8 m, capacity 680 kg, diesel engine 20-30 kW, machine weight 5,500-7,200 kg — transport by trailer or truck required.
Applications: electric scissor lift: ceiling lighting, sprinkler maintenance, indoor painting, shopfitting, shelf assembly. Rough-terrain scissor lift: façade work, window installation, advertising installation, maintenance of industrial halls and workshops, church renovation. The scissor lift is economically superior when many tools and multiple tradespeople work on the platform — the boom lift wins for complex reach or overhead access.
Rental and purchase: electric scissor lift 8 m new price EUR 12,000-16,000, weekly rental EUR 220-320. 12 m electric platform new EUR 18,000-24,000, weekly rental EUR 320-460. Diesel rough-terrain platform 12 m new EUR 32,000-42,000, weekly rental EUR 350-490. Diesel platform 18 m new EUR 58,000-78,000, weekly rental EUR 590-820. DACH rental companies: HKL Baumaschinen, Zeppelin Rental, Boels, Kiloutou, Nagel and Rehm dominate with fleets of several thousand scissor lifts each.
Electrification and digitalisation: electric scissor lifts have been standard indoors for years. From 2023, battery rough-terrain is taking hold: JLG DaVinci series, Genie GS-2632E ELECT, Skyjack SJ12 E-Drive — with diesel-comparable runtimes (6-8 h) and by now similar prices. Digital fleet-management systems with position tracking and hour recording have been standard on brand-name platforms since 2024 and are used by rental companies for maintenance planning.