Lift coefficients, C-L, of single bubbles in linear shear flows are measured to investigate effects of the bubble shape, the liquid velocity gradient and the fluid property on C-L. The range of the Morton number, M, tested is from logM = -6.6 to -3.2. The shapes of bubbles are spherical and ellipsoidal. A correlation of bubble aspect ratio for single bubbles in infinite stagnant liquids proposed in our previous study can give good evaluations for bubbles in the linear shear flows. The C-L of spherical bubbles at low bubble Reynolds numbers, Re, depend on the dimensionless shear rate Sr and Re and decrease with increasing Re. These characteristics agree with the Legendre-Magnaudet correlation. The use of a single dimensionless group such as Re, the Eotvos number, the Weber number and the Capillary number cannot correlate C-L of non-spherical bubbles. The trend of the critical Re for the reversal of the sign of C-L is the same as that for the onset of oscillation of bubble motion, which supports the mechanism proposed by Adoua et al., at least within the range of -6.6 <= logM <= -3.2. An experimental database of C-L is provided for validation of available C-L models and CFD. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.