The lights are ready, the wreath is unpacked, and the Christmas tree is going to look great. Now comes the practical question: How are you going to reach everything?
Choosing a lift for holiday decorating starts with the job. Decorating an 18-foot tree inside a church is different from hanging lights along a roofline or installing a wreath above a storefront entrance. Height matters, but so do the distance you need to reach, the ground beneath the lift, and the space available to get it into position.
At Rental Stop, our scissor lifts and aerial lifts give homeowners, businesses, churches, and decorating crews options for projects throughout Dallas–Fort Worth. Here is how to narrow down the right fit.
Quick Guide: Match the Lift to Your Decorating Job
These are starting points for a rental conversation. The final choice depends on the exact machine and your site.
| Decorating task | Lift to consider | What determines the fit? |
|---|---|---|
| Decorating an 18-foot Christmas tree on a suitable indoor floor | 19-foot battery scissor lift | Can the platform get close enough to the branches and topper without overreaching? |
| Decorating a wide tree with lower branches blocking access | Articulating boom lift | Sideways reach, clearance over branches, and room for the machine to enter and set up |
| Hanging garland or decorations directly overhead in an open room | Battery scissor lift | Work height, floor capacity, platform space, and total load |
| Installing a decoration in a smaller indoor work area | One Man Lift 24′ Battery | One-person task, doorway clearance, and full setup footprint |
| Hanging roofline lights or wreaths from an accessible setup area | TM34 Towable Lift Battery or TM50 Towable Lift Battery | Height plus horizontal reach from a suitable setup location |
| Installing lights along several building sections or decorating multiple outdoor trees | SD50 4×4 Self Drive Lift or SP45D 4×4 Drivable Lift | Ground conditions, access, and how often the lift must be repositioned |
| Hanging lights in an area with restricted access | TD34TN Track Lift | Actual opening dimensions, turning room, ground support, and setup clearance |
What Lift Is Best for Decorating a Tall Christmas Tree?
Depending on the size of the tree, a 19-foot battery scissor lift is a reasonable option to discuss first when the tree is on a firm, level, load-bearing surface and the platform can get close enough to the work.
For a tree that is 18-foot does not automatically mean a 19-foot lift is the right rental.
A narrow tree may allow you to position the platform beside the branches. A wide tree, raised display base, or surrounding decorations may keep the lift several feet away. In that situation, extra vertical height does not solve the problem. You need to evaluate horizontal access.
Before choosing, tell us:
- The tree’s total height, including its stand and topper.
- Its width at the base and around the areas you need to decorate.
- Whether you need to reach the outer branches or the center for a topper.
- Whether it is indoors or outdoors.
- The surface around it and the available approach paths.
For a wide tree, an articulating boom lift may be the better fit because its jointed arm can position the basket up and over an obstruction. Indoors, that option still depends on suitable power, doorway clearance, floor loading, and setup space. A boom lift that reaches the tree may be too large for the room.
Plan to reposition as needed around the tree. Never compensate for poor access by climbing the rails or leaning out of the platform.
What Lift Should I Use to Hang Christmas Lights Along a Roofline?
Our towable, self-drive, drivable, and track-mounted Nifty Lifts (also known as boom lifts or cherry pickers, can all be options for hanging Christmas lights. The best fit depends on where you can position the machine, how far you need to reach, and how often you will need to move.
A boom lift/cherry picker is especially helpful when landscaping, a porch, or an overhang prevents you from working directly beneath the lights. Its arm provides horizontal reach as well as height.
TM34 and TM50 Towable Lifts
Our TM34 Towable Lift and TM50 Towable Lift are options for roofline lights, wreaths, and entrance decorations when you have towing access and enough room to set up.
The TM50 offers greater maximum height and outreach than the TM34. Choose based on the attachment point and the distance from the available setup location. Both require adequate space and support for their outriggers, the stabilizing supports that extend from the base.
If you plan to tow, let us help you confirm your vehicle and hitch requirements before pickup.
SD50 4×4 Self Drive Lift
Consider our SD50 4×4 Self Drive Lift when your decorating project covers several building sections or multiple outdoor trees.
Its self-drive capability allows you to reposition around the property without reconnecting to a tow vehicle. It still requires outriggers for elevated work, so each new position needs a suitable setup area.
SP45D 4×4 Drivable Lift
Our SP45D 4×4 Drivable Lift is another option for longer building fronts and decorating projects that require frequent repositioning.
Tell us about your travel route, ground conditions, and required outreach so we can help determine whether it fits the job. This lift is delivery only.
TD34TN Track Lift
Our TD34TN Track Lift is worth considering when a restricted entrance or access route makes it difficult to reach the decorating area.
Measure the narrowest opening and allow for turns, overhead clearance, and the full setup footprint. Tracks do not make every soft, wet, or sloped surface suitable for operation.
Could a Scissor Lift Work Instead?
One of our battery scissor lifts may work when it can be positioned directly beside the building on a suitable firm, level surface. For outdoor work, the specific machine must be approved for outdoor use.
If a porch or landscaping keeps the platform away from the attachment point, a boom lift may provide the access you need.
Before reserving, measure both the height of the lights and the horizontal distance from the possible setup location. Maximum height and maximum outreach are not necessarily available at the same time. The machine’s reach diagram determines where the basket can go at a particular height.
For example, lights 25 feet above the ground and 15 feet behind the available setup area require checking both measurements together. Call 972-336-0059 with your measurements and site details so we can help you compare the options.
What Is Best for Indoor Garland, Wreaths, and Ceiling Decorations?
A battery scissor lift is a useful starting point for work directly overhead in an open indoor area. Think garland in a fellowship hall, decorations in a showroom, or holiday displays in a commercial lobby.
We offer battery scissor lifts in 19-foot, 26-foot, 32-foot, and 40-foot sizes. Choose based on the actual attachment height and access, then confirm platform capacity and permitted occupancy for the assigned unit.
A One Man Lift 24′ Battery may suit a one-person decorating task where a smaller unit is useful. This lift accommodates one person and has a 350-pound platform capacity.
However, fitting through the doorway does not mean a lift will fit when fully set up.
For indoor work, discuss battery-powered options and any floor-protection requirements before booking.
What Lift Works for Outdoor Trees or Several Decorating Locations?
For outdoor projects that require moving between trees or different sections of a property, ask about the SD50 4×4 Self Drive Lift and SP45D 4×4 Drivable Lift.
The SD50 can reposition on-site without a tow vehicle, but it uses outriggers for elevated work. Repositioning means following the machine’s lowering, travel, and setup procedures.
The SP45D is another option to discuss for projects with multiple work locations. Reminder, this lift is delivery only.
If access is restricted, ask whether the TD34TN Track Lift fits your route and job.
What Is the Difference Between Platform Height and Working Height?
Platform height is how high the platform floor rises. Working height includes an estimated reach above that floor.
Working height is a planning figure, not a promise that every person can comfortably perform every task at that height. Attaching a large topper with both hands may require a different position than reaching up to clip a lightweight strand of lights.
What Do the Zones on a Scissor Lift Mean?
Some scissor lifts have different operating zones with different height and load limits.
For example, our 26-foot battery scissor lift has the following zones:
- Zone A: 20-foot platform height with an 800-pound limit.
- Zone B: 26-foot platform height with a 500-pound limit.
Do not assume the larger capacity applies at the greater height. People, tools, and decorations all count toward the load.
Can I Use a Battery Scissor Lift Outside?
Only if the specific machine is approved for outdoor use and the site meets its operating requirements.
Battery power alone does not establish outdoor suitability. Confirm the permitted outdoor height, occupancy, wind limit, and ground conditions. A paved area can still have a slope, weak section, or drop-off that makes it unsuitable.
For holiday decorating, also discuss large wreaths, bows, or panels that can catch wind. Do not attach decorations to the lift or carry oversized materials.
What Should I Have Ready Before Calling Rental Stop?
A few measurements can make the conversation much easier:
- The task: Tree lights, topper, roofline, wreath, garland, or another installation.
- The height: Ground or floor to the actual attachment point.
- The setback: Distance from the possible lift location to the work.
- The access route: Narrowest doorway or gate, overhead clearance, turns, and steps.
- The surface: Concrete, finished flooring, pavers, grass, gravel, or soil.
- The load: Number of people plus tools and decorations.
- The schedule: Installation, removal, and delivery or pickup needs.
Let’s Find the Lift That Fits Your Holiday Project
Before you untangle the lights, let’s figure out how you will reach them.
Call 972-336-0059 with your decorating plans, measurements, and site details. We can help you compare lift options, confirm availability and transportation, and plan for both installation and takedown.
Explore Rental Stop’s lift rentals or contact our team to get started.
