How Much Does a Scissor Lift Weigh? A Complete Guide

Most scissor lifts fall anywhere between 1,500 and 16,000 lbs. Some scissor lifts can easily be transported on a standard trailer, while heavier models may require flatbed trucks and other specialized handling equipment.

At Zuma, we understand that the scissor lift's weight plays a big factor in transport planning, as some weight ranges may involve compliance considerations, such as a requirement for a road transport permit. 

We’ve put together this complete guide to give you a clear understanding of scissor lift weight and its practical implications. At the end, you’ll learn:

• The typical weight ranges for compact, mid-size, and heavy-duty models

• How platform height, materials, and power type influence overall scissor lift weight

• Practical considerations for transport, floor loading, and jobsite maneuverability

Scissor lift weight varies by size. Some taller lifts are built with heavier structural support, while some are compact and lightweight. Knowing the weight of your scissor lifts can help ensure your floor load rating isn’t exceeded and that you’re aware of the proper equipment needed to transport them before you own one. 

Below, you’ll find detailed charts and breakdowns designed to answer every question about scissor lift weight.

Weight is one of the most overlooked factors when purchasing a scissor lift, just like many first-time buyers are surprised by how heavy a scissor lift can get. 

Smart equipment owners understand the importance of understanding these weights early on, as it can help avoid issues such as transporting them in the wrong trailer, damaging finished floors, or placing a lift on soft ground that won't be able to support it safely.

The table below highlights the weight range for each common lift size. To help make the numbers feel more tangible, we’ve also included comparisons to everyday equipment, allowing you to quickly visualize the weight of each lift category.

Remember that there could be a discrepancy of several hundred pounds, depending on the specific brand and model, from this baseline chart. Read our scissor lift sizes guide if you’re keen for a more detailed breakdown of their dimensions and working heights. 

19’ scissor lift weighs between 2,700 and 3,500 lbs. This scissor lift category is often electric slab models, which are designed to be compact for easy maneuverability in tight spaces and to prevent damage to smooth indoor floors. 

This scissor lift doesn’t require a heavy-duty trailer for transport; any standard equipment trailer rated for 7,000 to 10,000 lbs can practically handle one to two units at the same time. The 19’ scissor lift weight is also within indoor floor load limits, which is why they’re most preferred in retail spaces and warehouses.

Small scissor lifts with this size range are preferred for their tight turning radius and compact footprint, but never compromise on quality. 

26’ scissor lifts are heavier than the 19’ scissor lifts and are larger in size as well. Electric slab models in this range alone weigh between 5,000 and 6,000 lbs, while the rough terrain models are as heavy as 7,000 to 9,000 lbs. 

The electric slab models of this height range are built for indoor use. They come with non-marking tires, compact frames, zero emissions, and quiet operation. And the rough-terrain models often have larger diesel or dual-fuel engines and heavy-duty pneumatic tires, which are a better fit for outdoor job sites with uneven ground.

Scissor lifts from the 30 to 46-foot range typically weigh between 8,000 to 12,000 lbs, while the 50-foot industrial models can exceed 15,000 lbs. These larger scissor lift categories have more robust hydraulic systems, thicker structural steel, and up to 6 to 8 feet long platform decks that can accommodate multiple workers safely.

Most states have weight limits of around 10,000 lbs for non-commercial trailers, and a lift this size often requires transportation permits. Explore large scissor lifts to know more before considering a purchase. 

The weight of a scissor lift refers to how heavy the equipment itself is, while the scissor lift weight capacity, commonly known as scissor lift capacity, tells you how much the platform can actually hold. 

The machine’s own weight is simply the scissor lift weight, and the scissor lift weight capacity is how much weight the lift can safely raise. This includes you, your tools, materials, and any other person on the platform.

There is a scissor lift weight limit for the lift’s capacity. This limit can range anywhere from 800 to 2,200 lbs, depending on the size and brand of the equipment.

There are a lot of factors why a scissor lift’s weight increases. Each component of a scissor lift is engineered to support the machine’s stability, and one of the big contributors to the lift’s overall weight is its working height. 

As a scissor lift reaches higher height ranges, its structure, frames, and systems become bigger to keep the platform stable at full elevation. Generally, anything that allows the lift to carry more weight adds to the machine’s own mass. Let’s look at some of the other factors that add weight to scissor lifts:

What powers the lift is a big mass that adds to the general weight of a scissor lift. Like how electric scissor lifts have lighter and compact electric motors than rough-terrain units with combustion engines and oversized fuel tanks.

Diesel and rough terrain scissor lifts are for heavy-duty tasks situated on challenging surfaces. They are built with thicker metals and frames to stay stable even on uneven ground and heavier tasks.

There are no two scissor lift models that equal each other’s weights. Every brand builds its lifts with different frame materials, power systems, hydraulic designs, and structural reinforcements. Every upgrade they do means adding another component.

