American Mortuary Equipment

Mortuary Lifts: Powered, Hydraulic & Manual Scissor Lifts

Compare professional mortuary lifts for funeral homes, crematories, hospital morgues, medical examiner facilities and anatomy programs. Start with the low-profile powered lift for daily, single-operator workflows, or choose the manual hydraulic alternative when simple foot-pump operation and a lower purchase price matter most.

Compare the two leading liftsRequest a facility quote

Choose a mortuary lift around the transfer

A mortuary lift, cadaver lift or body lift should reduce manual handling while matching the surfaces already in your facility. The right choice depends on the lowest transfer point, highest rack or retort position, load capacity, deck direction, aisle width, doorway clearance and preferred power source.

For many facilities, the practical decision is between a powered low-profile mortuary scissor lift and a manual hydraulic lift. Both are built around high-capacity professional body handling, but they solve different workflow and budget needs.

Featured mortuary lifts

Flagship powered option

Low-Profile Powered Mortuary Lift

From $5,997.25

This 1,000 lb powered double-scissor lift is designed for controlled transfers among cots, cooler racks, prep tables, body trays and crematory handling positions. A 12V DC battery and onboard charger support powered elevation, while the universal roller top supports side- and end-loading workflows.

  • 1,000 lb working capacity
  • 13-inch published minimum lowered height without scale
  • Approximately 13.5 inches lowered with optional scale
  • 67-inch by 27-inch deck
  • Powered elevation to 69 inches or more
  • Optional integrated digital scale

View powered lift details

Best fit: frequent daily transfers, low receiving surfaces and facilities that prefer push-button powered elevation.

Economical hydraulic alternative

1,000 lb Manual Hydraulic Mortuary Scissor Lift

From $4,579 without scale

The H1000-M is a heavy-duty manual hydraulic scissor lift for funeral homes, crematories, morgues and medical examiner facilities. Foot-pump actuation provides controlled height adjustment without a battery or electrical connection.

  • 1,000 lb working capacity
  • Manual hydraulic foot-pump operation
  • Single-operator positioning workflow
  • Heavy-duty casters with locking brakes
  • No-scale configuration: $4,579
  • Integrated-scale configuration: $4,999

View hydraulic lift details

Best fit: facilities prioritizing mechanical simplicity, reliable manual operation and lower initial cost.

Fit-critical specifications should be confirmed against the current factory drawing before ordering. Prices shown are current product configurations and can change.

Powered vs. manual hydraulic mortuary lift

Decision point Low-profile powered lift Manual hydraulic lift
Operation 12V battery-powered elevation with integrated charger Foot-pump hydraulic elevation; no battery required
Capacity 1,000 lb 1,000 lb
Lowest transfer 13 inches without scale; approximately 13.5 inches with scale Confirm the current factory drawing for your selected configuration
Loading direction Universal top supports side and end loading Confirm deck and transfer direction for the selected configuration
Starting price $5,997.25 without scale $4,579 without scale
Choose it when Powered lift cycles, low-profile access and frequent transfers are priorities Budget, mechanical simplicity and manual operation are priorities

What to verify before ordering a cadaver or body lift

Transfer heightsMeasure the lowest cot, tray or deck and the highest rack tier, table or retort position.
Load and platformConfirm working capacity, body-board or tray width, deck length and the need for an integrated scale.
Travel pathCheck door openings, turning radius, aisle width, floor transitions and elevator capacity.
Loading directionIdentify whether each receiving surface requires side loading, end loading or both.
Power preferenceCompare powered battery operation with manual hydraulic operation and charging access.
Freight and receivingPlan the commercial delivery point, unloading equipment and inside-placement needs before shipment.

Build a complete body-handling workflow

Mortuary lifts work best when they are planned with storage racks, trays, body boards, coolers and preparation-room equipment. Use these related resources to check the full transfer path.

Shop mortuary lifts, racks and storage systems →Compare body and casket lifts →Browse crematory lifts →Plan mortuary racks and cadaver storage →Compare mortuary cooler configurations →Read the mortuary lift buyer’s guide →Review freight and delivery planning →Explore equipment financing →

Mortuary lift FAQs

What is a mortuary lift used for?

A mortuary lift raises and positions bodies, caskets, cremation containers, trays or body boards between different working heights. Common transfers include cot to cooler rack, rack to prep table, table to transport deck and staging for a crematory retort.

Is a cadaver lift different from a mortuary lift?

The terms often describe the same general equipment. “Cadaver lift” is common in hospitals, medical examiner facilities and anatomy programs, while “mortuary lift” and “body lift” are common in funeral-home and crematory settings. The correct configuration still depends on capacity, working heights and loading direction.

Why choose a low-profile powered mortuary lift?

A low-profile powered lift is useful when the lowest receiving surface is close to the floor and the facility performs frequent lift cycles. Powered elevation reduces repeated manual pumping, and the featured universal top supports both side- and end-loading transfers.

Why choose a manual hydraulic mortuary scissor lift?

A manual hydraulic lift offers high-capacity positioning without batteries or charging. It is often the more economical choice for facilities with moderate lift frequency or a preference for simple foot-pump operation.

What minimum height should I use for the low-profile powered lift?

Use 13 inches as the published minimum lowered height for the no-scale configuration and approximately 13.5 inches with the optional scale. Earlier 12-inch marketing references conflict with the current published equipment description, so fit-critical orders should be checked against the current factory drawing.

Can American Mortuary Equipment review my facility measurements?

Yes. Send the lowest and highest transfer heights, load requirement, tray or board dimensions, loading direction, aisle and door clearances, and receiving conditions. The equipment team can use those details to prepare a fit review and formal quote.

Request a mortuary lift fit review

Share your transfer heights, loading direction and facility constraints. An equipment specialist can help compare the powered and manual hydraulic options and prepare a formal quote.

Prefer to talk? Call 1-888-792-9315 Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. ET.