A pipe elevator comprised of a frame pivotally mounted on elongated hangers and having a body with an inward tapered opening that is configured to receive a length of pipe having an outwardly protruding collar around its periphery. A plurality of shoes is mounted within the body. The shoes are poweredly positionable upward and downward within the inward tapered opening of the body and thereby positionable radially inward and outward around the pipe. A means for biasing the shoes upward is provided whereby the weight of the pipe against the shoes will move the shoes around the pipe collar against the periphery of the pipe.