Below are some of the most in-demand models across industry-leading brands widely used in the United States, with an overview of how each of them weighs: 

Scissor lifts don’t just get heavy because of their size alone, but because of all the little extra features built into them that help improve their stability and performance. The most capable one will always weigh more, as our customers say. 

Below are the common features and attachments that add another layer of weight to a scissor lift:

• Outriggers/stabilizers: steel supports for better balance on uneven surfaces

• Dual-fuel or larger engines: heavier powertrains designed for rough-terrain conditions

• High-capacity battery packs: bigger amp-hour batteries for longer runtime

• Foam-filled or pneumatic tires: weightier alternatives to standard non-marking tires

• Extended platform decks: added steel sections that increase reach

• Reinforced guardrails: thicker rail systems for higher working heights

• Higher hydraulic oil capacity: larger reservoirs and stronger pumps

• Cold-weather packages: heaters, insulated lines, and oil warmers

• Onboard chargers or generator systems: integrated power sources for remote sites

• Telematics modules: GPS and monitoring units with brackets and casings

Knowing the weight of a scissor lift is a preventive way to avoid damaging warehouse floors, overloading slabs, or putting it on a surface it wasn’t designed for. A scissor lift that’s too heavy for the ground you’re working on can crack concrete, overload elevated floors, or damage warehouse slabs.

The weight of a scissor lift dictates the legal and safety requirements needed to transport it. Most states have strict weight thresholds for non-commercial trailers, which means heavier units like rough-terrain and other high-reaching models may require a dual-axle trailer, a higher-capacity truck, or even special transport permits.

DOT’s regulations set maximums to 20,000 lbs on a single axle trailer and 34,000 lbs on a tandem axle trailer, as part of the federally mandated weight limits to ensure permit-free transportation. 

Most job sites have flooring or slabs with a defined load rating usually measured in pounds per square foot (PSF). When a scissor lift’s weight exceeds that limit, the pressure it’s going to sustain can cause deflection, cracking, and long-term weakening of the surrounding structure.

To ensure safe operation, start by checking the floor’s PSF rating in engineering or building plans, then compare this rating against the scissor lift’s weight and platform load. 

For heavier lifts, always consider the use of load distribution aids such as plywood sheets, steel plates, or load-spreading mats to reduce the concentrated pressure points on the flooring. 

Even if a floor or outdoor ground surface can support the scissor lift’s total weight in writing, concentrated loads under the tires, outriggers, or scissor arms can create high-pressure points that would be the cause of damage to asphalt, concrete, or softer ground. 

Over time, repeated use in the same location can cause rutting, cracking, or settlement, which can compromise both the worksite and the scissor lift’s stability. 

There are three ways you can double-check the scissor lift’s weight to ensure compliance with floor load limits, trailer capacities, and safety standards. These ways may involve looking through documentation, direct equipment inspection, or a last resort, consulting an expert. 

The sections below contain details on how and where you can find every scissor lift’s weights in different ways.

The exact weight of a scissor lift can be found by examining the compliance plate, sometimes called the specification plate or data plate. This compliance plate may look like a durable sticker or a small metal attached to the scissor lift, and it contains official information about its weight, rated capacity, and other specs.

Steps to Inspecting the Compliance Plate Location:

1. Locate the Plate: Usually on the base, chassis, scissor stack, or near the operator’s controls.

2. Identify Key Information: Look for operating weight, platform capacity, model, and power source.

3. Confirm Accuracy: Compare the numbers with documentation or rental information and note any attachments.

The quickest way to know exactly how much a scissor lift weighs is by checking the manufacturer’s spec sheet. This may be the most old school way to look for the lift’s weight, but many still do this in practice. 

These documents are provided to contain important details not just the scissor lift’s operating weight, but also other important details such as platform capacity, dimensions, power source, and even optional features or attachments that can add to its overall weight.

The most direct way to know more about the scissor lift’s weight is to ask someone who knows the equipment well. Zuma Sales’ team of experts is always available to answer any questions you might have on scissor lifts. 

We take the time to understand your specific needs, recommend options you can choose from, and clarify any questions about attachments, platform capacity, or lift height. Reach out to Zuma today for a personalized consultation and get the professional guidance you need to choose the right scissor lift with confidence.

At Zuma Sales, we make sure our recommendations make sense both on paper and on-site. We do this by assessing your job site requirements and aligning potential model matches with your budget and needs. 

Here are more reasons to choose Zuma Sales:

• Expert Guidance: Help you navigate brands, models, and lift types and provide recommendations based on project needs and operational constraints.

• 24/7 Online Support: Immediate answers to urgent questions. Assistance for planning, troubleshooting, or comparing units anytime, even outside business hours.

• Industry-Leading Brand Selection: Direct access to top manufacturers. Several options across multiple brands for both new and used units.

• Compliance-Focused: Advises on permits, trailer requirements, and site preparation to avoid operational or legal issues.

• Flexible Financing Options: Tailored payment plans that fit project budgets for both new and used units.

• Nationwide Delivery: Shipping across the country, coordinates with logistics so equipment arrives on time.