If you need something heavy lifted, like an AC unit onto a roof, steel beams for a new building, or a hot tub over the house into the backyard, you are probably looking at renting a crane. And the first question is what it will cost.
Crane prices can look confusing because they are quoted by the hour, with a minimum, and with extras on top.
So in this guide I will show you real published hourly rates, what the minimum charge means for your bill, and the extra fees to ask about.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Crane?
Most crane jobs are hired with an operator, by the hour. Rigging Force, a crane and rigging company, looked at published rate sheets for mobile cranes with operators and found these rates:
Central Florida Crane Service found a similar picture: about $245 to $315 an hour for a small hydraulic crane under 50 tons, and $320 to $460 an hour for a mid-sized mobile crane, both with an operator.
At the very top, a heavy-lift all-terrain crane with two operators was about $1,350 an hour in their example.
The Minimum Charge Is What Surprises People
Even if your lift takes 30 minutes, you pay for the minimum hours. In Rigging Force’s numbers, that minimum bill was $465 to $700 for a boom truck, $700 to $1,240 for a 40 to 75 ton crane, and $1,420 to $3,200 for a 100 to 210 ton crane.
So for a small one-off lift, plan on at least a few hundred dollars, even before travel and extras. If you have several lifts, try to do them all in the same visit.
Renting a Crane by the Day or Month
For longer jobs, crane rental companies also rent by the day, week or month. BigRentz, an equipment rental company, lists these average daily rates for the crane alone:
Note that these are crane-only prices. You still need a certified operator, and tower cranes also need to be put up and taken down, which is a big job of its own.
Extra Costs to Ask About
- Overtime. One rate sheet that Central Florida Crane Service quotes adds $74 an hour for one operator after 8 hours, before 6 AM, after 5 PM or on Saturdays, and $224 an hour on holidays.
- Riggers and signal persons, at about $88 to $160 an hour each with 4-hour minimums, in the same source.
- Permits. State transport permits start at $15, but overweight fees grow with the crane’s weight and the miles it travels.
- Travel time and mileage to your site.
- Rigging gear, like spreader bars and slings, for heavy or awkward loads.
- Emergency or last-minute booking, which costs more. In one example the $1,350 rate became $1,685.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
Crane companies need details before they can price a lift. Have these ready when you call:
- the weight of the heaviest item,
- how far it has to go from where the crane can park,
- how high it has to be lifted,
- photos of the site, the ground and any power lines,
- the date and how many lifts there are.
With that, a company can pick the right size of crane. Picking a crane that is too small is dangerous, and one that is too big costs you money, so let them size it.
Also Read: How Much Does a Dump Truck Load of Gravel Cost
Answers to the Questions That Are Asked a Lot
How much does it cost to rent a crane for an hour?
With an operator, about $155 an hour for a small boom truck to $595 for a 275-ton crane, going by the published rate sheets Rigging Force reviewed.
How much does it cost to rent a crane for a day?
A small crane alone is about $300 to $600 a day and a mid-sized mobile crane $800 to $1,500, according to BigRentz. An operator is extra.
Is there a minimum charge?
Yes. Most crane companies charge a minimum of 3 to 8 hours, so even a short lift can cost $465 or more.
Does the price include an operator?
Ask every time. The crane companies’ hourly rates in Rigging Force’s review include one, but rental prices like BigRentz’s daily rates are for the crane only.
How much does a tower crane cost?
About $15,000 to $60,000 a month, plus the cost of putting it up and taking it down.
Do I need a permit?
Often, yes, for moving the crane on public roads or blocking a street. Ask the crane company whether they take care of it.
Where These Prices Come From
- Rigging Force, How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Crane for a Day?, updated October 2, 2026.
- Central Florida Crane Service, How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Crane With an Operator?, checked October 3, 2026.
- BigRentz, How Much It Costs To Rent a Crane, checked October 3, 2026.
I hope this helps you budget for your lift. After you get your quote, please email me the price and the crane size at costcheckr@gmail.com, so other readers can benefit from your experience.
