Aerial Work Platforms

Browse the world's most extensive aerial equipment rental fleet below, including cherry pickers, personnel lifts, scissor lifts, boom lifts and other lift rentals. Get these exclusive online rates by renting through our website or app.

For our full list of aerial work platforms, view the items below. For more information about aerial work platforms, visit our resource section.

Scaffolding at a jobsite

United Rentals carries an impressive variety of scaffolding for rent, including two- and three-story staging, guardrails, motor hoists and more, built to support construction, maintenance and design. Versatile frame scaffolding gives you the ability to reach just about anything, especially in small or narrow spaces. Whether your specialty is construction, electrical work, maintenance or masonry, or you need to rent scaffolding for painting, steam cleaning or sand blasting, let United Rentals help you put together the scaffolding that’s just right for your job. For help deciding on the best scaffolding service for your worksite, call your local United Rentals.

See our range of scaffolds for rent below.

FAQs About Scaffolding

When is climbing scaffolding cross braces permitted?

  • Climbing structural scaffolding cross braces is unsafe and specifically forbidden by federal standards. If you are unable to directly access the scaffolding from another structure, you are required to follow ladder procedures to gain access.

How much weight can a scaffold hold?

  • Many states have a ratio requirement based on height-to-base dimensions. Please check your federal, state and local regulations before erecting any scaffolding.

When should a scaffold be inspected?

  • Once scaffolding has been inspected before its first use, OHSA requires "periodic” or weekly inspections of the erected scaffold.

Scaffolding

Scaffolding at a jobsite

United Rentals carries an impressive variety of scaffolding for rent, including two- and three-story staging, guardrails, motor hoists and more, built to support construction, maintenance and design. Versatile frame scaffolding gives you the ability to reach just about anything, especially in small or narrow spaces. Whether your specialty is construction, electrical work, maintenance or masonry, or you need to rent scaffolding for painting, steam cleaning or sand blasting, let United Rentals help you put together the scaffolding that’s just right for your job. For help deciding on the best scaffolding service for your worksite, call your local United Rentals.

See our range of scaffolds for rent below.

FAQs About Scaffolding

When is climbing scaffolding cross braces permitted?

  • Climbing structural scaffolding cross braces is unsafe and specifically forbidden by federal standards. If you are unable to directly access the scaffolding from another structure, you are required to follow ladder procedures to gain access.

How much weight can a scaffold hold?

  • Many states have a ratio requirement based on height-to-base dimensions. Please check your federal, state and local regulations before erecting any scaffolding.

When should a scaffold be inspected?

  • Once scaffolding has been inspected before its first use, OHSA requires "periodic” or weekly inspections of the erected scaffold.

Scaffolding

Resources

How To Choose the Right Aerial Work Platforms

Working Height & Outreach

  • Identify the maximum working height you need for your aerial lift rental, considering any guardrails, obstacles or grade changes
  • Account for obstacles, slopes and required clearances so the equipment can reach the work safely without overextending
  • Choose scissor lifts for projects requiring vertical movement up to 70 feet and rent boom lifts for more manueverability and lift heights of up to 185 feet
Boom lift

Jobsite Access & Surface Terrain

  • Determine how you’ll get the aerial work platform rental to the work area, considering gate widths, doorways, overhead clearance, turning radius and delivery placement
  • Access and maneuvering limits often determine whether you need compact footprints, specific tire or track options or modular setups
  • Measure access points, turning space and placement space to ensure smooth delivery, setup and operation
Tread

Indoor or Outdoor Needs, Platform Capacity & Occupants

  • Indoor work usually calls for electric, low-noise and zero-emission aerial lifts, while outdoor work may allow for gas- or diesel-powered models with longer duty cycles
  • Confirm platform capacity and allowable occupants so the lift can safely handle workers, tools and materials at height
  • Include everything the lift must handle, including people, tools, materials and attachments, so you stay within rated capacity and avoid equipment damage
Door
Resources

More About Aerial Work Platforms

Aerial equipment covers a broad range of machines designed to lift people, tools and materials safely to height where ladders or scaffolding fall short. The right machine depends on the working height you need to reach, whether the work is indoors or outdoors, the ground conditions on site, and whether you need straight vertical lift or the ability to reach up and over obstacles. United Rentals supplies access equipment for hire across multiple categories, including scissor lifts, boom lifts, vertical lifts, spider lifts and glass and panel lifts. Learn more about access equipment hire in our FAQ section below.

