Types of Scissor Lifts & Weight Capacity

EKKO electric scissor lift, one of several scissor lift types

Types of Scissor Lifts (And How Much They Weigh)

Scissor lifts split into a handful of types by power source — electric, diesel, rough terrain, hydraulic, and pneumatic — each suited to a different jobsite. Here's how they differ, which type Iron Line actually carries, and the real numbers behind two questions people always ask next: how much weight can one hold, and how much does the lift itself weigh.

The Main Types of Scissor Lifts

Scissor lift types are generally sorted by how they're powered, since that determines where and how they can be used:

Electric scissor lifts run on battery power, operate quietly with zero emissions, and are built for smooth indoor floors — warehouses, retail, facility maintenance. They're generally lighter and have a smaller footprint than fuel-powered lifts, which also means a somewhat lower weight capacity.

Diesel scissor lifts trade quiet, emissions-free operation for more power, higher weight capacity, and larger platforms. The tradeoff is noise and exhaust, which generally confines them to outdoor jobsites or well-ventilated spaces.

Rough terrain scissor lifts are built with heavy-duty tires, and often four-wheel drive, to handle uneven ground, slopes, and mud. Most run on diesel or gas, though electric rough-terrain models exist too. They typically carry higher weight capacities and reach greater heights than standard indoor electric lifts.

Hydraulic scissor lifts use hydraulic fluid pressure to raise and lower the platform. Many are lightweight and simple to operate; some are mobile, while others — like the lifts bolted into a shop floor at an auto repair bay — are permanently anchored rather than driven around a site.

Pneumatic scissor lifts use compressed air instead of hydraulic fluid or a fuel engine. They're quiet and emission-free like electric lifts, and particularly useful where electrical power isn't available on site.

What Type Does Iron Line Carry?

Iron Line's current scissor lift lineup is entirely electric — either standard electric drive (EKKO's "E" models) or lithium-ion battery power (EKKO's "E-LI" models and GNT's full "LI" lineup). Every model is built for the indoor, smooth-floor use case: quiet, zero-emission operation, and on GNT models, non-marking tires specifically to protect finished warehouse and facility floors.

One honest gap worth flagging: Iron Line doesn't currently stock diesel, rough terrain, hydraulic-anchored, or pneumatic scissor lifts. If your job needs outdoor, uneven-terrain, or fuel-powered capability, that's not what this lineup is built for — give us a call at the number below and we can help point you toward the right equipment rather than squeeze a job into the wrong machine.

Scissor Lift Weight Capacity

"How much weight can a scissor lift hold" is about platform load capacity — the combined weight of workers, tools, and materials the platform is rated to carry. Across Iron Line's lineup, that scissor lift weight limit ranges from 500 lb on the compact 13-19 ft models up to 990 lb on the 26 ft EKKO ES80E.

One nuance worth knowing: capacity doesn't climb in a straight line with height. The 26 ft ES80E actually carries more (990 lb) than the taller 33 ft and 39 ft models (700 lb each) — a reminder that platform width and stability engineering matter as much as platform height when it comes to how much a given scissor lift can actually hold. Always check the specific model's rated capacity rather than assuming a taller lift automatically means a higher weight limit.

How Much Does a Scissor Lift Weigh?

This is a different question from weight capacity — it's about the lift's own service weight, which matters for floor load ratings, freight delivery, and trailer capacity if you're moving it yourself. Based on Iron Line's EKKO spec sheets, scissor lift weights across the lineup run from about 2,150 lbs on the compact 13 ft ES40E up to roughly 6,490 lbs on the 39 ft ES120E — the machine gets substantially heavier as platform height and capacity increase, which is worth factoring into any floor load or delivery-access planning before ordering.

Note: GNT's published spec sheets list platform height, capacity, and power source, but don't publish a service weight figure the way EKKO's do — if you need the exact shipping weight of a GNT model for a floor load calculation, call us and we'll track it down before you order.

How High Does a Scissor Lift Go?

Scissor lift height, measured as platform height, ranges from 13 ft up to 39 ft across Iron Line's lineup — the tallest scissor lift height we carry is the EKKO ES120E and GNT GS39-LI, both at 39 ft platform height. Industry-wide, taller rough-terrain and diesel models exist that reach well beyond that, but that's a different category of machine than the indoor electric lineup here. Working height — how high a worker can actually reach while standing on the platform — is generally estimated by adding about 6 ft to platform height.

Real Scissor Lift Models & Prices at Iron Line Tools

Model	Type	Platform Height	Weight Capacity	Service Weight	Price
EKKO ES40E	Electric	13 ft	500 lb	2,150 lbs	$11,198.00
GNT GS13-LI	Lithium-ion electric	13 ft	500 lb	Not published	$12,999.00
EKKO ES60E	Electric	19 ft	500 lb	3,256 lbs	$23,998.00
EKKO ES80E	Electric	26 ft	990 lb	5,412 lbs	$24,999.00
EKKO ES100E	Electric	33 ft	700 lb	6,204 lbs	$26,999.00
EKKO ES120E	Electric	39 ft	700 lb	6,490 lbs	$27,999.00
GNT GS39-LI	Lithium-ion electric	39 ft	700 lb	Not published	$27,999.00

EKKO ES40E compact electric scissor lift

EKKO ES80E mid-size electric scissor lift

GNT GS39-LI tall lithium-ion scissor lift

See the complete, current lineup in the Scissor Lifts collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What type of scissor lift does Iron Line sell?

A: Electric and lithium-ion electric only — EKKO's standard and lithium "E-LI" models and GNT's full lithium "LI" lineup. Iron Line doesn't currently carry diesel, rough terrain, hydraulic-anchored, or pneumatic scissor lifts.

Q: What's the difference between scissor lift weight capacity and how much a scissor lift weighs?

A: Weight capacity is how much the platform can carry (workers, tools, materials) — 500 to 990 lb across Iron Line's lineup. The lift's own weight is a separate number (its service weight), relevant for floor load and delivery planning — about 2,150 to 6,490 lbs across Iron Line's EKKO models.

Q: Are diesel or rough-terrain scissor lifts available at Iron Line?

A: Not currently. Iron Line's scissor lift lineup is 100% electric, built for indoor, smooth-floor work. For outdoor or rough-terrain jobs, call us and we can help point you to the right equipment.

Q: How much weight can a scissor lift hold?

A: It depends on the model. Iron Line's compact 13-19 ft models hold 500 lb, while the larger 26-39 ft models hold 700-990 lb, with the 26 ft EKKO ES80E rated highest at 990 lb.

Q: How much does a scissor lift weigh?

A: Across Iron Line's EKKO lineup, service weight runs from about 2,150 lbs on the smallest 13 ft model to about 6,490 lbs on the tallest 39 ft model.

Q: How high does a scissor lift go?

A: Iron Line's lineup runs from 13 ft to 39 ft of platform height. The tallest scissor lift height we carry is 39 ft, on the EKKO ES120E and GNT GS39-LI.