If you are not likely to need to use a door and board lifter very often, you might find you have something else you can use rather than buying a specific tool for the job. Door or board lifters are quite simple tools, so there are a few possible alternatives, although some of them are more specialist tools.
Pry bars
Pry bars are levers, like door and board lifters, although they should be used with a scrap piece of ply or similar to protect the floor. The thin end of the bar, and its strength, allows it to be used in a similar way to a door or board lifter to raise sheet material from the ground. Pry bars can be adjusted with your hand, or with your foot to keep both hands free.
These chisel tools are designed to break bricks, so they are strong enough to support a door or similar panel. They have a wedge-shaped edge which can be placed under sheet material. With the aid of a small piece of wood placed under the bolster, it can be used in the same way as a door and board lifter to lever a sheet off the ground.
Air wedges
These wedges come flat, so they can be inserted into narrow spaces. They have a hand pump which is used to inflate the wedge. They can usually inflate to around 50mm and can take a load pressure of about 100kg. Once they have been inflated they can be locked, so they don’t lose air, and left in place.
Door stands
A door stand is used to clamp and hold a door in place while hinge or lock recesses are carved into it. They can then be used to assist with tilting and fitting a door to a frame. They can’t to be adjusted for different heights and usually have a limit to what they can hold of up to 50kg.
Board lifts
Board lifts, sometimes called board hoists or plasterboard lifters, are mechanised board and door lifters. They lift sheet material much higher than standard door and board lifters ever could, and can angle them in a wide range of positions. They’re commonly used to fit plasterboard to ceilings.
Door installation carts
These versatile tools are similar to a board lift. They can also be called door handlers or door jacks. They hold sheet material so it can be elevated and tilted into place for fitting, although they don’t lift as high as board lifts. These tools are more specialised than standard door and board lifters – they’re usually used in the trade with heavy industrial doors.