Scissor Lift vs Cherry Picker: Which Access Platform Is Right for Your Job?

Selecting the right access platform can make a huge difference to the safety, speed, and overall cost of working at height. Two of the most widely used MEWPs, scissor lifts and cherry pickers, are often compared, and although both elevate operators, the way they work (and the jobs they suit) are very different.

A scissor lift provides vertical access with a large, stable platform for indoor or flat-surface work. A cherry picker offers horizontal outreach and flexible positioning around obstacles. APS supplies both, helping businesses choose the safest and most efficient option for their job.

At APS, we help contractors, facilities managers, rental companies, and construction teams choose the right platform every day. As the UK’s largest independent supplier, we offer one of the widest ranges of scissor lifts and cherry pickers in the country, backed by full servicing, LOLER inspections, and nationwide support through APS.

If you’re deciding between the two, this guide breaks down everything you need to know in practical, real-world terms.

What Is a Scissor Lift?

A scissor lift is a vertical access platform that raises the operator straight up using a cross-braced lifting mechanism. The platform stays completely level as it rises, and unlike boom lifts or cherry pickers, it doesn’t offer any horizontal outreach.

What makes scissor lifts stand out is their platform size and stability. They provide a wide area for operators to move, handle tools, or carry materials. This makes them particularly popular for work that needs space rather than reach.

Scissor lifts are ideal for:

• Warehousing and stock picking
  
• Internal fit-outs
  
• M&E installation
  
• HVAC and ducting
  
• Facilities and building maintenance
  
• Retail and commercial refurbishments
  

Scissor lifts come in electric, diesel, and hybrid models.

• Electric scissor lifts are quiet and clean, perfect for indoor work.
  
• Rough-terrain scissor lifts offer more power, larger tyres, and outriggers for outdoor use.
  

APS supplies scissor lifts from leading brands such as LGMG, Genie, and Niftylift, with both new and Approved Used models available from stock.

If you need vertical height, a stable platform, and a machine that is simple to operate, a scissor lift is often the most efficient choice.

What Is a Cherry Picker?

A cherry picker is a type of boom-style MEWP designed to deliver up-and-over access using a hydraulic arm. Unlike scissor lifts, cherry pickers offer horizontal outreach, making them ideal for jobs where you need to reach around obstacles or work across different areas from one position.

They come in several forms:

• Trailer-mounted cherry pickers – lightweight and easy to tow
  
• Truck-mounted – fast to deploy and excellent for roadside work
  
• Tracked spider lifts – narrow access machines that handle uneven ground and slopes
  
• Compact booms – self-propelled models for both indoor and outdoor use
  

Cherry pickers are ideal for:

• Telecoms and utilities
  
• Street lighting and signage
  
• Building and façade maintenance
  
• Arborist work
  
• Exterior cleaning and inspection
  
• Events and film production
  

APS supplies cherry pickers from trusted manufacturers including Hinowa, Niftylift, Genie, and BoSS, with models available for immediate delivery and with flexible finance.

If your job requires reach, articulation, or precision positioning, a cherry picker will almost always be the better fit.

Scissor Lift vs Cherry Picker: The Key Differences

Although both machines lift operators safely to height, the similarities stop there. Each platform is engineered for a very different working style.

1. Vertical Height vs Horizontal Outreach

• Scissor lifts travel straight up and down.
  
• Cherry pickers move up, out, and around, offering the flexibility to work over machinery, hedges, vehicles, or irregular surfaces.
  

If you only need height, choose a scissor lift.
If you need to reach over something, choose a cherry picker.

2. Platform Space

Scissor lifts offer much larger platforms, often big enough for two or more operators plus tools or materials.

Cherry pickers have smaller baskets designed for precision rather than workspace.

3. Indoor vs Outdoor Use

• Electric scissor lifts are perfect for indoor environments with smooth floors.
  
• Diesel cherry pickers excel outdoors, especially on varying terrain.
  

Tracked cherry pickers also handle slopes, mud, and gradients extremely well.

4. Mobility and Manoeuvrability

Cherry pickers are built for movement across the job site, repositioning, and adjusting the boom to multiple angles.

Scissor lifts are more restricted: move, stop, elevate, and work, but with excellent stability and simplicity.

5. Terrain Capability

• Scissor lifts: best on level, flat surfaces (unless using rough-terrain variants).
  
• Cherry pickers: designed to cope with uneven ground, grass, gravel, and slopes.
  

