Genie Runabout GR-12, GR-15 and GR-20: Specs, Price and Buying Guide

Last updated: November 2026

The Genie Runabout is a one-person vertical mast lift built for indoor maintenance, installation and stock work. It comes in three sizes: the GR-12, GR-15 and GR-20. All three are narrow enough for most doorways, turn in their own footprint and can be driven with the platform fully raised. The GR-20 is by far the most common on the used market. FleetNow had more than 900 Genie Runabouts listed in November 2026, and over 800 of them were GR-20s.

This guide compares the specs of all three models, shows what used Runabouts sell for on FleetNow, compares them with the Skyjack SJ12 and SJ16, and lists what to check before you buy.

In this guide:

• Genie Runabout at a Glance
• GR-12, GR-15 and GR-20 Specs
• Choosing the Right Runabout
• Key Features
• Runabout vs Skyjack SJ12 and SJ16
• Used Genie Runabout Prices
• Common Uses
• Pros and Cons
• Used Runabout Buying Checklist
• Runabout Walkaround Video
• Shop Genie Runabouts
• Genie Runabout FAQs

A Runabout is a self-propelled vertical mast lift: a small battery-powered base with a telescoping mast that lifts a one-person platform straight up. Genie builds it for jobs where a scissor lift is too big or too heavy, such as working in finished buildings, between store shelving or in rooms with tight doorways.

• GR-12: 17 ft 4 in working height, 500 lb capacity, 1,681 lb machine weight. The lightest and easiest to move between floors.
• GR-15: 20 ft 8 in working height, 500 lb capacity, 2,178 lb. The same narrow base as the GR-12 with more height.
• GR-20: 25 ft 9 in working height, 350 lb capacity, 2,513 lb. The tallest Runabout, with a slightly wider base and a taller stowed height.

All three run on four 6 V batteries (24 V DC), use solid non-marking tires and have a 20 in roll-out extension deck.

These figures come from Genie’s current ANSI spec sheet (ANSI A92.20 and CSA B354.6). Outdoor heights are lower because of the wind rating.

Older units differ. Genie’s 2014 US spec sheet lists lighter weights (GR-12 1,581 lb, GR-15 2,192 lb, GR-20 2,451 lb), a 5 ft 2 in stowed height for the GR-12 and GR-15, and a 4 ft 7 in outside turning radius. Machines built to the older ANSI A92.6 standard, and many CE-market units, are rated for indoor use only. Check the decals and serial plate on the machine you are buying for its actual ratings.

Pick the model by the height you need to reach, then check the weight and size limits of the building you will work in.

The GR-12 reaches about 17 ft and is the lightest Runabout at 1,681 lb. It is the best fit when the lift has to ride a passenger elevator, cross raised floors or tile, or work under ceilings around 12 to 16 ft. It also carries the full 500 lb on the platform.

The GR-15 adds about 3 ft of height on the same narrow 29.5 in base and the same 5 ft 10 in stowed height. It is a good middle choice for ceilings up to about 18 ft, but it is the least common Runabout on the used market, so expect fewer choices.

The GR-20 reaches about 26 ft, enough for most warehouse racking, gymnasium lighting and big-box store ceilings. It gives up some capacity (350 lb) and is 2 in wider and 8 in taller when stowed than the smaller models. Because rental fleets bought so many GR-20s, it is the easiest Runabout to find used and often costs only a little more than a GR-12.

Before you buy, measure the doorways and elevators you will use and check the elevator weight limit against the machine weight. If you need to reach up and over obstacles rather than straight up, look at a small articulating boom lift instead.

• Drive at full height: the operator can reposition the lift from the platform without lowering it, at up to 0.5 mph when raised.
• Zero inside turning radius: the machine turns in its own footprint, which helps between shelving and in small rooms.
• Narrow base: 29.5 in wide (GR-12 and GR-15) or 31.5 in (GR-20).
• Extension deck: a 20 in roll-out deck holds up to 250 lb.
• Non-marking tires: solid tires that do not mark finished floors.
• Simple electric drive: 24 V DC system with four 6 V batteries and proportional controls. No fumes and less than 70 dBA of noise.
• Tilt sensor: limits operation if the machine is out of level (3 degrees front to back, 1.5 degrees side to side).

