Mid Rise Scissor Lift Guide UK: 2700kg Portable vs 3000kg vs 3500kg
Short answer: a mid rise scissor lift raises a car about one metre with the wheels hanging free, which is ideal for tyres, brakes and suspension. We sell three: the 2700kg Portable Mid Rise Scissor Lift (£1,450 delivered, £1,550 installed) if you need to move it around, the 3000kg Platform Mid Rise Scissor Lift (£1,800 or £1,950 installed) for a fixed bay working on ordinary cars, and the 3500kg Mid Rise Scissor Car Lift (£1,900 or £2,050 installed) for heavier cars, SUVs and a proper tyre bay.
What a mid rise scissor lift is, and what it is not
A mid rise scissor lift is a pair of low platforms or pads on a scissor mechanism, driven by a hydraulic pump. You drive or push the car over it, set the pads under the lifting points and raise it. At around one metre the wheels are off the ground at a height where you can work standing up or sitting on a stool beside the car. It is not a full height lift: you cannot stand underneath the car. That is the trade-off for a lift that costs less, needs far less ceiling and, in the portable version, does not need bolting down.
If you are still deciding between a scissor and a post lift, read scissor lift vs 2 post lift first. This guide assumes you want a mid rise and helps you choose the right one.
Which jobs a mid rise does well
| Job | On a mid rise scissor lift |
|---|---|
| Tyres and wheels | Yes, the main job a mid rise is built for |
| Brake pads, discs, calipers | Yes, wheels off at a comfortable height |
| Suspension, shocks, wheel bearings | Yes, mostly from the side of the car |
| Sills, lower bodywork, detailing | Yes, good working height for prep and polishing |
| Oil and filter change | Possible, working from a low stool or creeper |
| Full exhaust, gearbox, clutch | Not really: you need to stand under the car |
If most of your work is in the top four rows, a mid rise is the most cost-effective lift you can buy. If you do a lot of exhausts, gearboxes and clutches, you need standing height under the car, which means a 2 post lift or a full rise scissor lift.
The three models side by side
| Model | Capacity | Type | Key points | Delivered | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2700kg Portable Mid Rise | 2,700kg | Portable, about 400kg, moves around the garage | Mechanical lock, car can enter from several directions | £1,450 | £1,550 |
| 3000kg Platform Mid Rise | 3,000kg | Platform, low profile | Lifting height around one metre, wheels-free | £1,800 | £1,950 |
| 3500kg Mid Rise | 3,500kg | Platform, low profile | Wheels-free, designed for tyre changing | £1,900 | £2,050 |
All prices include delivery to mainland England and Wales with our own vans, Scotland is £100 extra. The product pages have the user manual and specification for each model to download. See them together in the scissor lifts collection.
2700kg Portable Mid Rise: for garages that have to stay flexible
The 2700kg Portable Mid Rise Scissor Lift (JH-2800S) is the one to choose when the lift cannot live in one spot. It weighs only about 400kg, so you can move it around the workshop, push it to the side when you need the floor and bring it back for the next job. The car can be driven over it from several directions, and there is a mechanical lock to engage while you are working under the car, so you are not relying on oil pressure alone.
It suits:
- rented units and shared workshops where you are not allowed to drill the floor
- home garages that still have to take a car at night
- mobile mechanics moving into their first unit who want a lift that can come with them
- garages that want a second lift for tyre and brake work alongside a 2 post lift
It is the cheapest lift we sell, and the installed option only adds £100. We go deeper into moving and storing it in our guide to the portable car lift.
3000kg Platform Mid Rise: a fixed bay for everyday cars
The 3000kg Platform Mid Rise Scissor Lift is a wheels-free hydraulic lift bridge with a low profile and a lifting height of around one metre. It is built for changing tyres and lighter mechanical jobs such as oil changes and brake pads. The platform design gives a broad, stable contact under the car and the design complies with CE lifting standards.
Choose it if the lift will stay in one bay and your cars are mostly hatchbacks, saloons, estates and smaller SUVs. At 3,000kg capacity there is a sensible margin over the weight of most family cars. It costs £1,800 delivered or £1,950 installed.
3500kg Mid Rise: heavier cars and a busy tyre bay
The 3500kg Mid Rise Scissor Car Lift is the same wheels-free, low profile type with an extra 500kg of capacity, and it is specially designed for tyre changing. For £100 more than the 3000kg platform you get headroom for large SUVs, 4x4s, electric cars with heavy batteries and light vans. If you run tyres as a service, or if your customers bring in a mix of vehicles you cannot predict, this is the one we would choose. £1,900 delivered or £2,050 installed. The lifting height for this model is in the specification on the product page, or ask us.
