The two-person double chair, which for many years was the workhorse of the ski industry, can move roughly 1200 people per hour at rope speeds of up to 2.5 m/s (8.2 ft/s). The four person detachable chairlift (high-speed quad) can transport 2400 people per hour with an average rope speed of 5 m/s (16.4 ft/s).

The speed of a chairlift depends on whether it is a "fixed-grip" lift or a "detachable" high-speed lift. Older fixed-grip chairlifts typically move at a constant speed of about 2 to 2.5 meters per second (roughly 4.5 to 5.5 miles per hour). These are slower because the chair is permanently clamped to the cable, and it must move slowly enough for skiers to safely load and unload. In contrast, modern detachable chairlifts (often called "high-speed quads" or "six-packs") move much faster, typically reaching speeds of 5 meters per second (about 11 miles per hour). These lifts utilize a complex "detachable" grip that allows the chair to disconnect from the fast-moving main cable at the stations, slowing down to a crawl for easy loading before accelerating back up to full speed on the line. Some of the newest, ultra-modern "chondolas" or high-capacity gondolas can even reach speeds of 6 or 7 meters per second. Factors such as wind speed, passenger volume, and safety stops for fallen skiers can cause these speeds to be adjusted by the lift operator throughout the day.