Types of Boom Lifts: How to Choose the Right Boom Lift for Your Job

Last updated: October 2026

Boom lifts put workers and tools in the air for construction, painting, electrical work, building maintenance, tree work and much more. Unlike a scissor lift, which only goes straight up, a boom lift can reach up and out, so the platform can get over obstacles and away from the base.

Most people start with one question: how high do I need to go? Height matters, but the right boom also depends on how far you need to reach, what is in the way, where you are working and how you will move the machine. This guide covers the main types of boom lifts, how to read model numbers, five things to check before you choose, and what boom lifts cost.

In this guide:

• Types of boom lifts at a glance
• Telescopic boom lifts
• Articulating boom lifts
• Towable boom lifts
• Tracked and compact crawler booms
• How to read boom lift model numbers
• 5 tips for choosing the right boom lift
• Boom lift prices
• Shop boom lifts
• FAQs

Working height is usually about 6 ft more than platform height, since it accounts for a worker reaching above the platform. Check which number a spec sheet uses before you compare models.

Telescopic boom lifts, also called straight booms or stick booms, have a single straight boom that extends out in sections. They offer the most height and horizontal reach of any boom lift type, and they get there quickly, which makes them a good fit for open sites with few obstacles.

Common jobs include steel erection, high-rise and stadium construction, bridge work, large warehouses and industrial maintenance. Most mid-size models reach 40 to 85 ft, and specialty models go much higher. The JLG 1850SJ has a platform height of 185 ft 7 in.

The trade-off is that a straight boom can’t bend around obstacles, and larger models need plenty of room to swing and set up. Popular models on FleetNow include the Genie S-65, Genie S-85, JLG 600S and JLG 860SJ. Browse all used telescopic boom lifts or JLG telescopic booms.

Articulating boom lifts, also called knuckle booms, have two or more boom sections joined by hinges. The boom can bend to reach up and over obstacles like walls, pipe racks, rooftops and machinery, and many models add a jib that moves the platform up and down or side to side for fine positioning.

Articulating booms are popular for building maintenance, electrical and mechanical work, painting and work inside plants and warehouses. Compact electric models are narrow enough to fit through doorways. The Genie Z-40/23N RJ, for example, is 4 ft 11 in wide, has a 46 ft 5 in working height, 22 ft 8 in of horizontal reach and 21 ft 3 in of up-and-over clearance.

Compared to a telescopic boom of similar height, an articulating boom usually has less horizontal reach and moves to position more slowly. Large models still reach high, though. The Genie Z-135/70 has a 135 ft platform height and about 70 ft of horizontal reach. Other popular models include the Genie Z-45/25J RT, JLG 450AJ, JLG 600AJ and the electric JLG E300AJP. Browse all used articulating boom lifts, including Genie and JLG models.

Towable boom lifts, also called trailer-mounted booms, sit on their own trailer and hitch to a pickup truck. You can back the lift into place, unhitch it, set the outriggers and go to work, with no separate trailer or delivery truck needed. They are light, so they are also easier on lawns, driveways and pavement than self-propelled booms.

Towables are a good fit for maintenance crews, contractors, sign installers, painters and tree care companies that move from site to site. Most reach about 30 to 60 ft. The Genie TZ-50 has a 55 ft 6 in working height and 29 ft 2 in of horizontal reach, and the larger Niftylift TM64 reaches a 69 ft working height with 39 ft 6 in of outreach.

Before you buy, make sure your truck is rated to tow the lift’s weight. Most towables can’t drive while the boom is raised, so plan to reposition the machine between work areas. Browse used towable boom lifts, including the JLG T350 and Genie and Niftylift models.

Tracked boom lifts, often called compact crawler booms or spider lifts, ride on rubber tracks and stand on outriggers to work. They are narrow and light for their height, so many can fit through a standard doorway, cross finished floors or lawns, and set up on slopes and uneven ground.

They are popular for atriums, churches, hotels and malls, as well as landscaping, tree work and building facades. The trade-off is cost: they usually cost more than a wheeled boom of the same height, and setup takes longer. Browse used compact crawler booms on FleetNow.

If you only need to reach straight up indoors, a vertical mast lift may be a smaller, lower-cost option than a boom.

Model numbers usually tell you a boom’s platform height, and sometimes its horizontal reach. Here is how the two biggest brands name their booms:

Always confirm specs on the manufacturer’s spec sheet. Height, reach and capacity can vary by model year and options.

1. Know your height and reach. Measure the highest point you need to work at, then add a few feet so workers aren’t overreaching. Also measure how far out from the base you need to reach. If you can’t park the lift right next to the work, horizontal reach can matter as much as height.

2. Look at what is in the way. If the path to the work is clear, a telescopic boom gives you the most reach. If you need to go up and over walls, equipment or rooflines, choose an articulating boom and check its up-and-over clearance.

3. Match the power and tires to the site. Pick the power source and tires that fit where you will work:

• Electric (DC): quiet, emission-free and usually compact, with non-marking tires. Best indoors and on finished floors.
• Hybrid: runs on batteries indoors and a small engine outdoors, for crews that do both.
• Diesel: the most power for rough-terrain work. Look for four-wheel drive, oscillating axles and foam-filled tires on rugged sites.
• Dual fuel (gas or LP): flexible for sites with mixed indoor and outdoor use, where ventilation allows.

4. Plan for transport and access. Self-propelled booms need a trailer and a truck rated for their weight, which can range from a few tons to more than 20 tons on large models. Check the machine’s width, height when stowed and weight against doorways, elevators, floor load limits and site access. If you move often, a towable may save you the cost of hauling.

5. Check platform capacity and options. Make sure the platform can carry your crew, tools and materials. Many booms have both an unrestricted capacity and a higher restricted capacity that only applies within a smaller range of motion. Useful options include platform generators, welder leads, pipe and panel racks, work lights, cold-weather packages and non-marking tires.

Under the ANSI A92 standards, boom lifts are Group B mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), because the platform can move outside the base. Most self-propelled booms are Type 3, meaning they can be driven while raised from the platform controls. Operators need training on the type of MEWP they use, and OSHA requires workers in a boom lift to wear a harness tied off to the platform.

New boom lift prices depend on type, height, power and options. These are examples of new 2025 and 2026 models listed by dealer Aerial Titans in October 2026:

Used boom lifts cost much less. In October 2026, most telescopic booms on FleetNow were listed at about $25,000 to $45,000, most articulating booms at about $29,000 to $35,000, most towable booms (mostly JLG T350s) at about $17,000 to $22,000, and most compact crawler booms at about $50,000 to $100,000. Year, hours, height and condition drive the price of any used lift.

FleetNow lists used boom lifts from dealers and owners across the country, including Genie, JLG and Skyjack models. Browse by type and brand, compare prices and contact sellers directly. Need help finding the right lift? Contact our team. Selling a boom lift? List it on FleetNow.