Boom Lift vs. Scissor Lift: Which One Does Your Job Need?
- EQS Service Team
- July 15, 2026
- 6:56 am
How Each Machine Moves
A scissor lift rises straight up on a crisscrossing metal frame — it goes exactly where the base is parked, and nowhere else. A boom lift adds an articulating or telescopic arm, so the platform can extend up, out, and over things the base can’t get close to.
That single difference in movement decides which machine actually works for a given job, more than horsepower, brand, or platform size ever will.
Side-by-Side Comparison
When to Choose a Boom Lift
- The work is over machinery, landscaping, or another structure you can't drive under
- The job site is uneven or unpaved
- You need to reach both up and sideways from one parking position
When to Choose a Scissor Lift
- The task is directly overhead — ceiling work, signage, warehouse racking
- The floor is flat and load-rated for the machine's footprint
- Multiple workers or heavier material need to ride the platform together
Not sure which lift fits your site? Our team will match the machine to the job before you rent.
Rental Cost at a Glance
Scissor lifts are generally the lower-cost rental of the two, since they’re mechanically simpler — one lift function, no articulating boom hydraulics to maintain. Boom lift pricing climbs with reach height and terrain rating, particularly for rough-terrain models used on unpaved sites.
Frequently Asked
Only if the work is directly overhead. Scissor lifts can’t reach up and over obstacles the way a boom lift’s articulating arm can.
Scissor lifts are typically the lower-cost rental, since they’re simpler machines with fewer hydraulic functions than a boom lift.
EQS Service Team
Written and reviewed by EQS LLC's certified JLG and Genie technicians, based in Levittown, PA. We service and rent aerial equipment across PA, NJ, NY and the Northeast.
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