Platform Height vs Working Height: Sizing a Man Lift
The difference between platform height and working height, how outreach and platform load change the choice, and how to size a scissor or boom lift.
Man lift sizes are quoted as heights, but not always the same height. One brochure lists working height, another platform height, and a 12 m machine from one supplier can be a 10 m machine from another. Mixing them up is the most common reason a lift arrives on site and comes up short. This guide explains the difference and how to size a lift from the job.
The Two Heights
Platform height is the height of the platform floor at full extension, the surface the operator stands on. Working height is the height a person can work at from that platform, and by industry convention is the platform height plus about 2 m. A lift with a 10 m platform height therefore has a working height of about 12 m.
Working height = platform height + about 2 m. Always ask which one a quote is giving you.
Sizing From the Job
| Highest point of the work | Working height needed | Platform height needed |
|---|---|---|
| 6 m ceiling | 6 m | About 4 m |
| 10 m racking or lighting | 10 m | About 8 m |
| 14 m facade or signage | 14 m | About 12 m |
| 20 m steel structure | 20 m | About 18 m |
| 30 m structure | 30 m | About 28 m |
Outreach Changes Everything
A scissor lift only goes straight up, so its platform must be directly under the work. If the base cannot stand there, because of a stand, a planter, a slope or the building's own footprint, you need a boom lift and its outreach figure. Boom lifts lose height as they reach out, so check the machine's range chart for both height and distance together, not just its headline height.
Platform Load
Every platform has a rated load in kilograms, which covers people, tools and materials together. Add up the people, their tools and any panels or fittings before choosing a machine, and compare the total with the platform rating of the scissor lift or boom lift you are considering.
Ground and Access
- ✓Slab or finished floor: electric machines with non-marking tyres
- ✓Sand, gravel or an unfinished site: rough-terrain diesel machines
- ✓Doors, ramps and lifts on the way in: check width, height and weight limits
- ✓Slopes: check the machine's limits before raising it anywhere that is not firm and level
Three Numbers to Send With a Booking
- ✓The highest point of the work, measured from the ground where the lift will stand
- ✓The horizontal distance from where the lift can stand to the work
- ✓The total weight on the platform: people, tools and materials
With those we will match the machine and confirm both its platform height and working height. See our man lift fleet, man lift rental in Sharjah, or the guide comparing scissor lifts and boom lifts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between platform height and working height?+
Platform height is the height of the platform floor at full extension. Working height is the height a person can reach from it, conventionally the platform height plus about 2 m.
What size scissor lift do I need for a 10 m ceiling?+
A platform height of about 8 m, which gives a working height of about 10 m. Check the platform load and the floor first, and allow a little extra if the work is above fittings or racking.
Why does a boom lift reach less height when it reaches out?+
As the boom extends outwards, the machine's stability and the boom's geometry limit how high it can go. The range chart shows the height available at each outreach distance.
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