Boom lifts are sized by platform height, but height is only half the number that matters. A boom lift exists to reach out as well as up, and the horizontal outreach is what decides whether a 45 foot boom gets you over the parapet or leaves you three feet short. This chart lays out the standard boom lift sizes from 30 to 135 feet, articulating and telescopic, with platform height, working height, horizontal reach, up-and-over clearance where it applies, and platform capacity. AirWorx rents both types from Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Warsaw, Indiana, and Flora, Illinois, and delivers across both states.
Working height is platform height plus 6 feet, so a 45 foot boom puts your hands at about 51 feet. Articulating booms bend in the middle and reach up and over obstacles: a 45 foot articulating boom reaches out about 25 feet. Telescopic booms are straight and reach farther out at the same height: a 45 foot telescopic reaches out about 36 feet. If the work is over something, rent articulating. If it is far out or high up in open air, rent telescopic.
The four numbers on every boom lift spec sheet
Platform height is the height of the platform floor at maximum elevation and is the number in the model name. A Genie S-60 is a 60 foot platform. A JLG 450AJ is a 45 foot platform. Working height adds about 6 feet for the operator’s reach.
Horizontal outreach is how far the platform extends from the center of the turntable, measured at the height where the reach is greatest. It is the number most often overlooked and most often the reason a rental gets swapped.
Up-and-over clearance applies to articulating booms only. It is the height of an obstacle the boom can clear and still come down on the far side, the classic case being a roof edge, a machine, or a tree line.
Platform capacity on most booms is 500 pounds (two workers and tools). Heavy capacity models, usually marked XC or with a dual-capacity rating, allow 660 to 1,000 pounds, sometimes at reduced reach.
Model numbers tell you the type. Genie Z models are articulating (the second number is outreach: Z-45/25 is 45 feet up, 25 feet out) and S models are telescopic. JLG uses A for articulating and S for telescopic: 450AJ is a 45 foot articulating boom with a jib; 600S is a 60 foot telescopic; 860SJ is an 86 foot telescopic with a jib. The J in a JLG model or the “J” suffix on a Genie means a jib, a short articulating section at the platform that adds fine positioning and a few feet of reach.
Articulating boom lift size chart
Articulating (knuckle) booms are the machine for working over and around obstacles, and the smaller electric models are the standard indoor boom for ceilings, atriums, and warehouses. Figures are the manufacturer’s published nominal specs for the common current model in each class; confirm the exact unit before the rental.
| Size class | Platform height | Working height | Horizontal reach | Up and over | Capacity | Power | Typical models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 to 34 ft electric | 30 to 34 ft | 36 to 40 ft | 20 to 22 ft | 13 to 15 ft | 500 lb | Electric | Genie Z-30/20N, Z-34/22N, JLG E300AJ |
| 40 ft electric | 40 ft | 46 ft | 22 to 23 ft | 17 to 18 ft | 500 lb | Electric | Genie Z-40/23N, JLG E400AJP |
| 45 ft | 45 ft | 51 ft | 25 ft | 23 to 24 ft | 500 lb | Diesel, electric, or bi-energy | Genie Z-45/25 J, Z-45 XC, JLG 450AJ, E450AJ |
| 60 ft | 60 ft | 66 ft | 36 to 40 ft | 25 to 26 ft | 500 lb (660 lb XC) | Diesel | Genie Z-60/37, Z-62/40, JLG 600AJ |
| 80 ft | 80 ft | 86 ft | 51 to 60 ft | 28 to 29 ft | 500 lb | Diesel | Genie Z-80/60, JLG 800AJ |
| 125 to 135 ft | 125 to 135 ft | 131 to 141 ft | 60 to 75 ft | 60 to 75 ft | 500 to 1,000 lb | Diesel | JLG 1250AJP, 1350SJP (telescopic with articulating jib) |
The 45 foot articulating boom is the most rented boom lift in the industry, because 51 feet of working height and a 25 foot reach over a 23 foot obstacle covers most two- and three-story commercial exteriors, and it comes in electric versions for indoor work.
Telescopic boom lift size chart
Telescopic (straight or stick) booms give the most reach and height for the money and are the machine for steel erection, exterior work on tall buildings, bridges, and anything far out in open air. Almost all are diesel four-wheel drive.
| Size class | Platform height | Working height | Horizontal reach | Capacity | Typical models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 ft | 40 ft | 46 ft | 31 to 34 ft | 500 lb | Genie S-40, JLG 400S |
| 45 ft | 45 ft | 51 ft | 36 to 40 ft | 500 lb | Genie S-45, JLG 460SJ |
| 60 ft | 60 ft | 66 ft | 50 ft | 500 lb (660 to 1,000 lb XC) | Genie S-60, S-60 XC, JLG 600S, 660SJ |
| 65 ft | 65 ft | 71 ft | 55 to 57 ft | 500 lb | Genie S-65, JLG 660SJ |
| 80 to 86 ft | 80 to 86 ft | 86 to 92 ft | 70 to 76 ft | 500 lb (660 lb XC) | Genie S-80, S-85, JLG 800S, 860SJ |
| 105 ft | 105 ft | 111 ft | 80 ft | 500 lb | Genie S-105, JLG 1050S |
| 120 to 125 ft | 120 to 125 ft | 126 to 131 ft | 75 to 80 ft | 500 to 1,000 lb | Genie S-125, JLG 1200SJP |
| 135 to 150 ft | 135 to 150 ft | 141 to 156 ft | 80 ft | 500 to 660 lb | Genie SX-135 XC, SX-150, JLG 1350SJP, 1500SJ |
Telescopic booms above 80 feet are specialty rentals that typically require a low-boy for delivery and a site check for ground bearing; tell the rental desk early.
