{"id":562,"date":"2026-10-14T14:16:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T06:16:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.1000soop.com\/blog\/?p=562"},"modified":"2026-10-14T14:16:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T06:16:52","slug":"what-is-the-lifting-speed-of-used-scissor-lifts-4d5b-45ae1f","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.1000soop.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/14\/what-is-the-lifting-speed-of-used-scissor-lifts-4d5b-45ae1f\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the lifting speed of used scissor lifts?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever been on a job site\u2014whether it\u2019s a warehouse restocking high shelves, a retail store getting their holiday display up, or a construction team working on a building\u2019s facade\u2014you\u2019ve probably seen scissor lifts. But if you\u2019re looking at used scissor lifts, one of the first questions people always ask me (since I\u2019ve been selling these for over 12 years) is, \u201cWhat\u2019s their lifting speed?\u201d It\u2019s not a random number you can pull out of thin air, and it\u2019s way more important than you might think. Let me break this down like I would to a new job site foreman who\u2019s just bought their first used lift from me. Used Scissor Lift<\/a><\/p>\n

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First, let\u2019s get one thing straight: scissor lift lifting speed isn\u2019t a one-size-fits-all number. When I show a customer a used scissor lift I\u2019ve got in stock, I never just say \u201cit goes this fast\u201d and leave it at that. I walk them through the two key types of lifting speed first\u2014drive speed (that\u2019s how fast the whole unit moves across the ground when it\u2019s not lifted) and platform lifting\/lowering speed (that\u2019s what most people actually mean when they ask \u201clifting speed\u201d). For the sake of this post, we\u2019re sticking to platform movement, because drive speed is a whole separate conversation about ground conditions and safety.<\/p>\n

Now, how do manufacturers set that lifting speed? New scissor lifts usually have a lifting speed between 20 and 60 seconds to go from fully lowered to their max height. Wait, that\u2019s a big range\u2014why? Because it all ties to how the lift is powered, its load capacity, and its intended use. Let\u2019s start with power sources, since that\u2019s the biggest factor with used units. Most of the used scissor lifts I sell are either electric (battery-powered) or diesel (for outdoor, rough terrain jobs). Electric ones are way more common in indoor settings like warehouses or malls, and their lifting speed is slower\u2014usually 30 to 60 seconds to full height. Diesel rough terrain lifts? They\u2019re built for outdoor, heavy loads, so their lifting speed is faster, around 20 to 40 seconds. That makes sense, right? If you\u2019re working on a construction site where you\u2019re moving tools and workers up and down all day, you don\u2019t want to wait a minute for the platform to go 30 feet up.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the thing with used scissor lifts: that 20-60 second range? It can shift, depending on how well the unit\u2019s been maintained. A used electric scissor lift from a company that did weekly battery checks and changed the hydraulic fluid every 6 months? It\u2019ll probably lift at the top end of its range, maybe even a little faster. The same exact model from a company that left it out in the rain, didn\u2019t service it for two years, and had a broken pressure valve? It might take 70 seconds to get to full height, which is a pain on a tight schedule. That\u2019s why I always test every used lift before I put it up for sale\u2014last month, I had a 26-foot electric scissor lift that the previous owner said \u201clifted fine.\u201d When I tested it, it took 52 seconds to go up, which is on the slower side, so I rebuilt the hydraulic seals and changed the fluid, and now it\u2019s at 38 seconds, which is perfect for a retail store needing quick setup. I never cut corners on that testing because I\u2019d rather be honest with a customer than have them call me a week later complaining their lift is too slow.<\/p>\n

Another big factor is load. I can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ve had a customer say, \u201cThis lift is rated for 500 lbs\u2014can I fill it to the max and still get the same speed?\u201d Nope. That\u2019s a myth. The more weight you put on the platform, the slower the lift goes. It\u2019s like pushing a full grocery cart vs. an empty one uphill\u2014way harder. For example, a 32-foot used electric scissor lift I sold last week: when it\u2019s empty, it takes 35 seconds to get to the top. When I loaded it with 500 lbs (its max), that number jumped to 42 seconds. That\u2019s a 7-second difference, which might not sound like much, but if you\u2019re a painter moving ladders and paint cans up and down 10 times a day, that\u2019s 70 extra seconds a day\u2014almost two minutes, times 5 days a week, that\u2019s 10 extra minutes just waiting for the lift. Multiply that over a month, and that\u2019s a lot of lost productivity. I always tell customers to plan for that\u2014don\u2019t expect the same speed at full load as you do empty.<\/p>\n