The Skyjack SJ12 and Skyjack SJ16 are the Runabout’s closest competitors. Skyjack lists two occupants and a 500 lb capacity on both, while every Runabout is a one-person lift. The GR-20 reaches about 4 ft higher than the SJ16.

Skyjack figures are from Skyjack and dealer spec pages. Prices are the middle half of FleetNow asking prices in November 2026. Ratings vary by model year and market, so check the decals.

Used Runabouts are some of the most affordable aerial lifts on FleetNow because rental fleets sell them in large numbers. These are asking prices from all FleetNow listings in November 2026. The middle half shows where most machines are priced.

For the GR-20, model year matters most. Hours are usually low on these machines (the median GR-20 listing showed about 260 hours), so the year and condition drive the price.

Genie does not publish list prices. Online retailers show new GR-20s at roughly $26,000 to $34,000, so get a quote from a Genie dealer for current new pricing. The few FleetNow listings well above the typical range (such as a 2025 GR-15 and a 2026 GR-20) are late-model or nearly new units.

• Facility and building maintenance: lighting, ceiling tiles, sprinkler heads and signage
• Electrical, low-voltage and data cabling installation
• HVAC service on ductwork and diffusers
• Retail stocking, displays and merchandising
• Warehouse picking and inventory counts on upper shelves
• Schools, hospitals, offices and churches, where floors and doorways limit larger lifts
• Painting, drywall finishing and other interior trade work

• Drives at full height and turns in its own footprint
• Narrow and light enough for doorways, elevators and finished floors
• Quiet, zero-emission battery power with non-marking tires
• Huge used supply keeps prices low and parts easy to find
• Simple machine with few systems to maintain

• One person only, and the GR-20 carries just 350 lb
• Lifts straight up only, with no outreach over obstacles
• Lower height and capacity limits outdoors, and older units may be indoor only
• Solid tires and low ground clearance are meant for smooth, level floors
• Flooded batteries need regular watering and charging

• Read the serial plate and decals for the model year, capacity, occupancy and indoor or outdoor rating.
• Check the hour meter and ask for the maintenance and annual inspection records.
• Inspect the batteries: water level, corrosion, cracked cases and loose cables. Charge fully and confirm the charger works.
• Raise the mast to full height and lower it. Sections should move smoothly with no jerking, noise, bent or scraped sections, or leaks.
• Drive forward, back and in a full turn, both stowed and raised. Raised drive speed should be slow and steady.
• Test the emergency stop, the emergency lowering, the tilt alarm and the horn.
• Check the platform gate, guardrails and extension deck. The deck should slide out and lock.
• Look at the tires for chunks, flat spots or separation from the wheel.
• Check the controls and joystick for cracked boots and unresponsive functions.
• Ask whether the lift came from a rental fleet. Fleet units often have low hours but cosmetic wear.

The FleetNow equipment inspection app can help you document the machine before you buy.

This product review from Lift and Access walks through the Genie GRC-12 Runabout Contractor, a version of the GR-12 with a contractor-style platform. Most of the controls and features are the same as on the GR models. Videos like this do not replace operator training and familiarization on the specific machine.

Browse used Genie Runabouts from sellers across the US and Canada, or narrow it down by model: Genie GR-12, Genie GR-15 and Genie GR-20. To compare other brands, see all used Runabouts and vertical mast lifts, including the Skyjack SJ12 and SJ16. If you need a work platform for more than one person, look at Genie scissor lifts such as the GS-1930.

For more on this type of lift, read our guide to vertical mast lifts.

Need help finding a machine? Contact FleetNow or call 1-216-973-5124. Have a Runabout to sell? List your equipment on FleetNow.