Scissor Lifts

Choosing a scissor lift

Scissor lifts are the answer when the building will not take a post lift, and a genuinely good choice for tyre, brake and bodywork at volume. The mechanism folds into itself, so nothing sits above the vehicle and very little sits below it when lowered.

Low-rise, full-rise or flush-mounted

Low-rise models raise to roughly a metre — the right height for work done crouching or seated. Tyres, brakes, wheels and bodywork. Many are portable, which makes them useful as a second lift for a specific job type.

Full-rise models reach a proper standing working height, generally around 1.8 to 2 metres, and cover general servicing where a post lift will not fit. Wheels-free versions add a secondary lift on the platform so you can take wheels off, closing much of the gap to a two-post.

Flush-mounted installations sit in a recess so the platform is level with the floor when lowered, leaving the bay completely clear for other work. It needs groundwork and a slab that can take the cut, but it is the tidiest solution in a workshop that has to do more than one thing in the same space.

Our guide to scissor lifts explained covers the differences in full.

Where a scissor lift is the right call

• Restricted ceiling height — the most common reason, and often decisive. See workshop space requirements.
• A bay that does double duty — flush-mounted, the floor is clear when the lift is down.
• Tyre and brake work at volume — fast to load and the right working height.
• Alignment — purpose-built alignment scissor lifts with turnplates are a real alternative to a four-post.

The trade-off is honest: the mechanism sits under the centre of the vehicle, so central underbody access is more restricted than on a two-post. If you have the height and do general mechanical repair, a two-post gives better access for the money — our comparison of lift types sets out the trade-offs.

Check platform length against your longest vehicles, lowered height for low cars, and whether the model needs compressed air for its lock release. A free site survey will confirm what your bay can take.