Crane Hire

Crane hire pricing depends on whether you book the machine only (dry hire) or the machine with a licensed operator (wet hire).

For larger mobile or all-terrain cranes, dry hire rates can run $200–$450/hr, while wet hire generally falls between $300–$600/hr+, depending on size, complexity and setup requirements.

What’s normally included in your base crane hire rate?

What extra costs should you budget for?

These are usually not in the base rate, but are very common add-ons:

Quick rule of thumb

If you’ve already got a licensed crane crew, dry hire is cheaper - but dry hire cranes are rare. This is because the suppliers usually prefer to wet hire or subcontract due to the strong legislative and safety obligations of lifting.

If you need someone to operate, rig and sign off the lift, wet hire is safer, faster, and usually cheaper overall once you factor in compliance and risk.

1) Get your three critical numbers

• Weight (W): load + rigging + hook/block (kg or tonnes).
• Radius (R): horizontal distance from crane’s centre of rotation to the load’s centre of gravity at pick/place (metres).
• Height (H): required lift height (to clear obstacles) + load height + rigging height (metres).

Add a dynamic/safety factor of 10 - 25% to W for wind, snatch, and real-world messiness.

2) Do the quick “moment” check (fast pre-screen)

Crane capacity falls as radius grows. A quick proxy is load moment:

Required moment (t·m) ≈ (W × factor) × R

Pick crane families whose rated moment and chart capacities at your R exceed that value with margin. Example: Spa + spreader + slings = 1.8 t. Factor 1.15 ⇒ 2.07 t. Radius 18 m > moment ≈ 37 t·m.

At 18 m, a small city crane/AT in the 35-50 t class often carries ~2–3 t; a 20-25 t Franna usually won’t (capacity collapses at long radius). Shortlist 40-60 tonne all-terrain or a city/franna crane, then verify on the actual chart.

3) Verify on the real load chart (no exceptions)

On the exact model’s chart, use the configuration you’ll set (outriggers fully extended/partial, counterweight, boom length, jib, slope = 0, etc.) and read the capacity at your radius. Then subtract hook + rigging. Stay within 75-85% of the rated number for sane margin.

4) Make sure the crane can physically reach

• Boom length / working height: Need H with headroom for hook & rigging.
• Obstacles & slewing room: Buildings, trees, powerlines, roof parapets.
• Access & ground: Gate widths, street permits, outrigger matting, ground bearing.

5) Quick selector (rule-of-thumb starting points)

6) Two common pitfalls (and easy fixes)

Undercounting rigging weight: Add the hook block, spreader bars, shackles, slings—often 200–800 kg+.

Mis-measured radius:. Measure from the slew centre to the load’s centre of gravity at ground level—not the crane bumper.

7) A simple sizing checklist you can hand to suppliers

Load: ___ t (incl. rigging ___ kg) > factored W: ___ t

Pick radius: ___ m; Place radius: ___ m

Required height (clearance): ___ m

Site constraints: access width ___ m; overheads/lines? ___; ground type ___; set-up area ___ m × ___ m

Time & penalties: after-hours? road occupancy? permits?

Preferred crane family (if any): ___

Send that and ask for: model, configuration, chart snippet at your radius, outrigger spread, ground pressure, and an all-in price (mobilise, rigging, traffic control if needed).

In Summary:

Use moment to shortlist, charts to decide, and site constraints to finalise. If you’re near the limit at your radius, step up a class or re-site the crane to shorten radius - it’s often cheaper than wrestling at the edge of the chart.

Yes - if you are carrying out any high-risk lift in Australia, you will need a lift plan and a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS). The type of document and who signs it off depends on the complexity of the lift and who has control of the site.

For standard or routine lifts (low risk):

The crane company normally prepares the lift plan and SWMS, and their supervisor or operator signs it off. The principal contractor simply reviews it to make sure it aligns with their site procedures.

For complex or higher-risk lifts:

(This includes large loads, long radius, live roads, near powerlines, dual cranes, or tight CBD conditions):

The principal contractor or PCBU is responsible for approving the lift, because they control the workplace. The crane hire company still prepares the documentation, but the PCBU must sign off the final method and confirm site controls (traffic, exclusion zones, ground bearing capacity etc).

In Summary:

| Who prepares it? | Crane hire company (wet hire) / your own team (dry hire) | | Who signs it? | The party who controls the site – usually the principal contractor/PCBU | | When is a full engineered lift plan required? | For critical or complex lifts |

Under WHS law, the principal contractor/PCBU always holds the primary duty of care. The crane company is responsible for the competency of the plant and its operator, but the overall lift approval sits with whoever has management and control of the site.

