Mobile crane hire: lifting capacity, reach and hourly price
Lifting capacity is not the same as reach
The most common mistake when hiring a crane is to look only at the tonnage. A “25-tonne” crane lifts that weight only close to itself, and the further the boom reaches, the less it can lift. So what matters is the combination of load, reach and height. A 4-tonne roof slab at 20 metres can need a much stronger machine than you would expect.
Find out the real weight of what you are lifting and where the crane can stand. It is often better to pick a machine with some margin than to risk working at the limit.
What the cost is made of
- Crane class: 16, 25, 50 tonnes and more have different hourly rates.
- Minimum shift: often 4–8 hours, even if you need less.
- Travel: moving a large crane to the site may be charged separately.
- Riggers: whether you need them and who supplies them.
- Site conditions: uneven ground, outriggers, limited space.
What to put in your request
- Lifting capacity — for example, 25 t.
- Boom reach and lifting height.
- What to lift — slabs, structures, equipment, the weight of one piece.
- Duration — an 8-hour shift.
- Date — Monday.
- Site address.
- Access — narrow gate, wires, ground.
- Riggers — needed or not.
- Budget, if you want to name one.
Example: “I need a mobile crane of 25 t or more in Toronto, to fit roof slabs of 4 t each, reach about 20 m. Monday, an 8-hour shift, 2 riggers needed. The gate is narrow, and there are no wires above the plot. Budget up to $42 per hour.”
How to compare offers
You write one request, and crane owners in your area reply in the chat: which machine, the price per hour or per shift, travel, and whether riggers are included. BlaBlaPrice shows the best-fitting offer first, with reviews next to each. Each provider sees where they stand and can improve their terms. Your contacts stay hidden until you choose a provider.
Compare on the same parameters: the class and the lifting figure at your reach, what exactly is in the price (travel, waiting time, fuel), and whether there is insurance for the work and an experienced operator. If the load is heavy, ask for the crane's load chart for the reach you need. Also check that the operator has the proper licence and that the crane is inspected regularly. Tell the provider in advance if outriggers have to stand on soft ground, because you may need extra pads.
To lift people to a height, see a cherry picker, and for moving loads around a yard or warehouse see a forklift or loader. To see how it all works, read the “How it works” page.
