Working height vs platform height
Every access platform has two heights: how high the platform floor goes, and how high a person standing on it can work. Of the 53 lifts we list whose maker publishes both figures, 51 have a working height exactly two metres above the platform height. The 2 exceptions are the Skyjack SJ45 T 15.6m diesel telescopic boom lift (15.6m working, 13.77m platform, a 1.83m gap) and the MEC Titan 60-S 20m diesel telescopic boom lift (20m working, 18.3m platform, a 1.7m gap). Every figure here matches a machine page on this site.
The two heights
Makers quote both, and they are easy to mix up.
Platform height
Platform height is how high the floor of the basket or deck goes at full extension. It is where your feet are.
Working height
Working height is the height a person standing on the platform can work at. Makers add an allowance for a person standing and reaching to the platform height, so working height is always the higher figure.
How big is the gap?
Of the 53 lifts we list whose maker publishes both figures, 51 have a working height exactly two metres above the platform height. The 2 exceptions are the Skyjack SJ45 T 15.6m diesel telescopic boom lift (15.6m working, 13.77m platform, a 1.83m gap) and the MEC Titan 60-S 20m diesel telescopic boom lift (20m working, 18.3m platform, a 1.7m gap).
34 of the lifts we list show a working height but no platform height, including scissor lifts, articulated booms, telescopic booms, spider lifts and trailer mounts. We only show heights copied from the maker's data sheet, or the guaranteed height of a class listing, and never work one out, so for those lifts compare on working height.
Which figure to use
Compare machines on working height: every lift we list with a height has one, while some have no platform height. Match it to the highest point you need to work at, and check the outreach too if the work is set back from where the machine can stand.
Which lift do I need? Free tool
Enter your height, outreach, ground and access width and get the right class of lift with live prices.
How far can a cherry picker reach?
Outreach and up-and-over height for every boom we list.
Working and platform height of every lift we list
Lifts whose maker publishes both figures, lowest working height first. Each row links to the machine page with the drawing, specification and price.
| Machine | Type | Working height | Platform height | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pecolift 3.5m push-around mast lift | Mast lift | 3.5m (11ft 6in) | 1.5m (4ft 11in) | 2m |
| Ecolift 4.2m push-around mast lift | Mast lift | 4.2m (13ft 9in) | 2.2m (7ft 3in) | 2m |
| Power Towers Nano 4.5m electric mast lift | Mast lift | 4.5m (14ft 9in) | 2.5m (8ft 2in) | 2m |
| Power Towers Nano SP Plus 4.5m electric mast lift | Mast lift | 4.5m (14ft 9in) | 2.5m (8ft 2in) | 2m |
| 4.55m push-around scissor lift | Scissor lift | 4.55m (14ft 11in) | 2.55m (8ft 4in) | 2m |
| Power Towers Power Tower 5.1m electric mast lift | Mast lift | 5.1m (16ft 9in) | 3.1m (10ft 2in) | 2m |
| 5.2m push-around scissor lift | Scissor lift | 5.2m (17ft 1in) | 3.2m (10ft 6in) | 2m |
| Skyjack SJ12 5.66m electric mast lift | Mast lift | 5.66m (18ft 7in) | 3.66m (12ft) | 2m |
| Genie GR-15 6.47m electric mast lift | Mast lift | 6.47m (21ft 3in) | 4.47m (14ft 8in) | 2m |
| Skyjack SJ16 vertical mast lift | Mast lift | 6.75m (22ft 2in) | 4.75m (15ft 7in) | 2m |
| Genie GS-1932 electric scissor lift | Scissor lift | 7.64m (25ft 1in) | 5.64m (18ft 6in) | 2m |
| Skyjack SJ3219 electric scissor lift | Scissor lift | 7.65m (25ft 1in) | 5.65m (18ft 6in) | 2m |
| Genie GR-20 Runabout mast lift | Mast lift | 8.02m (26ft 4in) | 6.02m (19ft 9in) | 2m |
| Skyjack SJ3226 9.79m electric scissor lift | Scissor lift | 9.79m (32ft 1in) | 7.79m (25ft 7in) | 2m |
| Genie GS-2632 electric scissor lift | Scissor lift | 9.85m (32ft 4in) | 7.85m (25ft 9in) | 2m |
| Skyjack SJ4626 9.92m electric scissor lift | Scissor lift | 9.92m (32ft 7in) | 7.92m (26ft) | 2m |
| Skyjack SJ6826 RT 9.92m diesel scissor lift | Scissor lift | 9.92m (32ft 7in) | 7.92m (26ft) | 2m |
| Haulotte Star 10 10m electric mast lift | Mast lift | 10m (32ft 10in) | 8m (26ft 3in) | 2m |
| 11m push-around personnel lift | Mast lift | 11m (36ft 1in) | 9m (29ft 6in) | 2m |
| Skyjack SJ30 ARJE 11m electric articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 11m (36ft 1in) | 9m (29ft 6in) | 2m |
| Genie Z-30/20N 11.14m electric articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 11.14m (36ft 7in) | 9.14m (30ft) | 2m |
| 11.2m electric mast boom lift | Mast lift | 11.2m (36ft 9in) | 9.2m (30ft 2in) | 2m |
| Skyjack SJ4632 11.75m electric scissor lift | Scissor lift | 11.75m (38ft 7in) | 9.75m (32ft) | 2m |
| Skyjack SJ6832 RT 11.75m diesel scissor lift | Scissor lift | 11.75m (38ft 7in) | 9.75m (32ft) | 2m |
| 12m electric articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 12m (39ft 4in) | 10m (32ft 10in) | 2m |
| Niftylift HR12 4x4 12.1m hybrid articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 12.1m (39ft 8in) | 10.1m (33ft 2in) | 2m |