How to choose in one minute
- Can you bolt the lift down and leave it in one place? No: the 2700kg Portable. Yes: go to question 2.
- Will you lift anything over about 2,200kg regularly (large SUVs, EVs, vans)? Yes: the 3500kg. No: go to question 3.
- Is tyre work going to earn you money? Yes: the 3500kg, built for tyre changing. No: the 3000kg Platform is enough.
Ceiling, floor and space
This is where a mid rise wins over everything else. A rough check: around 1,000mm lift height + the roof height of your tallest car + 100mm. For a 1.5 metre tall car that is about 2.6 metres, far less than the roughly 3.5 metres a full height 2 post lift needs. Many single garages with a flat roof or a low up-and-over door can take a mid rise when nothing else fits.
- Floor: it must be flat, level and solid concrete. A scissor lift on a sloping floor will not sit square. Fixing details are in each model's manual.
- Length and width: leave space to walk around the car and to roll wheels to a tyre changer or balancer.
- Power: these lifts are driven by a hydraulic power unit. Tell us what supply you have in the garage and we will confirm what you need.
Turning a mid rise into a tyre bay
A mid rise lift is the centre of a small tyre business. Wheels come off at waist height, go to the tyre changer and the balancer, and go back on without bending double. With our equipment the full setup looks like this:
- 3500kg Mid Rise Scissor Car Lift: £1,900 delivered
- Fully automatic tyre changer: £1,799
- Computerised wheel balancer JH-B90, accuracy plus or minus 1g: £749
- 200L air compressor, 13 CFM, 115 PSI, to run the tyre changer and air tools: £750 delivered
That is £5,198 for a complete tyre bay, or £4,748 with the 2700kg Portable lift instead. We cover the machines in detail in tyre changer and wheel balancer for a small garage.
Paying for it: buy online with card, Apple Pay, Shop Pay or Klarna (pay in 3 interest-free payments or spread the cost), or order by phone or WhatsApp and pay the driver on delivery by card, bank transfer or cash. See payment terms.
Using a mid rise scissor lift safely
- Centre the car. Position the pads or platform under the vehicle maker's lifting points, not under the floor pan, the sill edges or the battery of an electric car.
- Lift a few centimetres and check. Stop, look and give the car a gentle push. If it moves or sits unevenly, lower it and reposition.
- Engage the mechanical lock before you put any part of your body under the car. Never work under a car held only by hydraulics.
- Watch the weight shift. Removing heavy parts such as a rear axle or a battery pack changes the balance of the car on the lift.
- Clear the area before lowering. Tools, wheels, trolley jacks and feet out of the way of the scissor arms.
When a mid rise is not enough
If you want to stand under the car but still need a clear floor when the lift is down, look at the 3500kg Full Rise Scissor Lift at £2,700 delivered (£2,900 to Scotland). We compare the two in full rise vs mid rise scissor lift. If ceiling height allows, a 4000kg 2 Post Lift costs £1,700 delivered and gives full standing height under the car.
Questions and answers
What is a mid rise scissor lift used for?
Mainly tyres, wheels, brakes and suspension. It lifts the car about one metre with the wheels hanging free, so you can work standing or sitting beside the car.
How much is a mid rise scissor lift in the UK?
Our mid rise scissor lifts cost £1,450 (2700kg portable), £1,800 (3000kg platform) and £1,900 (3500kg) delivered. Installation adds £100 to £150.
Does a mid rise scissor lift need to be bolted down?
The 2700kg Portable Mid Rise weighs about 400kg and is designed to be moved around. For the platform models, check the fixing details in the manual or ask us.
What ceiling height do I need for a mid rise scissor lift?
Roughly 1,000mm lift height plus the roof height of the car plus 100mm. For a 1.5 metre tall car that is about 2.6 metres.
Which mid rise scissor lift is best for a tyre shop?
The 3500kg Mid Rise Scissor Car Lift: it is designed for tyre changing and has the capacity for SUVs and light vans. It costs £1,900 delivered.
Not sure which lift fits? Call us on 020 8220 9986 or message us on WhatsApp 07811 247454, every day 9am to 9pm. Send your ceiling height, floor and the cars you work on, and we will tell you which lift fits.
