Cherry Picker Hire: Everything You Need to Know Before You Book

Written by: Colin Morton, Building Materials - Category Manager

Date: 27 May 2026

Categories: Access, Tips & Advice - Access, Building & Hardware, Construction, Tips & Advice - Building & Hardware

⏱ Read time: 5 min 📊 Difficulty: Intermediate 👷 1 to 2 people

The fascias have needed doing for three years. The gutter has been growing its own ecosystem since autumn. The top of the garden wall has a persistent damp problem that can only be fixed from a height you can't sensibly reach with a ladder. May has finally arrived, the weather has relented, and it's time to actually do something about all of it.

A hired cherry picker - properly called a boom lift or MEWP (Mobile Elevating Work Platform) - is the practical solution for the majority of domestic working at height projects. It's faster and cheaper than scaffolding, safer than an extension ladder for sustained work at height, and straightforward to book from HSS DIY with next day delivery.

But a few things are worth knowing before you book. This guide covers all of them: types of cherry picker, working heights, what IPAF is and whether you need it, how to check your access before the machine arrives, and what safety steps matter.

For the comparison between scissor lifts and cherry pickers: Cherry Picker vs Scissor Lift: Which Powered Access Hire Is Right for Your May Project?

What Is a Cherry Picker - and When Do You Need One?

A cherry picker is a boom lift - an articulated or telescopic arm mounted on a base unit, with a work basket at the end. The arm moves up and outward, meaning the basket can be positioned away from the base machine and around obstacles. This is what makes a cherry picker the right choice when you need to work around something: a pitched roof, a hedge, an overhanging branch, or a garden feature you'd prefer not to demolish in the name of access.

Use a cherry picker when:

You need to reach over or around something - a roof overhang, a hedge, a garden wall - to access the work area
The work is on a facade, gutter, fascia or soffit where the angle of approach matters, not just the height
You're working on trees - pruning, inspecting, trimming branches that can't be reached from the ground
You're working on a chimney or roof element where a scissor lift platform would be too far from the wall

The Machines - Book at HSS DIY

🟡Articulated Electric Boom Lift | Up to ~14m working height | 1.5m wide | Battery powered

Best for: Domestic exterior maintenance, gutter/fascia/soffit work, tree work, indoor high-bay work

The most widely hired cherry picker for domestic projects. Articulated arm reaches around roof overhangs, garden features and trees. Battery provides 6-8 hours of continuous operation. Quiet and emission-free - suitable for residential areas and enclosed spaces. Check access route width (1.5m) before booking. IPAF 3b required on commercial sites.

Hire Articulated Electric Boom Lift

🟠Articulated Narrow Electric Boom Lift | Narrow width - better for restricted access | Same reach capability

Best for: Any project where the standard boom won't fit through the access route

Slimmer profile than the standard articulated electric boom - designed for access routes, gates or indoor spaces where the 1.5m width of the standard model won't pass. Same articulated arm capability for working around obstacles. If you've measured your access and the standard boom is too wide, this is the next choice. Check the specific width on the product page before booking.

Hire Articulated Narrow Electric Boom Lift

🟤Van and Truck Mounted Boom Lifts | Vehicle-mounted | Road access required | Trade focused

Best for: Highway maintenance, facilities management, telecoms - any roadside or road-adjacent elevated work

Vehicle-mounted boom lifts for jobs that require road access or multiple locations. Reach varies by model with safe working loads up to 280kg. The right hire for commercial facilities management, utility and highway work. Requires a vehicle driving licence for road use.

Hire Van & Truck Mounted Boom Lifts

Check Access Before You Book - This Is Non-Negotiable

The most common issue with cherry picker hire for domestic projects is discovering on delivery day that the machine won't fit through the gate. This is avoidable. Take ten minutes to check the following before booking:

1. Gate and access route width: Measure the narrowest point of your access route, not just the gate opening. The articulated electric boom is 1.5m wide - a standard garden gate at 0.9m won't accommodate it. The narrow electric boom is slimmer and may fit where the standard won't. Measure before you book, not when the machine arrives.

2. Overhead clearance: Check for tree branches, overhead cables and roof overhangs along the access route. A 14m boom lift sitting on a lorry or trailer is tall, even in its lowered position. Confirm the delivery vehicle can access your property before the booking.

3. Ground surface: Electric boom lifts need a reasonably firm, level surface to set up on. If the ground is soft, boggy or steeply sloped, confirm with the HSS DIY team before booking which model is appropriate.

4. Overhead power lines: Identify any overhead power lines near the working area before the machine arrives. The minimum safe distance is 9 metres from 11kV lines - greater for higher voltages. This is not a suggestion; it's a legal requirement and a genuine fatal hazard.

5. Working height: Measure from the ground to your work area, then add 1-2 metres for a comfortable working position inside the basket. This is your required working height. Check the machine's maximum platform height against this before booking.

IPAF - Do You Need It?

Commercial or construction site: Yes - IPAF category 3b is required for all boom lift operators. Check your card is current and covers boom operation at ipaf.org.

Domestic private property: Not legally required. However, HSS DIY and HSS Training strongly recommend completing an IPAF course before operating a boom lift for the first time. The training covers pre-use checks, harness use, emergency procedures and operating technique - all of which matter at 10 metres off the ground.