For a typical residential hot tub lift, crane hire usually costs between $500 and $1,500, though more complex lifts can go up to $2,500 - $3,000+ if the crane needs to reach over a house, work in a tight access street, or operate at a long radius.

Most crane companies charge a minimum of 2 - 3 hours, which starts when the crane leaves the depot and finishes when it returns. The price you pay will depend on the size of the crane required (based on weight and reach), access to your property, and whether traffic management or permits are needed.

What’s normally included in the cost

• The crane
• A licensed operator (wet hire)
• A rigger/dogman to help control the lift
• Basic travel time from the depot
• Setup and pack-down on site

What can increase the price

• Long-distance travel from the depot
• Tight access or obstacles (trees, fences, steep driveways)
• Needing a larger crane for height or outreach
• Traffic control if the crane sets up on the road
• Council permits on busy or narrow streets

In most cases, the simplest and most cost-effective option is a small mobile crane or Franna, but if the spa needs to be lifted over a house or from the street into a rear yard, a larger slewing or all-terrain crane may be required.

Booking a free site assessment (or sending photos and measurements) is the easiest way to confirm the correct crane size and avoid surprise costs on the day.

Yes - cranes are commonly used to lift and position mobile homes, tiny homes and modular dwellings when a tow truck can’t access the site. A crane allows the home to be lifted over fences, houses, trees or retaining walls and placed directly onto stumps, a slab or piers with millimetre accuracy.

The main considerations are the weight of the home, the lifting radius (how far the crane needs to reach), and site access. Smaller homes on trailers can often be lifted with a Franna or small mobile crane, while larger modular units usually require an all-terrain or crawler crane with a longer reach.

Crane lifting is generally the safest way to install a mobile home because it avoids dragging, ground damage, and corner strain on the structure. If the site is tight, sloping, or fenced in, a crane is almost always the preferred solution.

Most lifting jobs include a licensed operator and rigger/dogman, and the crane company will normally prepare a basic lift plan before work starts to ensure the home is placed safely and correctly.

It depends on where the container needs to be positioned and how far the crane must reach. For most residential or small commercial jobs, a Franna (pick-and-carry) crane or a mobile slew crane is the most common choice. These cranes have enough lifting capacity to move a 20-foot or 40-foot container and can place it into backyards, yards or work sites where trucks can’t access.

If the container needs to be lifted over a building, placed on a raised platform, or the reach distance is long, a larger all-terrain mobile crane may be required. At ports or industrial yards, purpose-built gantry or container cranes are used, but these are fixed to site and not brought to domestic properties.

Typical crane types used for shipping containers:

The key factor is lifting radius vs weight - a 20ft empty container might weigh as little as 2.2-2.5 tonnes, but a loaded 40ft unit can exceed 10 tonnes or more, which quickly dictates the crane size required.

Most crane firms will carry out a quick site check (often free) to determine which crane is safe and cost-effective for your lift.

Not always - but in many cases, yes. A permit is usually required when the crane or its lifting path impacts public land, such as a road, footpath, nature strip or neighbouring airspace. If the crane sits entirely on private property and does not swing over public areas, council approval is generally not needed.

A good general rule is if the crane or its boom swings over public land, you will need council approval. If everything stays within your property boundary, you usually won’t.

Where permits are normally required:

Where permits are usually not required:

Most reputable crane companies will organise the permit for you where needed, as it normally forms part of their lift planning and traffic management obligations. Councils may also require a traffic management plan or notice to neighbours if the street is narrow or busy.

For most jobs, you can book a crane with just a few days’ notice. Simple residential lifts (like moving a spa, steel beam or AC unit) are often booked 48–72 hours before the job. In some cases, if the crane is available and the lift is straightforward, companies can dispatch same-day or next-day.

However, the required notice depends on the complexity of the lift, permits, traffic management and crane size.

Can I hire a crane at short notice?

Yes - if availability allows. Many crane companies keep part of their fleet for urgent or short-notice work.

Same-day booking is usually possible when:

• The lift is simple
• The crane can set up on private property
• No road closure / council permit is needed
• You can provide photos & lift details quickly

You’ll struggle to get same-day booking when:

• Traffic control is required
• The crane needs to set up on a street or verge
• It’s a weekend or peak period (Mon mornings & Fri afternoons are busiest)

Tips for faster booking

• Send site photos early so the correct crane is chosen (avoids equipment swaps)
• Confirm load weight and radius (even an estimate helps)
• Book mid-week if you’re flexible - better availability and pricing
• Ask upfront if a traffic plan or permit is required

How to weigh setup time versus lifting capacity

Sometimes it’s tempting to book two smaller cranes for separate visits rather than one large machine with a higher day rate - but in most cases, a single larger crane is more cost-effective once you factor in setup, travel, and labour.