| Genie Z-34/22N 12.52m electric articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 12.52m (41ft 1in) | 10.52m (34ft 6in) | 2m |
| 14.1m diesel telescopic boom lift | Telescopic boom | 14.07m (46ft 2in) | 12.07m (39ft 7in) | 2m |
| 14.3m push-around personnel lift | Mast lift | 14.3m (46ft 11in) | 12.3m (40ft 4in) | 2m |
| 15.1m diesel rough terrain scissor lift | Scissor lift | 15.11m (49ft 7in) | 13.11m (43ft) | 2m |
| Skyjack SJ45 T 15.6m diesel telescopic boom lift | Telescopic boom | 15.6m (51ft 2in) | 13.77m (45ft 2in) | 1.83m |
| Niftylift HR15 4x4 15.7m hybrid articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 15.7m (51ft 6in) | 13.7m (44ft 11in) | 2m |
| JLG 450AJ diesel articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 15.72m (51ft 7in) | 13.72m (45ft) | 2m |
| Genie Z-45/25 15.87m hybrid articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 15.87m (52ft 1in) | 13.87m (45ft 6in) | 2m |
| Skyjack SJ46 AJ 16.1m diesel articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 16.1m (52ft 10in) | 14.1m (46ft 3in) | 2m |
| Niftylift HR17 4x4 17.2m hybrid articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 17.2m (56ft 5in) | 15.2m (49ft 10in) | 2m |
| Dingli 1823DC RT 18m electric scissor lift | Scissor lift | 18m (59ft 1in) | 16m (52ft 6in) | 2m |
| 18.15m diesel rough terrain scissor lift | Scissor lift | 18.15m (59ft 7in) | 16.15m (53ft) | 2m |
| MEC Titan 60-S 20m diesel telescopic boom lift | Telescopic boom | 20m (65ft 7in) | 18.3m (60ft) | 1.7m |
| Genie Z-60/37 FE 20.16m hybrid articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 20.16m (66ft 2in) | 18.16m (59ft 7in) | 2m |
| JLG M600J 20.36m hybrid telescopic boom lift | Telescopic boom | 20.36m (66ft 10in) | 18.36m (60ft 3in) | 2m |
| JLG 600AJ 20.42m diesel articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 20.42m (67ft) | 18.42m (60ft 5in) | 2m |
| Niftylift HR21 4x4 20.8m hybrid articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 20.8m (68ft 3in) | 18.8m (61ft 8in) | 2m |
| Genie Z-62/40 20.87m diesel articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 20.87m (68ft 6in) | 18.87m (61ft 11in) | 2m |
| Skyjack SJ63 AJ 21.38m diesel articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 21.38m (70ft 2in) | 19.38m (63ft 7in) | 2m |
| JLG 660SJ 22.02m diesel telescopic boom lift | Telescopic boom | 22.02m (72ft 3in) | 20.02m (65ft 8in) | 2m |
| Genie Z-80/60 25.77m diesel articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 25.77m (84ft 7in) | 23.77m (78ft) | 2m |
| 26.4m diesel articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 26.38m (86ft 7in) | 24.38m (80ft) | 2m |
| 28m hybrid articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 28m (91ft 10in) | 26m (85ft 4in) | 2m |
| 31.8m diesel articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 31.8m (104ft 4in) | 29.8m (97ft 9in) | 2m |
| JLG 1250AJP 40.3m diesel articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 40.3m (132ft 3in) | 38.3m (125ft 8in) | 2m |
| 43.2m diesel articulated boom lift | Articulated boom | 43.15m (141ft 7in) | 41.15m (135ft) | 2m |
| JLG 1850SJ 58.56m diesel telescopic boom lift | Telescopic boom | 58.56m (192ft 2in) | 56.56m (185ft 7in) | 2m |
Choosing the rest of the machine
Height is one figure. Reach, weight on the platform and the way in decide the rest.
Cherry picker and scissor lift sizes
Working height ranges for every type, in metres and feet.
How much weight can a lift carry?
Platform capacity of every lift we list, in kilograms.
Stowed size and machine weight for doorways, gates and floors.
Questions
- What is the difference between working height and platform height?
- Platform height is how high the floor of the basket or deck goes at full extension. It is where your feet are. Working height is the height a person standing on the platform can work at. Makers add an allowance for a person standing and reaching to the platform height, so working height is always the higher figure.
- Is working height always two metres more than platform height?
- Usually, but not always. Of the 53 lifts we list whose maker publishes both figures, 51 have a working height exactly two metres above the platform height. The 2 exceptions are the Skyjack SJ45 T 15.6m diesel telescopic boom lift (15.6m working, 13.77m platform, a 1.83m gap) and the MEC Titan 60-S 20m diesel telescopic boom lift (20m working, 18.3m platform, a 1.7m gap). Check the machine page for the maker's figures.
- Which height should I use to choose a lift?
- Compare machines on working height: every lift we list with a height has one, while some have no platform height. Match it to the highest point you need to work at, and check the outreach too if the work is set back from where the machine can stand.
- Why do some lifts show only a working height?
- 34 of the lifts we list show a working height but no platform height, including scissor lifts, articulated booms, telescopic booms, spider lifts and trailer mounts. We only show heights copied from the maker's data sheet, or the guaranteed height of a class listing, and never work one out, so for those lifts compare on working height.
Ready to choose? See every machine by working height