Boom lift rental in Houston

What a boom lift is, and when you need one

A boom lift is a work platform on a movable arm. The basket carries one or two people and their tools up to the work, and the arm lets the platform reach over or around things that a ladder or scaffold cannot. Crews use them to hang signs, wash and paint exteriors, trim trees, change high light fixtures, install steel and service roof equipment.

A scissor lift is the other common choice. It raises a flat platform straight up and gives more floor space, which suits indoor work such as ceilings, ductwork and warehouse racking. It cannot reach out sideways, so when something sits behind an obstacle, a boom is usually the better fit.

Lift types we help you find

Most requests fall into three groups. Each group has its own page with sizes, typical uses and what to ask the yard.

• Articulating boom lifts: a jointed arm that goes up and over, good for reaching around obstacles and into tight spots.
• Telescopic boom lifts: a straight arm with long horizontal reach, good for open sites and the highest work.
• Scissor lifts: a straight vertical platform for ceilings, interior work and level slabs.

Where local yards deliver

The six areas below each have a page about the kinds of jobs that come up there. Delivery distance affects the price, so a yard close to your site is usually cheaper than one across the metro area.

• Houston: refineries and plants, high-rise and mid-rise work, warehouses and large commercial lots.
• Pasadena: industrial yards, plants and shipping-related facilities along the ship channel.
• Sugar Land: office parks, retail centers and newer commercial construction southwest of the city.
• The Woodlands: office and medical campuses, retail and tree-heavy sites to the north.
• Katy: new construction, shopping centers and warehouses along the Interstate 10 corridor.
• Baytown: petrochemical sites, port facilities and large industrial properties east of Houston.

What to expect, step by step

The process is short, and knowing the order helps you spot a yard that skips steps.

• You tell us the working height, the address, the surface and the dates, using the quote form or by phone.
• A yard calls back, asks a few questions and often asks for a photo of the area.
• You get a price that lists the day, week or four-week rate, delivery and pickup, and fees.
• The machine is delivered and a driver or technician shows how the controls and safety devices work.
• Your crew uses the lift under your company's safety rules and operator training.
• The yard picks it up on the agreed date, and you note any damage before it leaves.

What it costs, roughly

Rental rates change with the season and the yard, so treat these as rough figures only: a small electric scissor lift often runs about $150 to $300 a day, a mid-size articulating boom about $300 to $500 a day, and larger or rough-terrain machines more. Delivery and pickup, fuel, and a damage waiver are often charged on top, and weekly and four-week rates are usually much cheaper per day than a single day.

Before you agree to anything, ask for the total with delivery, pickup, fuel and the damage waiver included, and ask what the charge is if the job runs over.

Before you call

A few details shorten the call and get you a more accurate quote.

• The highest point your crew has to reach, and how far out from the machine it is.
• Whether the ground is concrete, packed gravel, grass or soft dirt, and whether it slopes.
• Whether the work is indoors or outdoors, and the width of the doors, gates and aisles the lift must pass through.
• Whether you need a gas or diesel machine outside, or an electric one for indoor use.
• Your start date, how long you need it, and who on your crew has operator training.

Common questions