When one larger crane makes more sense

• The lift involves heavy or awkward loads that smaller cranes can’t safely handle.
• You want to complete the job in a single visit and minimise total labour.
• Mobilisation and demobilisation costs are high due to distance or traffic control.

When two smaller visits might be better

• The site has tight access or ground conditions that restrict large equipment.
• The lift can be split safely into smaller stages.
• The job requires work at two separate locations days apart.

Even though a larger crane has a higher hourly rate, it often saves money overall by reducing total setup, operator, and standby time. The best approach is to ask your crane provider for a comparison quote - they’ll calculate whether a single high-capacity crane or multiple smaller lifts will deliver the best value for your project.

The main difference comes down to what you are lifting and how safely it can be controlled. For lifting people, a telehandler is almost never permitted unless it has a certified work platform attachment and the operator holds the right ticket. A crane with a man basket is the safer and compliant option in most cases or a scissor liftor other type of elevated work platform.

• For long or awkward loads, a telehandler is often the more practical and cost-effective option - especially where manoeuvrability matters - provided the load stays within its rated capacity and stability limits.
• If people are going up in the air - you need a crane (or a telehandler with a certified man platform and the right operator ticket, which is less common on residential sites).
• If you’re moving or positioning materials - a telehandler is often safer and cheaper, especially for long/awkward loads in tight spaces.
• If the lift involves long reach or significant height - hire a crane.

A good rule of thumb is: Telehandler = material movement; Crane = critical lifts or personnel work

Safety & licensing differences between cranes and telehandlers

For any crane lift in Australia, two separate competencies are involved: (1) the crane operator, and (2) the person responsible for slinging and directing the load (dogger/rigger).

These roles are legally distinct under High Risk Work (HRW) licensing. If you don’t have a licensed dogger or rigger on-site when the crane arrives, the lift legally cannot start.

This is why most crane quotes include labour — you’re not only paying for the machine, but the legal competency behind it.

Who supplies the dogger/rigger?

In 99% of jobs, the crane company supplies both the operator and the dogman/rigger. This is why crane hire is usually quoted as wet hire - the labour and licences come with the machine. The only time the client supplies the dogger/rigger is on large commercial sites with in-house rigging crews (e.g. Tier 1 builders, infrastructure jobs, shutdowns, etc.).

For residential and standard construction lifts - the crane company provides them. Its always really important to ask the supplier, because their own policy may differ.

Quick examples

Crane pricing isn’t just “how big the crane is”. The real cost is determined by what configuration is needed to safely achieve your reach, and how long the crane (and crew) need to be on site. You don’t pay for the crane - you pay for the reach and the time required to achieve it safely.

Two hot tubs with the same weight can cost totally different amounts because one is in a front yard (short radius) and one must be lifted over a two-storey roofline into a backyard (long radius + more boom + more counterweight + more setup).

The major pricing factors are:

1. Load weight (tonnage)

• Heavier loads require a crane with higher capacity.
• Once you go up a size class, the hourly rate increases sharply because larger cranes:
• Cost more to mobilise and fuel
• Require more counterweight
• May need extra crew or escort vehicles

2. Radius / horizontal reach

The further the load is from the crane’s centre point, the more capacity is lost. Two identical loads can need very different cranes if one must be landed at 8m radius and the other at 22m.

This is why “weight alone” rarely decides the crane - weight + radius together does.

3. Boom length / height

• Height is the second reach problem.
• If the crane needs to get over a roofline, into a backyard, onto a multi-storey slab or over power lines, boom length increases - and longer booms require bigger machines.

4. Counterweight configuration

Different counterweight setups change what the crane can safely lift at a specific radius. More counterweight = heavier transport + more setup = more time and cost.

5. Time on site (including mobilisation)

Crane hire is almost always charged by the hour, with:

• Minimum 3-4 hour hire (even if the pick takes 30 mins)
• Travel time from the depot
• Setup + pack-down
• Waiting time (if loads aren’t ready)
• If you need multiple picks across the site, the clock keeps running.

6. Number of picks

One safe pick is cheap. Ten separate picks — even if each load is small — balloons the job time and cost. This is why crane hire companies always ask:

“Are we lifting something once, or shifting multiple items?”**

7. Site constraints

If the crane has to be positioned further back because of:

• Powerlines
• Trees
• Fences or retaining walls
• Narrow driveways
• Soft ground / outriggers can’t bite close …then the radius increases - which often forces a larger crane = higher cost.

8. Compliance and traffic impacts (often overlooked by customers)

Sometimes the lift is cheap - but making it legal is what costs: