How Much It Costs To Rent a Crane

Cranes are the most effective way to move heavy loads on various projects. Renting offers the easiest access to different types of cranes on a daily, weekly or monthly basis without purchasing one.

Teams can rent cranes through a national online rental network or local crane service. In some cases, online networks help you find equipment with a local partner, which provides the convenience of searching online and the ease of working with a nearby company.

Before renting a crane, read on to learn about the following:

• Prices for average crane rentals
• Factors that affect the rental cost
• Advantages of renting a crane instead of buying one

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Crane Rental Prices

Crane rental costs depend on many factors, so requesting a quote from a quality vendor returns the most accurate price. Because each model has unique features and specifications, there is no simple answer to how much it costs to rent a crane. Nonetheless, it helps to know the range of rental costs. Generally speaking, small mobile cranes cost around $200 per day to rent and large operated cranes cost closer to $1,000 per day, while large tower cranes can cost around $15,000 to rent for a month.

Besides the rental price, make sure you consider additional costs that may be involved:

• Delivery and assembly: Many cranes must be delivered to the job site, like crawler cranes, or assembled, like tower cranes.
• Permits: Cranes require permits to operate, so check your local jurisdiction for the fees and paperwork involved.
• Qualified personnel: All cranes require certified operators, riggers and signal persons to ensure safe lifting.
• Other fees: Using a crane may involve disconnecting utility lines, preparing a lift plan or paying for overtime.

Factors That Affect Rental Cost

Other details can influence a crane’s total price, and understanding them will help you make the best decision for your particular needs.

These are the main factors in determining the cost to rent a crane:

• Type of crane: Depending on the model you rent, costs will range from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars. Small carry deck cranes are inexpensive, whereas operated cranes or tower cranes cost much more.
• Lifting capacity: The more a crane can lift, the more it will cost. Some of the largest mobile cranes haul more than 1,000 tons.
• Location: Rental prices can vary dramatically depending on your country or state.
• Duration of rental: While it is usually more expensive to rent a crane for extended periods, some renters offer discounts when you rent on a weekly or monthly basis.
• Current demand: During construction booms, high demand drives prices up.

Considering these factors will help you better understand the total price when requesting a quote.

You should also decide whether renting a crane or purchasing one makes more sense for your business.

Advantages of Renting a Crane

Though purchasing a crane can be a reliable long-term investment for some companies, most teams are better off renting for many reasons.

Consider these points if you want to buy a crane:

• Less capital investment: Purchasing a crane takes significant capital — from tens of thousands of dollars for smaller cranes to millions for larger cranes — which many companies can’t afford. Renting a crane saves money without lowering productivity.
• Transportation and storage costs: Transporting a crane to your job site and storing it when the equipment isn’t in use can incur additional charges.
• Maintenance costs: If you buy a crane, you’re responsible for regular maintenance to ensure safe operation.
• Less flexibility: When you buy a crane, you are limited to its specifications and capabilities.
• Depreciation costs: A crane loses value over time like other assets, decreasing the value of your investment.

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By contrast, crane rentals offer flexible pricing, short-term savings and no depreciation costs. Additionally, since you can rent a different crane for each job, you’re not stuck with a single model that isn’t ideal for future situations. Finally, renting means you won’t have to perform maintenance on your crane or store it between projects, saving you money over time.

When you’re ready to start your next job, using an online rental network is the easiest way to rent a crane. Request a quote on the crane you need for detailed pricing information. Renting a managed and operated crane is an excellent option to consider — these hourly, daily, weekly or monthly rentals include qualified personnel to operate the crane.

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