Book IPAF training: hsstraining.com - accredited 3b (boom lift) courses from HSS Training. If you're planning multiple projects at height, this is a worthwhile investment.

Safety - What Matters Most

IPAF 3b certification for boom lifts: Required on commercial sites. Covers articulated and telescopic boom operation. HSS Training at hsstraining.com runs accredited IPAF courses for both 3a (scissor) and 3b (boom) categories. Domestic use: not legally required, but strongly recommended for a first-timer in a basket 10 metres off the ground
Clip the harness in. Every time: The platform has an anchor point. The harness you wear must be attached to it before you elevate. Not clipping in is the single most common operator error on MEWPs and contributes to a significant proportion of working at height fatalities in the UK each year
Don't overreach: The basket goes where you need to work. Move the machine rather than leaning out over the guardrail. Reaching beyond the platform edge shifts your centre of gravity and is the leading cause of falls from boom lifts
Overhead power lines: 9 metres minimum clearance from 11kV lines. More for higher voltages. Map these before the machine arrives, mark them clearly, and don't operate the boom in their vicinity. This is a zero-tolerance hazard
Pre-use inspection before every shift: Controls, basket gate, emergency lowering, battery charge. Document it. If anything is wrong, don't use the machine - contact HSS DIY via live chat immediately
Wind: Electric boom lifts must not be operated in winds above the manufacturer's rated limit. Check the product specification and monitor conditions throughout the working day. Wind at height is stronger than wind at ground level

HSE working at height guidance: hse.gov.uk/work-at-height. Safety equipment available to buy at HSS DIY alongside your hire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a licence to hire a cherry picker for a home project?

Not for domestic private use on your own property - there's no legal requirement for IPAF certification when operating a cherry picker on your own land. For commercial or construction sites, IPAF category 3b certification is required for all boom lift operators. Even for domestic use, completing an IPAF course before your first hire is genuinely worthwhile - the training covers the pre-use checks, harness use and operating technique that make the hire safe and productive.

What working height do I need for gutter and fascia work on a two-storey house?

A typical two-storey UK house has a gutter height of approximately 5 to 6 metres. Add 1 to 2 metres for a comfortable working position inside the basket and you need a machine with a working height of at least 7 to 8 metres. The articulated electric boom lift from HSS DIY has working heights up to approximately 14m - more than sufficient for most domestic two-storey work with reach to spare for the overhang.

Can I hire a cherry picker and have it delivered to a domestic address?

Yes - HSS DIY offers next day delivery on powered access equipment to domestic addresses, subject to access. The key thing to confirm before booking is whether the delivery vehicle can access your property - a boom lift arrives on a lorry or trailer, which needs sufficient road width and an overhead clearance along the access route. If access is tight, contact the HSS DIY live chat team to discuss options before booking.

What is IPAF category 3b and why does it matter for cherry picker hire?

IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) category 3b covers the operation of boom lifts - articulated, telescopic and self-propelled types, including cherry pickers. The 3b card demonstrates that the holder has been assessed as competent to operate boom lifts safely. It's a legal requirement on commercial and construction sites in the UK. For domestic use, it's not required by law but is strongly recommended. HSS Training runs accredited IPAF courses covering 3b alongside 3a (scissor lifts).

How far does a cherry picker reach compared to a scissor lift?

This is where they differ fundamentally. A scissor lift goes straight up - it has no horizontal reach beyond the edges of the platform. A cherry picker can reach both upward and outward, meaning the basket can be positioned away from the base machine. On a typical articulated electric boom, the horizontal reach is several metres. This is what makes cherry pickers the right choice when you need to work around obstructions - pitched roofs, hedges, overhanging structures - rather than directly above the machine.

Is a cherry picker or scaffolding better for exterior house maintenance?

For most domestic exterior maintenance jobs - gutters, fascias, painting - a hired cherry picker is significantly more practical than scaffolding. Scaffolding takes a week to erect and dismantle, costs considerably more for a typical domestic job, and requires planning permission in some cases. A cherry picker can be on site within a day, used for the weekend's work, and returned on Monday. The downside is that you can only work at one point at a time - scaffolding gives you continuous access along the full length of the building. For a single-weekend job, the cherry picker is almost always the better call.

Useful External Sources

HSE — Working at Height: hse.gov.uk/work-at-height - Regulatory framework for all working at height activities including MEWP use.

IPAF — Card Check and Training: ipaf.org - Verify IPAF card validity and find accredited training providers including HSS Training.

HSS Training — IPAF Courses: hsstraining.com - Accredited 3b boom lift training. Required for commercial sites; recommended for all first-time operators.

HSS DIY YouTube: youtube.com/@HSSDIY - Equipment guides from The Home of Great Projects.

Book It, Check Your Access, Get Up There

Cherry picker hire is the practical alternative to scaffolding for almost every domestic working at height job - faster to set up, cheaper for a one or two day project, and significantly more flexible. The articulated arm gets you to places a scissor lift or a ladder simply can't.

The three things to sort before the machine arrives: measure your access route, check for overhead power lines, and confirm your IPAF card is current if you're working commercially. Everything else follows from there.