Cherry picker

Cherry picker hire and purchase in South Africa

Updated 4 November 2026

A cherry picker hire in South Africa costs from about R 3,800 per day for a 22 m unit, and a 17 m unit lists at about R 3,933 per day. For a purchase, trailer-mounted boom lifts start from R 425,000 excl. VAT, according to listings found in November 2026. The quickest way to current rates for your site is a request on BlaBlaPrice, where the AI looks through sellers' price lists and asks for the working height and dates you need.

Licence and training before you operate

Operating a cherry picker or boom lift without the proper licence is illegal in South Africa, so check the operator's certificate before the hire starts. One training provider says its course is accredited by TETA, the QCTO and the Department of Labour. The course we found costs R 3,500 for theory and practice together. Students are asked for a copy of their ID or passport, two colour ID photos, a copy of an old licence and their own personal protective equipment.

Choosing the working height and platform

Working height and lifting height differ: one trailer-mounted machine has a 14 m working height and a 12 m lifting height. A 15.7 m electric unit lists a platform capacity of 320 kg. Hire units are offered from 10 m up to 57 m, in electric, diesel, articulated and telescopic types. Measure the height of the work, then add the reach you need, and state the platform capacity in kilograms in your request.

Season and delivery

November is late spring, and summer runs from December to February. Winter from June to August brings shorter days, so plan jobs that need daylight for the warmer months. Hire companies say they serve all provinces of South Africa, so delivery to Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town or Gqeberha is possible. Ask whether transport is included in the daily rate for your site address before you book.

What to write in the request

Give the lift height you need, the intended use (construction, maintenance, mining or cleaning gutters), the platform type, the start date and duration, the site address and access on site, and your budget. For a longer hire, ask for a monthly rent instead of a daily rate.

Sellers registered on BlaBlaPrice receive your request and reply in the chat with their own offer: price, terms and delivery. Your contacts stay hidden, and you choose with whom to exchange them. You can also send your request link to hire firms you already know. Start with a request on BlaBlaPrice, or check the vehicle and heavy equipment hire section.