- Crane Hire Cape Town helps you compare local crane hire companies for once-off lifts, contract hire and complex lifting jobs across the metro.
- Describe the load, the site and the date once.
- Compare up to 5 quotes and choose the crane, crew and price that suit the job.
Load weight, where it must go, and the site address. That is enough for a first quote.
Get Crane Hire Quotes Or call 075 99 777 65Which Crane Do You Need?
Start with the job, not the crane. Each service below has its own page with prices, equipment and questions to ask.
| Job | Usual equipment | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Deliver and offload materials, generators or containers | Crane truck | Crane truck hire |
| Quick lift on a paved site, same-day in and out | Truck mounted crane | Truck mounted crane hire |
| General lifting from about 20 t upwards | Mobile crane | Mobile crane hire |
| Heavy or long-reach lifts with road access | All terrain crane | All terrain crane hire |
| Muddy, unpaved or unfinished sites | Rough terrain crane | Rough terrain crane hire |
| Long projects and very heavy repeated lifts | Crawler crane | Crawler crane hire |
| Inside buildings, through doorways, tight spots | Spider crane | Spider crane hire |
| Building sites, from site set-up to roof | Mixed | Construction crane hire |
| Factories, plants and maintenance shutdowns | Mixed | Industrial crane hire |
| Slinging, lift plans and positioning | Rigging crew | Rigging services |
| Loads that need engineering and a site assessment | Large crane and crew | Heavy lifting |
| Moving individual machines | Skates, jacks, crane truck | Machinery moving |
| Moving a production line or whole factory | Project team | Plant relocation |
Crane Hire Cape Town Prices
| Equipment | Indicative rate (excl. VAT) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Crane truck, 10 - 40 t·m | R850 - R1,800 per hour | Deliveries, offloading, light lifts |
| 25 - 35 t mobile crane | R1,200 - R2,000 per hour | Aircon units, trusses, small machines |
| 50 - 60 t mobile crane | R16,000 - R30,000 per day | Steel, precast, generators |
| 100 t all terrain crane | R32,000 - R60,000 per day | Heavy machinery, long reach |
| Spider crane, 1 - 8 t | R4,500 - R12,000 per day | Indoor and restricted access |
| Crawler crane | From R180,000 per month, plus mobilisation | Long construction projects |
| Rigging crew, 3 - 4 people | R9,000 - R18,000 per day | Slinging, skating, positioning |
Indicative ranges, not a quotation. Cape Town 2026 guide prices, excluding VAT. Crane size, travel, site access, hours and crew all move the number. Only a written quote for your lift is binding.
What a Crane Hire Quote Should Include
- Crane model and capacity. Not just a class. The model tells you which load chart applies.
- Operator and rigger or signaller. Most mobile cranes are hired with an operator. The person slinging and signalling may be extra.
- Travel and setup. Charged from the crane's yard, sometimes as a fixed fee within the metro.
- Minimum hours. Three or four hours is common for mobile cranes, including travel.
- Lifting tackle. Slings, shackles and any spreader beam the lift needs.
- Permits and traffic control. If the crane or its outriggers stand on a public road.
- Standby and overtime rates. What you pay if the lift is delayed by wind, access or the load not being ready.
Information Crane Companies Need
- Load weight and size. From the manufacturer's plate, delivery note or drawing. Estimates cause the most problems on the day.
- Lifting radius. The distance from where the crane can stand to where the load must land.
- Lift height. Roof level, floor level or over a wall.
- Ground. Paving, gravel, soil, or a slab over a basement or parking deck.
- Access. Gate and road width, turning space, overhead cables and trees.
- Timing. Date, time window and whether the lift must happen after hours.
Cape Town Site Conditions
- Wind. The south-easter regularly stops lifts, especially large flat loads like panels and roof sheets. Early morning bookings lose fewer hours.
- Winter ground. Rain from May to August softens unpaved sites. Sandy ground on the Cape Flats and reclaimed land around the Foreshore and Paarden Eiland often needs crane mats.
- Narrow and steep streets. City Bowl, Bo-Kaap and Atlantic Seaboard sites limit crane size and setup space.
- Road use. A crane working from a public road usually needs a City road usage permit and traffic control.
- Traffic. CBD lifts are often scheduled early, late or on weekends to avoid closing busy roads.
Safety Documents to Ask For
Under the Driven Machinery Regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, lifting machinery must be inspected and load tested by a registered Lifting Machinery Inspector, and operators must be trained for the crane they operate. Ask for the crane's current load test certificate, the operator's competency certificate, the lifting tackle register and proof of public liability insurance before the lift.
Compare quotes for any of these services through Crane Hire Western Cape.
Describe your lift once and compare crane hire quotes from local companies.
Get QuotesCrane Hire Questions
How much does crane hire cost in Cape Town?
A crane truck costs roughly R850 - R1,800 per hour and a 25 - 35 t mobile crane R1,200 - R2,000 per hour, excluding VAT. Large all terrain cranes are priced per day, from about R32,000.
What size crane do I need?
It depends on the load weight, the distance from the crane to where the load lands, and the lift height. A small load at a long reach can need a much bigger crane than a heavy load close in.
Does crane hire include an operator?
Mobile cranes, crane trucks and crawler cranes are normally hired with an operator. A rigger or signaller to sling and guide the load may be quoted separately.
How long can I hire a crane for?
From a few hours to several months. Mobile cranes usually have a minimum charge of three to four hours. Crawler and rough terrain cranes are usually hired weekly or monthly.
What information is needed for a crane hire quote?
Load weight and dimensions, the pick-up and landing points, lift height, ground conditions, access, the site address and your preferred date.
Can a crane lift machinery onto a roof?
Yes, as long as the roof structure can carry the load. An engineer should confirm this first, and the crane may need a road usage permit if it sets up in the street.
Do I need a permit to put a crane on the road?
Usually yes, if the crane or its outriggers occupy a public road or sidewalk. Many crane companies arrange the permit and traffic control as part of the quote.
Is this website a crane hire company?
No. It is a free quote-comparison service. The work is done by independent crane hire companies that quote you directly.
More Crane and Lifting Services
Crane Hire Western Cape is a free quote-comparison service. Lifting, rigging, moving and transport work is carried out by the independent crane hire companies that quote you, and your contract is with the company you appoint. Ask each company for a written, itemised quote, the crane's current load test certificate, the operator's competency certificate and proof of insurance before appointing anyone.
Crane Hire Cape Town. Describe the job once and compare quotes from local companies.
Get 5 QuotesGet Crane Hire Quotes in Cape Town
Describe the load, the site and your date, and crane hire companies covering Cape Town will quote you directly.
Free to use, no obligation. Your request goes to LEADERR APPROVED crane hire companies covering Cape Town and the Western Cape, who quote you directly.
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