Memphis crane prices for 2026, 15 to 90 tons
A short truck crane job in Memphis starts near $600. At 50 tons the minimum doubles to 8 hours and an oiler joins the operator, so all-terrain jobs start around $2,800.
The August 2026 sheet
| Crane | Hourly rate | Minimum charge |
|---|---|---|
| 15 to 30-ton truck crane | $195 | 3 hours |
| 35-ton truck crane | $240 | 4 hours |
| 40-ton truck crane | $265 | 4 hours |
| 50-ton all-terrain crane | $350 | 8 hours |
| 60-ton all-terrain crane | $375 | 8 hours |
| 75-ton all-terrain crane | $395 | 8 hours |
| 90-ton all-terrain crane | $415 | 8 hours |
Source: Missouri Crane, Wentzville, Missouri, rate sheet updated August 2026. Rates include a certified union operating engineer, and the all-terrain cranes also include an oiler. All minimums are charged portal to portal. Weekly rates run lower, $185 an hour for the 15 to 30-ton crane up to $380 for the 90-ton. An extra rigger with a heavy-duty truck is $95 an hour, or $125 with a trailer. The company works out of the St. Louis area, and Memphis operators quote by phone, so treat this as a reference.
Work out a Memphis crane bill
Choose the nearest job and a crane. The math uses the posted hourly rate and minimum from the sheet above. Riggers, weekends and permits are extra.
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Why a Missouri sheet
Crane companies around Memphis quote each job by phone. Missouri Crane, based in Wentzville outside St. Louis, publishes every rate it charges, updated in August 2026, from a 15-ton truck crane to a 90-ton all-terrain. Its operators are union operating engineers, and the sheet lists the extras too.
Every minimum is portal to portal: the crane is on the clock from the time it leaves the yard until it returns.
The 50-ton line
Up to 40 tons these are truck cranes run by one operator, with minimums of 3 or 4 hours. From 50 tons up they are all-terrain cranes with an operator and an oiler, and every one carries an 8-hour minimum. That doubles the floor even before the higher hourly rate.
So the smallest crane that can do the lift is often the cheapest by a wide margin. If an operator suggests stepping up to 50 tons for reach, ask whether a 40-ton truck crane parked closer would work.
Bills worked from the sheet
- $585A 15 to 30-ton truck crane for its 3-hour minimum, at $195 an hour.
- $960A 35-ton truck crane for its 4-hour minimum, at $240 an hour.
- $3,160A 75-ton all-terrain crane for 8 hours, with operator and oiler, at $395 an hour.
Math from a posted sheet. The operator quotes your lift.
Price this liftOther charges to ask about
Some of these are on the posted sheet, and some come from the City of Memphis:
- Weekly rates, lower than daily: $185 an hour for the 15 to 30-ton truck crane, $220 for the 35-ton, $240 for the 40-ton, and $312.50 to $380 for the 50 to 90-ton all-terrain cranes.
- An additional rigger with a heavy-duty truck, $95 an hour, or $125 with a trailer, with a 4 or 8-hour minimum.
- Weekend and overnight work, which the sheet lists as available at separate rates.
- Site inspections and lift planning for complex picks.
- A Memphis lane closure, $50 plus $10 per lane per day, or a full road closure, $50 plus $50 a day (Memphis Code 2-22-7).
Sizing the crane
The load weight and the radius, the distance from the center of the crane to where the load lands, decide the machine. Capacity drops as the boom extends, so a condenser set 20 feet out is light work and a 6-ton rooftop unit set 70 feet across a warehouse roof is not.
Houses, small roofs and containers usually fit a 15 to 40-ton truck crane. Steel, precast and long reaches move to 50 tons and up. The rooftop guide and the container guide go further.
Price questions
What is the minimum crane charge in Memphis?
On the posted sheet, 3 hours at $195, or $585, for a 15 to 30-ton truck crane. The 35 and 40-ton cranes carry 4-hour minimums. Memphis companies set their own, so ask.
Why does a 50-ton crane cost so much more?
On this sheet the 50-ton and larger cranes are all-terrain machines that bring an oiler as well as an operator, and each has an 8-hour minimum. The floor goes from $1,060 for a 40-ton truck crane to $2,800.
Are weekly crane rates cheaper?
Yes. The posted weekly rates run $10 to $50 an hour less than daily, depending on the crane, for jobs that keep a crane on site for a week.
Sources
- Missouri Crane, rate sheet updated August 2026
- Memphis Code of Ordinances 2-22-7, right-of-way fees
- Tennessee Code 55-7-202, maximum width and height
- Tennessee Code 50-3-1003, high-voltage line clearance