Forklift & loader

Forklift and loader hire in Australia

Updated 4 November 2026

Hiring a standard 2.5 t forklift in Australia costs about A$140 to A$220 a day, or A$315 to A$720 a week, excluding GST, according to hire rates published for October 2026. Loaders are priced by size and payload, so for a current quote for your site, create a request on BlaBlaPrice.

Licences and training costs

A forklift operator needs a licence, and the route depends on the state. A forklift truck licence course in Melbourne costs about A$360, including a temporary licence. In Victoria, the application goes in person with your NOA, form L2, valid photo ID and a WorkSafe Victoria application fee of A$71.55. In Queensland, a first-time licence including the course comes to about A$808, paid to two separate bodies. In Western Australia there are two costs, the training fee and a WorkSafe WA application fee. Plan both before you book.

Season and site conditions

Winter from June to August can leave the ground wet and soft, which affects where a forklift or loader can work safely, so check the surface before you book. Summer from December to February brings heat and long hours in the cab. November is late spring, a sensible time to plan hire for the warmer months.

How hire is quoted and what to put in the request

Hire is quoted per day and per week, excluding GST, so add the tax before you compare with a budget. Tell the request the loader or forklift type, the payload in tonnes, the lift height in metres, the engine (diesel or LPG), the work you need it for, the duration and the site address. Say whether you need an operator and what monthly rent you can pay. Sellers quote for the site you name, so the address matters as much as the machine.

On BlaBlaPrice you describe the machine and the job in your own words in the chat. BlaBlaPrice's AI asks for missing details, looks through sellers' websites and published rates in Australia, and shows the prices and businesses it found. Registered sellers reply in the chat with their own offer, delivery and terms. Your contacts stay hidden until you decide whom to contact. For heavier equipment, see crane or excavator and bulldozer.