Articulating vs telescopic: which one?
Choose articulating when the work is over or around something. Roof edges, parapets, canopies, HVAC units on a roof, tree lines, parked equipment, stadium seating, atrium balconies, or any indoor work where you have to reach past ductwork or a mezzanine. The knuckle lets the platform come down on the far side of the obstacle.
Choose telescopic when the work is high, far out, or both, with clear air in between. Steel erection, curtain wall, exterior painting and caulking on tall buildings, bridges, signage, cell and utility work. At the same platform height, a telescopic boom reaches 10 to 15 feet farther out than an articulating boom and sets up faster.
Choose electric articulating for indoor work. Non-marking tires, zero emissions, and narrower chassis. The 30 to 45 foot electric articulating booms are the standard machines for warehouses, gyms, hangars, and retail interiors with obstacles a scissor lift cannot get past.
Choose a scissor lift if you do not need reach. If the work is directly above where a machine can park, a scissor lift is cheaper, carries more, and gives a bigger platform. The Scissor Lift Sizes and Heights chart covers those sizes.
How high does a 45 foot boom lift reach?
A 45 foot boom lift has a platform height of 45 feet and a working height of about 51 feet. An articulating 45 (Genie Z-45/25 J, JLG 450AJ) reaches out about 25 feet and clears an obstacle about 23 feet high. A telescopic 45 (Genie S-45) reaches out 36 to 40 feet. The same logic applies to every size: add 6 feet for working height, and check the reach figure for the type you are renting.
Quick reference: common jobs and the usual boom
| Job | Usual rental |
|---|---|
| Interior ceilings and structure with obstacles, 30 to 45 ft | 30 to 45 ft electric articulating |
| Two- and three-story exteriors, roof edges, canopies | 45 ft articulating |
| Warehouse exteriors, signage, four-story exteriors | 60 ft articulating or telescopic |
| Steel erection, curtain wall, precast | 60 to 86 ft telescopic |
| Stadiums, high bay industrial, bridges | 80 to 135 ft telescopic or articulating jib models |
Ground, access, and weight
Boom lifts are heavy: a 45 foot articulating boom weighs around 15,000 pounds, a 60 foot telescopic around 22,000 to 25,000 pounds, and the 120 foot class over 40,000 pounds. Check slab ratings, underground utilities, septic fields, and soft ground. Rough terrain booms have four-wheel drive and oscillating axles for grade, but the setup surface still has to hold the weight. Overhead power lines are the leading cause of boom lift fatalities; identify them before the machine arrives. The jobsite prep guide covers the checklist.
Renting a boom lift from AirWorx
Tell the rental desk the height you need to reach, how far out from where the machine can park, what it has to reach over, whether the work is indoors, and what the ground is. That is enough to pick articulating or telescopic and the right size. AirWorx rents electric and diesel booms from Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Warsaw, Indiana, and Flora, Illinois, with delivery across Indiana and Illinois, and every machine goes out inspected and serviced. Operator training is available at all four branches.
The Boom Lift Rental Guide covers power options, site fit, and operator requirements, and Choosing the Right Machine walks through boom versus scissor versus telehandler.
If buying makes more sense than renting for a long job, the used boom lifts for sale page lists what is currently available.
Frequently asked questions about boom lift sizes
What sizes do boom lifts come in?
Articulating boom lifts commonly come in 30, 34, 40, 45, 60, 80, and 125 to 135 foot platform heights. Telescopic boom lifts commonly come in 40, 45, 60, 65, 80, 86, 105, 120 to 125, and 135 to 150 foot platform heights. Working height is about 6 feet more.
How high does a 45 foot boom lift reach?
A 45 foot boom lift reaches a working height of about 51 feet. An articulating 45 reaches out about 25 feet and over an obstacle about 23 feet high; a telescopic 45 reaches out 36 to 40 feet.
How far out can a boom lift reach?
Horizontal outreach ranges from about 20 feet on a 30 foot articulating boom to 75 to 80 feet on 120 foot and larger telescopic booms. Telescopic booms reach farther than articulating booms at the same height.
What is the difference between an articulating and a telescopic boom lift?
An articulating boom has jointed sections that bend, letting the platform reach up and over obstacles. A telescopic boom is a straight extending section that gives more height and outreach in open air. Model names use Z or A for articulating and S for telescopic.
How much weight can a boom lift hold?
Most boom lifts carry 500 pounds on the platform, which covers two workers and tools. Heavy-capacity (XC) models carry 660 to 1,000 pounds, sometimes at reduced reach.
Can boom lifts be used indoors?
Yes. Electric articulating booms from 30 to 45 feet have non-marking tires and zero emissions and are the standard indoor boom lift. Diesel booms are for outdoor use.
How much does a boom lift weigh?
Roughly 15,000 pounds for a 45 foot articulating boom, 22,000 to 25,000 pounds for a 60 foot telescopic, and more than 40,000 pounds for 120 foot and larger booms. Always check the ground and slab rating before delivery.
Get a boom lift quote. Tell us the reach, what you are working over, and the ground, and we will spec the machine. Call 1-833-424-7967 or request a rental.
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