Both boom lifts and scissor lifts get workers off the ground. Beyond that, they're designed for very different applications. Renting the wrong one costs you time and money — and in some cases, puts the job at risk if the machine can't reach where you need to go.
What Is a Scissor Lift?
Scissor lifts move straight up and down. The platform rises vertically from a compact base, making them ideal for work directly above the machine's footprint. They're stable, wide-platformed, and handle two workers plus tools.
Best uses:
- Interior finishing work — drywall, painting, lighting
- Warehouse operations — picking, inventory, racking
- Rooftop access on flat surfaces
- Commercial construction on concrete or packed gravel
Not great for: reaching over obstacles, working at angles, or accessing areas offset from the machine's position.
What Is a Boom Lift?
Boom lifts extend outward and upward on an articulating or telescoping arm. This gives you horizontal reach — meaning you can position the machine on the ground and have the platform extend over, around, or past obstacles.
Best uses:
- Exterior building work — painting, cladding, window installation
- Steel erection and structural work
- Bridge, tower, and infrastructure maintenance
- Any work where you need to reach over an obstacle or setback
Not great for: tight indoor spaces where a wide turning radius is a problem, or very large work platforms with two or more workers.
How to Decide
Ask yourself: do I need to work directly above the machine, or do I need to reach horizontally past something? If directly above — scissor lift. If you need to reach over something — boom lift.
Height requirements matter too. Scissor lifts go up to about 46 ft. Boom lifts go up to 135 ft. For anything above 46 ft, you need a boom lift regardless.
Rent From HD Equipment Rental
HD Equipment Rental carries scissor lifts from 19 ft to 46 ft and boom lifts from 30 ft to 135 ft at our Hawthorne and Sun Valley locations. Call (424) 269-0703 for same-day delivery across Los Angeles and Southern California.