What about lower speed? People forget that lowering speed is just as important as lifting speed. When you\u2019re coming down from 30 feet up, you don\u2019t want a lift that drops like a rock, right? OSHA has rules about this, actually\u2014they say scissor lift lowering speed can\u2019t be faster than lifting speed, and should be controlled so there\u2019s no sudden drop. I once had a customer try to pass off a used lift to a buddy of his that had a broken lowering valve\u2014their platform dropped 10 feet in 2 seconds, which is a huge safety hazard. I make sure every used lift I sell has both lifting and lowering speeds within OSHA guidelines, no exceptions. Safety first, always.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about common misconceptions I hear all the time. The big one: \u201cOlder scissor lifts are slower than new ones.\u201d That\u2019s not always true. Sure, some 15-year-old lifts have worn hydraulic systems that make them slow, but if they\u2019ve been maintained, they can be just as fast as a new one. I had a 2008 40-foot diesel rough terrain scissor lift in my lot last year that lifted at 28 seconds empty\u2014faster than a lot of new ones I\u2019ve tested, which are usually around 30 seconds. It\u2019s all about upkeep, not age. Another misconception: \u201cIf it\u2019s faster, it\u2019s better.\u201d No way. A lift that\u2019s too fast is dangerous, plain and simple. You need control, especially when you\u2019re positioning heavy items or working around other workers. I once sold a used electric scissor lift to a guy who wanted to use it for moving boxes in his warehouse, and he tried to override the speed control to make it go faster. He ended up spilling a box of glass on the floor because he couldn\u2019t adjust it quickly\u2014told me he learned his lesson. That\u2019s why I always explain that the speed is calibrated for safety and productivity, not just speed for speed\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re shopping for a used scissor lift, what should you look for when it comes to lifting speed? First, ask the seller to give you the test time for both empty and full load, when it\u2019s at full height. A reputable used lift supplier (that\u2019s me, by the way) will have that number ready, no haggling required. Second, check the maintenance records. If a lift has regular service logs, it\u2019s way more likely to be at its optimal speed. If there are no records, ask to do a test lift yourself\u2014most job sites will let you test a lift for 10 minutes before buying, as long as you\u2019re trained. Third, match the speed to your job. If you\u2019re doing occasional small jobs, a slightly slower lift is fine, and it\u2019ll save you money. If you\u2019re running a warehouse with 10 people needing to use the lift all day, you want a faster one to keep up.<\/p>\n

Wait, let\u2019s circle back to that 20-60 second range. I\u2019ve seen lifts that take 18 seconds (though those are rare, and usually heavy diesel units) and ones that take 70 seconds (usually neglected electric ones). Most mid-range used scissor lifts, whether electric or diesel, fall between 25 and 45 seconds empty, and 35 to 55 seconds at full load. That\u2019s the sweet spot for most customers\u2014productive, safe, and affordable, way cheaper than a new lift which can cost twice as much.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been doing this long enough to know that buying a used scissor lift can be stressful. There are so many questions: Will it work? Is it safe? How fast is it? But the lifting speed question is one of the most important because it directly affects your bottom line. A slow lift means slower work, missed deadlines, frustrated workers. A lift that\u2019s too fast means safety risks, accidents, OSHA fines. The ones I sell? I test every speed, fix any issues before it goes out the door, and I\u2019m always honest about what you\u2019re getting. No hidden numbers, no fine print, no \u201cit works when it left here.\u201d I stand behind every used lift I sell, because I\u2019ve been in this industry too long to cut corners.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in the market for a used scissor lift, don\u2019t waste time guessing about lifting speed. Reach out, tell me what kind of jobs you\u2019re doing, how high you need to go, how much weight you\u2019re carrying, and I\u2019ll hook you up with the right lift for your needs. I can send you test videos of the lifts in my lot, show you the maintenance records, and answer any other questions you have\u2014no pressure, just straight talk, like I would with a fellow contractor who\u2019s trying to make their job easier.<\/p>\n

Wait, before I go, let\u2019s recap the key points so you don\u2019t forget: lifting speed for used scissor lifts is between 20 and 60 seconds for full height, depends on power source, load, and maintenance, and is regulated for safety. Don\u2019t fall for the \u201cfaster is better\u201d myth, always check test times and maintenance records, and work with a supplier you trust who tests every unit. That\u2019s how you get a lift that works for you, not against you.<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re ready to stop stressing about lifting speeds and find the perfect used scissor lift for your team, get in touch to chat through your specific needs. No generic sales pitches, just real advice from someone who\u2019s been selling these things for over a decade and knows what works on real job sites.<\/p>\n

Hydraulic Rock Drill<\/a> References:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Scissor Lift Safety Standards. U.S. Department of Labor, 2022.<\/li>\n
  2. Access Industry Association (AIA). Scissor Lift Performance Specifications: Used Unit Evaluation Guide. AIA, 2021.<\/li>\n
  3. General Safety & Compliance. Hydraulic Lift Speed Maintenance Best Practices. 2020.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Yantai Quanrui International Trading Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    As one of the most reliable used scissor lift manufacturers and suppliers in China, we’re featured by high quality customized products. Please rest assured to buy discount used scissor lift made in China here from our factory. Contact us for pricelist and quotation.
    Address: No. 278, Sanya Road, Gaotuan Town, Fushan District, Yantai City, Shandong Province, China
    E-mail: Info@quanjin1588.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.qr1588.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    If you\u2019ve ever been on a job site\u2014whether it\u2019s a warehouse restocking high shelves, a retail … What is the lifting speed of used scissor lifts?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":312,"featured_media":562,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[525],"class_list":["post-562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-used-scissor-lift-4d68-46912f"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.1000soop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/562","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.1000soop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.1000soop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.1000soop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/312"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.1000soop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=562"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.1000soop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/562\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.1000soop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.1000soop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=562"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.1000soop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=562"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.1000soop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=562"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}