Cherry picker hire: how to pick the right height and not overpay
Start with working height and reach
The main figure for a cherry picker is the working height, not the length of the boom on paper. Reach matters too: if you cannot park right next to a tree or a building front, you need a machine with more horizontal outreach, and that is usually a different, bigger vehicle. So measure the height you will really work at and add a few metres to be safe.
Second is the type. An articulated boom lift gets around obstacles and works “over” a roof or wires; a telescopic one is simpler and goes higher in a straight line. The size of the basket (one or two people, with tools) also affects your choice.
What affects the price
- Height: a tall lift needs a bigger vehicle, so the hourly rate is higher.
- Minimum booking: often 3–4 hours, even if the job is shorter.
- Travel: getting to the site and back may be charged separately.
- Access: soft ground, a narrow gate or overhead wires need an experienced operator.
- The work itself: tree trimming, facade cleaning, or fitting signs and lights take different amounts of time.
What to put in your request
- Lift height — for example, 22 m.
- Type of work — tree trimming, installation, facade.
- Type of lift — articulated, telescopic, basket for two.
- Date and duration — tomorrow, 4 hours.
- Site address — city and area.
- Access — narrow gate, wires, ground.
- Budget, if you want to name one.
Example: “I need a cherry picker with a lift height of 20 m or more in Manila, to trim tall trees. Articulated, basket for 2 people, 4 hours. The gate is narrow, with wires above it. Tomorrow morning. Budget up to ₱1,300 per hour.”
How searching through BlaBlaPrice works
Owners of cherry pickers in your area see the request and reply in the chat with offers: which machine, the hourly price (or what it depends on), the minimum booking, travel. Each of them can see where their offer stands, so they often improve their terms. BlaBlaPrice shows the best-fitting offer first, with reviews next to each. Your phone number stays hidden until you choose a provider.
Compare more than the hourly rate: whether travel is paid for, whether there is an operator and insurance for the work, whether a helper comes with the lift, and what happens if the job runs long. For work near power lines, ask whether the operator has experience and what safe distance they keep. For tree trimming, check whether you need a separate crew with chainsaws and who takes the branches away, because that is often charged separately from the lift hire.
If you need to lift a load, see a crane, and for digging work see an excavator or bulldozer. To see how it all works, read the “How it works” page.
