How Much Does a Crane Cost?
In industrial settings, cranes are a necessity to lift heavy loads, move materials, and carry out daily tasks. Unlike other equipment, renting a crane is rarely a practical option for most industries due to frequent, ongoing needs. This makes buying a crane the only viable solution. However, cranes are a big financial commitment; you may have to make a careful choice after weighing all your needs.
If you’re considering buying a crane but unsure about the associated costs – both upfront and long-term. This article will help you break down the prices for gantry, overhead, and jib cranes. You will learn about the initial investment, maintenance costs, and tips to make the right choice.
Factors that Define Cost of Cranes
Cranes are versatile machines, available in multiple types, styles, sizes, and loads. Every aspect changes the crane cost. Here’s a brief outlook on all those factors that contribute to the overall cost of a crane.
Load Capacity
Cranes are load-bearing machines – and load capacity is the first specification to consider when buying a crane. Crane cost and load capacity have a linear relationship. The higher the load capacity, the higher the cost due to more powerful motors and additional components like reinforced girders and durable hoists.
For example, a 3-ton gantry crane costs around $2,600–$4,100. If you want a 10-ton crane, the price can go between $10,000 to $40,000.
Crane Type
The crane type also impacts the overall cost, as different types have unique structural and support requirements. For instance, overhead cranes require a permanent support structure with overhead beams. That means higher installation costs than a gantry crane, which can operate on a ground-level track or wheel casters.
Among common types, double-girder overhead cranes generally carry the highest price tags for the same load-bearing capacity due to their heavy-duty construction. Single girder systems are considerably cheaper.
Span and height
Prices vary not only across crane types but also within a specific type based on span and height. The larger the span, the more materials and structural reinforcement the crane will require.
An overhead crane with a span that extends the width of a large warehouse will need sturdier, more expensive materials compared to one that covers a smaller area Similarly, greater lifting heights necessitate longer cables, larger hoists, and at times reinforced structures – all of which add more cost to the crane.
Crane Duty Classification
Cranes are also classified by how frequently and intensely they are used, which is known as the duty cycle classification. The class is defined based on load capacity, operating cycles per hour, and overall operating time.
Currently, two or three categorizations are popular. One is American CMAA– which classifies and categorizes cranes into six classes: A through F.
Class A is for standby machines that are not used frequently. Class B defines a moderate load machine with low frequency. The trend increases to Class F which defines heavy-duty machines that can operate continuously even under severe conditions.
Chinese manufacturers use a similar classification system but divide it into eight levels, from A1 to A8. These levels range from light service (A1–A4) to medium service (A5–A6), heavy service (A7), and severe service (A8). As the classification moves from light to severe, crane costs increase exponentially.
Build Quality
Cranes are made from different materials depending on their purpose and expected workload. Heavy-duty cranes often use high-strength, low-alloy steel like A572, which provides the toughness needed to handle big loads safely. Whereas, there are mobile gantry machines as well, that have lightweight structures due to Aluminum build. Although these versions efficiently handle light loading needs, they are cheaper than steel cranes.
Customization Costs
Most crane manufacturers offer standard models with fixed specs, like 5-ton or 10-ton load capacities and specific spans and heights. But if you need something specific to your operation, customization will come at a premium. Custom designs involve re-engineering the crane to handle unique loads or fitting it into a specific space, which adds up to more costs.
Shipment
Due to their size and weight, cranes require special shipping arrangements. Since the shipping fee is charged by weight, heavy-duty cranes, those made of steel, can be costly to transport. The fee increases further for international deliveries due to additional handling and customs requirements.
Types of Industrial Cranes and Their Average Costs
Industrial cranes vary in shape, size, load, and span requirements so the price range is huge. On one end of the spectrum, there are mobile cranes that can handle just a fraction of tone while on the other hand, there are heavy-duty overhead bridge cranes that can handle several hundred.
On average crane, costs can start from $2,000 and go up to 500,000. Customized versions even cost more. To simplify things, we have decided to enlist average prices based on the common cranes employed in the industries.
Overhead Crane Costs
An overhead crane consists of a bridge that spans across two parallel runways which allows the crane to move back and forth. The bridge supports a hoist, which lifts and lowers the load. The crane’s bridge can have a single-girder or double-girder design. Electrically operated (EOT) cranes are also available.
Double girder overhead cranes are costly than single girder systems. While EOT double girder systems are the most expensive. Ceiling-mounted systems fall in between since they don’t have much support system like others.
| Overhead Crane Type | Average Cost
(USD) |
Single Girder |
$20,000 – $75,000 |
Double Girder |
$60,000 – $150,000 |
EOT (Single Girder) |
$25,000 – $75,000 |
EOT (Double Girder) |
$60,000 – $200,000 |
Ceiling-Mounted |
$30,000 – $75,000 |
Gantry Crane Costs
Gantry cranes reassemble the overhead cranes but they have a slightly different configuration. They can either use the permanent support system of an existing overhead or run on the ground. Or maybe a combination of both (semi-gantry cranes).
The trend is also similar – double girder gantry systems cost more. Whereas, portable, lightweight systems are cheaper.
| Gantry Crane Type | Average Cost
(USD) |
| Double Girder Gantry | $20,000 – $150,000> |
| Semi-Gantry | $10,000 – $100,000 |
| Portable Gantry | $1,000 – $50,000 |
Jib Crane Costs
Jib cranes feature a horizontal arm (jib) that supports a hoist, either mounted on a wall or a free-standing pillar. These cranes offer 180 to 360 degrees of rotation, which makes them suitable for localized, repetitive lifting tasks. Their prices fluctuate largely based on the amount of load they can handle.
| Jib Crane
(Tons) |
Price Range
(USD) |
| 0.25 – 0.5 | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| 1 – 2 | $2,000 – $6,000 |
| 2 – 5 | $5,000 – $15,000 |
Costs of Crane Maintenance and Operation
After the crane is installed, there are some recurring costs, incurred in operation, maintenance, and repairs.
Routine Operational Costs
Routine operational costs primarily include electricity usage. They vary based on the unit rate and power consumption of the cranes. For instance, an overhead crane with an average power rating of around 5kW watts, operating 8 hours a day, could consume roughly 40 kWh daily. If the average electricity rate is $0.12 per kWh, this usage would cost about $4.80 per day, or approximately $1,250 annually for basic operations.
Maintenance Costs
Cranes have moving mechanical parts that need regular inspections, lubrication, and routine adjustments. Roughly that could cost between $2,500 to 10,000. For heavy-duty machines, you may consider maintenance plans that include comprehensive overhauls every few years, costing up to $15,000.
Where to Buy Industrial Cranes?
The price covered is a rough estimate to give an idea of how different factors impact and change. For actual quotes, you’ll need to consult a crane supplier like KRC Cranes.
Trust KRC Cranes for All Industrial Crane Needs
If you’re looking to invest in a crane; probably need an overhead crane, gantry system, or a jib crane – you can count on KRC cranes. We offer a wide range of lifting solutions, from portable gantry cranes to heavy-duty double girder systems that fulfill almost all industrial needs.
KRC Cranes is a pioneer in bringing German tech to China with its partnership with well-known manufacturer, ABUS Cranes. We have been serving the industry for the past two decades. Our standard and customized solutions meet all industrial and international product standards.
Explore more options at our official site. Contact Us today for an instant quote.