What's the difference between a scissor lift and a boom lift?

Scissor lifts raise a large platform straight up on a folding mechanism, giving plenty of room for people and materials but only vertical reach. They suit fit-out, maintenance and installation on level surfaces. Boom lifts have an extending arm that reaches up and outward, letting the platform get over obstacles or into hard-to-access positions. They suit outdoor construction, facade and structural work. The right choice depends on whether you need a stable working area or extended directional reach.

Do I need a licence to operate access equipment in Australia?

It depends on the machine. Boom-type elevating work platforms with a boom length of 11 metres or more require a high-risk work licence (class WP). Scissor lifts and smaller platforms under 11 metres don't require a licence, but most commercial sites require operators to hold a verification of competency or industry-recognised training card. Always check both the legal requirement and your site's induction rules before operating any access equipment.

Can I hire access equipment for short-term or long-term projects?

Yes. United Rentals offers flexible hire periods from a single day through to long-term hire over weeks, months or years. Short-term hire suits one-off maintenance jobs and quick installs, while long-term hire suits ongoing construction and fit-out projects where machines are needed on site for an extended period. Long-term hire often comes with better daily rates and the option to swap machines if your requirements change.

Aerial Work Platforms Glossary – Terms, Parts, Tips

Anchor Point

An aerial work platform anchor point provides a secure point of attachment for an aerial lift, ensuring the safe connection of a lanyard, lifeline or deceleration device. These devices are used to secure the operator. Browse our aerial attachments for additional safety gear or other attachments.

Aerial Work Platform – Lift Platform or Mobile Elevated Work Platform

An aerial work platform is a mechanical piece of equipment that allows operators temporary access to inaccessible areas at elevated heights. Platforms are moveable and elevate workers to reach building exteriors, windows, power lines and more. In addition to vertical reach, lift platforms can move operators up and over structures, providing more versatility and efficiency for completing tasks. Aerial work platforms are also commonly referred to as cherry pickers, boom lifts, aerial devices, work platforms, access platforms, lift platforms or mobile elevated work platforms (MEWP).

Brakes

When an elevated work platform is fully extended, a reliable braking system is critical for both operator and jobsite safety. Aerial work platforms have multiple brake types including dynamic and parking. A dynamic brake is an integrated system that can slow and stop the platform while in motion. Parking brakes are essential to keep the machine still when parked. An automatic brake control system automatically engages brakes when an operator switches the travel switch off for additional safety and peace of mind.

Fall Arrest System

A fall arrest system is a system that helps to prevent falls from heights and lower the risk of aerial work platform-associated injuries and accidents. This safety system includes a full-body harness, an anchor point and a connecting device. To evenly distribute the force of a fall, a harness uses straps connected to the thighs, shoulders and pelvis to decrease the likelihood of serious injury to a worker. Harnesses also have connections for attaching lanyards, deceleration devices or lifelines for additional operator safety.

Maximum Load Capacity

Maximum load capacity is the total amount of weight an aerial working platform can hold while remaining safe for operator and jobsite use. The maximum load capacity should always account for the weight of the lift operator and any additional equipment or tools onboard during operation. When the lift exceeds the maximum capacity, it is susceptible to tipping over and can cause unnecessary injury to operators or surrounding workers.

Outriggers

An outrigger is a piece of equipment used on aerial work platforms, like scissor and boom lifts, to help prevent tip-overs and instability. Commonly used on rough terrain or uneven ground, outriggers connect to the base of an aerial work platform, creating a wider footprint on the ground while lifting and leveling the machine.