Crane Hire in South Africa
Free quotes from crane hire companies across South Africa. One request, no obligation.
- Size class
- truck crane – 100 t+
- Gets to site
- Drives to site
- Job stage
- Haul & lift
Crane hire brings a lifting machine and a qualified operator to your site for a single lift, a day of steel erection or a long contract. PlantHiring.co.za is a free quote service. You fill in one form and we send your request to independent crane and plant hire companies near your site, who quote you directly. We do not hire, operate or transport any cranes ourselves, and there is no fee. Tell us what you are lifting, how heavy it is and how far it must reach, and local suppliers will price the right crane.
Truck crane hire, mobile cranes and truck-mounted cranes
Crane types overlap, so describe the lift rather than the machine. The common choices are:
- Truck-mounted cranes with a knuckle boom on a flatbed, for truck and crane hire where the same vehicle carries and offloads containers, tanks, precast and steel
- Truck crane hire, a telescopic crane on a road chassis that drives to site and sets up quickly
- Mobile crane hire for all-terrain and rough-terrain cranes, from about 25 tonnes to well over 100 tonnes
- Crawler cranes for long contracts on large projects
The rated tonnage is the capacity at a short radius. Capacity falls sharply as the boom reaches out, so a small load lifted far from the crane may need a much bigger machine.
What drives crane hire prices in South Africa
Crane hire prices in South Africa depend mostly on crane size and time on site. Most cranes are charged per hour with a minimum of several hours, counted from when the crane leaves the yard. Other lines include:
- Travel to and from site, and escort costs for large cranes
- Counterweight trucks for big mobile cranes
- Riggers, a lifting supervisor and a lift plan
- Standing time if the load or site is not ready
- Abnormal-load permits for wide or heavy cranes
Have the load ready, rigged and the setup area clear when the crane arrives. Waiting time is the easiest cost to avoid.
Lifting safety and the regulations
Cranes fall under the OHS Act and the Driven Machinery Regulations 2015. A crane must have a current load test and inspection record, and the operator must be trained and certified for that type of crane. For anything beyond a routine lift, a competent person should prepare a lift plan covering the load mass, radius, ground bearing and rigging. Outriggers need firm ground or mats; backfilled trenches and soft verges can give way. Keep well clear of overhead power lines and stop lifting in high wind, a real risk during Highveld summer storms.
Finding crane hire near me
Travel time is billed, so a crane based near your site usually costs less. Give the site address, the load and the lift radius, and we pass your request to operators in your area. For lighter lifting at height, compare a telehandler or forklift, and for people working at height see cherry picker hire.
What to include in your request
- Give the heaviest load mass and size
- State the lift radius and height
- Describe the setup area and ground
- Note overhead lines and access limits
Crane Hire on different jobs
- House plots and renovations: lifting a fibreglass pool, steel beams or roof trusses over a house into a back garden
- Housing estates and townships: placing precast culverts, manholes and electrical kiosks along new estate roads
- Shopping centres, offices and schools: erecting structural steel, lifting rooftop HVAC units and placing precast panels
- Factories, warehouses and logistics parks: setting heavy machinery, tanks and portal frames on a factory or warehouse floor
- Roads, pipelines and civil works: lifting precast bridge beams, culvert sections and gantry signs into position
- Mines and quarries: changing heavy components, lifting conveyor sections and moving plant at a process plant
- Farms, dams and game lodges: lifting silo sections, water tanks and pivot parts or offloading containers
Frequently asked questions
Does PlantHiring.co.za hire out cranes?
What information does a crane company need?
Do I need riggers as well as the operator?
Can I hire a crane for one lift?
Crane Hire by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Lephalale
- Kimberley
- Kathu
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
More plant and equipment for hire
Dig & load
Machines that excavate, trench, load and clear
Haul & lift
Trucks that move material, machines that lift it
Compact & finish
Level, compact and mix for layer works and slabs
Site power & tools
Power, breaking, small plant and access
Plant hire services
Hire with operators, rates and buying equipment