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- 19 ft Scissor LiftIndoor ceilings, lighting, drywallFrom $150/dayBook the 19 ft Scissor Lift
- 30 ft Scissor LiftHigher ceilings, siding, warehouse workFrom $215/dayBook the 30 ft Scissor Lift
Free pickup in Pierce County; exact location sent after booking. Delivery is $200 each way; your job-site address is checked at checkout.
Ceiling and lighting jobs that fit
A scissor lift raises a railed work platform straight up, so you can work overhead with both hands and keep tools, fixtures and parts with you. Jobs that fit:
- High ceiling light fixtures: Swapping fixtures, bulbs or fans in a vaulted living room, entry or great room, where a tall ladder gets awkward and you need both hands free for the wiring. 19 ft scissor lift
- Garage, shop and barn ceiling lights: Trading old tube fixtures for LED shop lights over a concrete floor. Work around garage door tracks, opener rails and storage racks. 30 ft scissor lift
- Warehouse and tenant-improvement LED retrofits: Fixture swaps row by row across a high-bay space, plus signs, sprinklers and HVAC work while the lift is on site (warehouse lift guide). 30 ft scissor lift
- Drywall and ceiling paint: Hanging, taping, patching and painting ceilings indoors (painting and drywall guide). 19 ft scissor lift
- Running cable in a ceiling: Hanging boxes, supports, conduit and cable overhead before you pull wire (wire pulling guide). In a high-bay shop or warehouse, step up to the 30 ft. 19 ft scissor lift
- Holiday lights and seasonal displays: storefront strands, high-ceiling displays and event hall decorations (holiday lights lift guide).
19 ft or 30 ft?
The 19 ft scissor lift is listed for indoor work on firm, level surfaces. Its listing names painting, drywall, lighting, sprinklers, HVAC and retail fixtures.
The 30 ft scissor lift is listed for firm, level surfaces and higher work: high ceilings, warehouses, shops, gutters and siding, exterior painting and event setup.
Specs are available on request. Have your ceiling height and narrowest doorway ready, then call or email us before you book. Side-by-side rates and booking details: 19 ft vs 30 ft scissor lift guide.
Plan the job first
Measure the ceiling and the route in
- Measure from the floor to the highest point you need to work at, such as the fixture, the ceiling or the top of a beam.
- Note what is in the way overhead: beams, ducts, sprinkler heads, garage door tracks, opener rails and racks.
- Measure the narrowest doorway, gate or hallway between the truck and the work area, and look for steps or thresholds.
Check the floor
- Both lifts are listed for firm, level surfaces. Check the floor where you will work and the path to it.
Check electrical permits
- Washington L&I’s Electrical Permit Basics page says a permit is required for most electrical work. Its list of work that needs no permit includes like-in-kind replacement of lamps and single-family residential luminaires, and up to five luminaire ballasts swapped for an exact same ballast.
- L&I’s Electrical Work on Residential Property (PDF) says work not on that list needs a permit and inspection, including all circuit wiring, and that only property owners or electrical contractors can buy a permit.
- Adding fixtures, running new circuits, or retrofitting a shop, warehouse or tenant space? Check with L&I or your city before you start.
- L&I says to request inspection before covering any electrical work, so plan cable runs before the drywall or ceiling goes up.
- Who issues the permit depends on the address: L&I’s city electrical permits page covers Tacoma Power’s service area and the cities that run their own. Area pages: Puyallup · Bonney Lake · Sumner · Auburn · Enumclaw.
Shut off the power
The Electrical Safety Foundation’s Electrical Safety Workbook (PDF) says to switch off the circuit breaker for the circuit you plan to work on, and to test the wires before you touch them. Find and label the breaker before the lift arrives.
Summaries for planning only; follow the official text on each linked page.
Official safety resources
- Chapter 296-869 WAC, Elevating work platforms: Washington L&I rules for elevating work platforms.
- OSHA Hazard Alert: Working Safely with Scissor Lifts (PDF): covers fall protection, stabilization, positioning and worker training.
- OSHA eTool: Scissor lifts. It says to select work locations that do not approach power lines or transformers by at least 10 feet.
Operator not included. You or your trained crew run the equipment.
Summaries for planning only; follow the linked official text.
Day, weekend or week?
19 ft lift: $150 a day, so 2 days is $300 and 3 days is $450. The week rate is $400, less than 3 days at the day rate. The weekend rate is $210 (Friday 9 AM pickup to Monday 3 PM return), less than 2 days.
30 ft lift: $215 a day, so 2 days is $430 and 3 days is $645. The week rate is $650, less than 4 days at the day rate. The weekend rate is $290 (Friday 9 AM pickup to Monday 3 PM return), less than 2 days.
Need the lift 3 days or more? Compare the week rate first.
Prices are before WA sales tax and the 1.25% heavy equipment rental tax where it applies. Your exact total shows at checkout.
Questions
Which scissor lift do I need for ceiling lights?
Measure from the floor to the highest point you need to work at. Our 19 ft lift is listed for indoor work on firm, level surfaces, and its jobs include lighting and drywall. Our 30 ft lift is for high ceilings, warehouses and shops. Specs are available on request, so call or email us with your ceiling height before you book.
Do I need an electrical permit to replace a light fixture in Washington?
For a like-in-kind swap in a single-family home, usually not. Washington L&I lists like-in-kind replacement of single-family residential luminaires among projects that do not require a permit. L&I says work not on that list, including all circuit wiring, needs a permit and inspection. For shops, warehouses and tenant spaces, check with L&I or your city.
Who issues electrical permits in Pierce County?
It depends on the address. L&I's city electrical permits page says L&I does not issue permits for properties Tacoma Power serves in Tacoma, Fircrest, University Place, Fife, parts of Steilacoom, Lakewood and unincorporated Pierce County as far south as Roy, or in the cities on its list, such as Milton. Everywhere else, the permit comes from L&I.
Can I use the 19 ft lift in my garage or shop?
It is listed for indoor work on firm, level surfaces. Check the floor, the ceiling height and the door you will roll it through, then call or email us. Specs are available on request.
How much does it cost?
The 19 ft lift is $150 a day, $210 a weekend or $400 a week. The 30 ft lift is $215 a day, $290 a weekend or $650 a week. Prices are before WA sales tax and the 1.25% heavy equipment rental tax where it applies. Your exact total shows at checkout.
More guides: all rental guides. Pulling wire after rough-in? See the wire pulling rental guide.