6. Setup Time

Scissor lifts have the quickest setup of any MEWP.
Cherry pickers may take a little longer, especially when stabilisers are used, but offer much greater flexibility once elevated.

7. Operator Skill Level

Both require proper IPAF training, but cherry pickers demand more directional control due to articulation and outreach.

APS provides operator training through IPAF-approved partners.

When to Choose a Scissor Lift

A scissor lift is often the right choice when your job involves:

• Straight-up access
  
• Indoor or warehouse environments
  
• Tasks requiring space for tools/materials
  
• Repetitive vertical access
  
• Lower working heights
  
• Needing minimal noise and zero emissions (electric models)
  

Scissor lifts are also more affordable to purchase and maintain, making them popular with rental fleets and construction teams looking for a dependable, low-cost machine.

APS offers new, refurbished, and Approved Used scissor lifts, all backed by industry-leading APS Aftercare support for servicing, LOLER, and repairs.

When to Choose a Cherry Picker

Choose a cherry picker when your project requires:

• Horizontal outreach
  
• Flexible, multi-position access
  
• Working around structural obstacles
  
• Outdoor or complex terrain
  
• High-level external maintenance
  
• Up-and-over reach for telecoms or utilities work
  

If your operators frequently need to change working positions, move across a site, or reach over objects, a cherry picker will provide far more capability than a scissor lift.

APS stocks everything from compact electric booms to large diesel articulating units, as well as towable and tracked cherry pickers for narrow access and uneven surfaces.

Scissor Lift vs Cherry Picker: Cost, Maintenance & LOLER Compliance

1. Cost

Scissor lifts are generally cheaper to buy, transport, and run. They have fewer moving parts and simpler hydraulics.

Cherry pickers, with their boom sections, articulation points, and outreach mechanisms, sit at a higher price point.

APS provides flexible finance packages on both types, along with cost-effective Approved Used options.

2. Maintenance

Cherry pickers tend to require slightly more servicing because of their additional moving components. However, both machine types need regular checks and planned maintenance.

Through APS Aftercare, customers get:

• Fixed-price servicing
  
• Two six-monthly LOLER examinations
  
• Full inspection reporting
  
• Rapid breakdown support
  
• Genuine OEM parts from our in-house department
  
• Optional refurbishment for extending machine life
  

3. Compliance

Both scissor lifts and cherry pickers must have a LOLER thorough examination every six months when used to lift people, which is almost always the case.

APS manages LOLER scheduling, documentation, and repairs, keeping your fleet safe, legal, and ready to work.

Why Choose APS?

APS is the UK’s largest independent supplier of powered access equipment, which means customers get wide choice, honest advice, and fast delivery.

We stock hundreds of machines, including:

• Scissor lifts
  
• Cherry pickers
  
• Boom lifts
  
• Spider lifts
  
• Material lifts
  
• Compact and specialist access platforms
  

We proudly represent market-leading brands:
LGMG, Hinowa, Genie, Niftylift, BoSS, Wienold, ToughLift, and more.

Every machine comes with the option of:

• Flexible finance
  
• LOLER compliance support
  
• Fixed-price servicing
  
• Rapid breakdown response
  
• OEM parts availability
  
• Operator training via IPAF-approved partners
  

Whether you’re purchasing your first MEWP or expanding a large fleet, APS provides the product knowledge, aftercare, and industry experience needed to make the right decision.

FAQs

Is a scissor lift safer than a cherry picker?
Both are safe when used correctly. The safest choice depends on your environment and working pattern.

Which is better for indoor work?
A scissor lift is usually best due to its clean electric power options and stable platform.

Which is better for rough terrain?
A cherry picker, especially tracked or 4×4 models.

Do both require LOLER inspections?
Yes, both must be inspected every six months under LOLER regulations.

Does APS supply Approved Used platforms?
Yes. APS holds a large stock of Approved Used machines, all inspected and supplied with full certification.

Need Help Choosing? The APS Team Is Here to Help.

Unsure which platform is right for your job? APS provides clear, unbiased guidance backed by decades of experience. With new and Approved Used machines available from stock, plus full Aftercare servicing and LOLER support, we’ll help you choose a solution that keeps your operations safe, efficient, and productive.

Speak to our team or browse our current range of scissor lifts and cherry pickers today.
Call 01480 278002 or visit aps.vendo-staging.co.uk.