How much does a lift weigh? Machine weight, floor and slab capacity

The weight of a lift decides three things: whether the machine can drive onto a hall floor, a car park deck or a roof, what to bring it on, and how to prepare the place where it will stand. Below we give the real weights of machines from our fleet (from the manufacturers' data sheets) and explain how to convert them into the load on the ground.

How much do the different types of lift weigh?

• Electric scissor lifts (8–14 m): about 1.5–5.3 t. The lightest are the compact 8 m platforms (Haulotte Optimum 8 at 1,590 kg, Genie GS-1932 at 1,503 kg); the heaviest are the 14 m models with a large platform and high capacity (JLG 4069LE at 5.3 t). The exception is the PB S225-12ES (22.5 m) at 10.3 t.
• Diesel rough terrain scissor lifts (10–18 m): about 3.2–8.1 t (Genie GS-2669 RT at 3.2 t, Genie GS-5390 RT at 8.06 t).
• Electric articulating boom lifts (11–20 m): about 3.7–8.0 t; the 20 m models weigh 7.5–8.0 t. That is a lot, because the boom needs a counterweight and the traction batteries weigh hundreds of kilograms.
• Diesel articulating boom lifts (12.5–43 m): about 5 t (12.5 m), 6.2 t (16 m), 17 t (26 m, Genie Z-80/60), over 20 t (43 m, Genie Z-135/70).
• Diesel telescopic boom lifts (14–57 m): about 5.4–24.9 t (Genie S-40 at 5.4 t, JLG 860SJ at 16.7 t, Genie S-85 at 17.2 t, Genie SX-180 at 24.9 t).
• Telehandlers (14–18 m): about 11.0–11.7 t unladen.
• Self-propelled vertical mast lifts (10–12.65 m): about 2.6–4.9 t.
• Sumner 2000 manual installation lift (up to 7.7 m, materials only): about 0.2 t. It is the only one that will go onto most floor slabs and mezzanines without any calculation.

You will find the exact weight of each model on its page in the fleet catalogue. When you order, we also give it in the confirmation, so that you can pass it to the building manager.

Weight is not everything: what counts is the ground pressure

A floor or slab does not “feel” the total weight, only the pressure at the point of contact: per wheel (kN) and per unit area (kN/m² or kg/cm²). The manufacturer's data sheet gives both parameters. For example, the electric scissor lifts JLG ES1932 (8 m) and ES2646 (10 m) have a ground pressure of about 8.0 and 9.6 kg/cm² respectively on small, hard tyres, whereas the rough terrain scissor lift JLG RT2669 (3.7 t) on wide tyres has only 2.75 kg/cm², and the articulating boom lift JLG 450AJ (7.4 t) 4.0 kg/cm². A heavier machine on wide tyres can therefore load the floor less at any one point than a light platform.

• Industrial floor in a hall is usually designed for the load of forklift trucks. Electric scissor lifts and articulating boom lifts up to 7.5 t are safe in most halls, but always confirm this with the building manager.
• Decks, mezzanines and multi-storey car parks often have a permissible load of 2.5–5 kN/m² or lower. You need the structural engineer's approval and usually a light machine (an electric scissor lift of 8–10 m or a vertical mast lift), positioned over the supports.
• Roofs: working from a roof requires structural calculations; it is usually better to work from the ground with a lift of greater outreach.
• Block paving, pavements and lawns: watch out for kerbs and manholes; for machines over 10 t we often recommend ground protection mats.

Outriggers and working with stabilisers extended

Rough terrain scissor lifts with outriggers and larger machines rest on feet with a small contact area when working, so the pressure under an outrigger foot can be greater than under a wheel. On weaker ground, plates that spread the load are placed under the feet. The manufacturer gives the maximum outrigger pressure in the machine data sheet; when you order, tell us what the machine will be standing on.

Weight and transport

Machines up to about 2 t travel on a light trailer, up to a dozen or so tonnes on our lorry with ramps, and the largest (17–25 t, 26–57 m) on a low-loader trailer. This also affects the cost of delivery; there is more in the article how to prepare a site for a lift delivery and on the transport page.

How to match the machine to the ground capacity

• Agree the permissible floor or slab load with the building manager or structural engineer.
• Choose the lightest type that will give the required height, often an electric scissor lift instead of an articulating boom lift.
• Compare the wheel load from the machine data sheet with the permissible load; if in doubt, use ground protection mats.
• Plan the route of travel, not only the place of work but also the ramps, thresholds and manholes on the way.

If you tell us the working height and the details of the building, we will choose a model that meets the capacity requirements, and where needed we will add ground protection mats to the delivery.

Frequently asked questions