Rooftop units on Memphis buildings: crane size and the bill
A truck crane sets most Memphis rooftop units in a morning. The bill jumps when the radius forces a 50-ton all-terrain crane, or when the crane has to take a lane on a city street.
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What will a crane run for a Memphis rooftop unit?
On a full posted sheet from August 2026, a 35 or 40-ton truck crane is $240 to $265 an hour with a 4-hour minimum, so about $960 to $1,060 for a typical commercial swap. Small residential units on a 15 to 30-ton crane start at $585. A Memphis lane closure adds $50 plus $10 per lane per day.
- Up to 40 tons the minimum is 3 or 4 hours; from 50 tons it is 8 hours with an oiler.
- A lane closure in Memphis is $50 plus $10 per lane per day, with 10 days of notice.
- Tennessee keeps cranes 10 feet from high-voltage lines unless MLGW makes them safe.
- Near Memphis International Airport, a tall boom can need FAA notice.
Radius decides the crane
Weight matters, but the radius, the distance from the crane’s center to the unit’s curb, matters more. Capacity falls as the boom extends, so the operator measures from the curb back to where the crane can stand.
- House or small shop. A condenser or a small packaged unit with the crane at the wall: a 15 to 30-ton truck crane.
- Strip center or school. A packaged unit 30 to 50 feet in from the parapet: usually a 35 or 40-ton truck crane.
- Warehouse or distribution building. Big units far across a wide roof, which is common in the Memphis logistics corridor near the airport and in Southaven: often a 50-ton or larger all-terrain crane.
Send the model number, the curb location and a photo of where the crane could set up.
The 8-hour step
On the August 2026 sheet, cranes up to 40 tons have 3 or 4-hour minimums. At 50 tons and above the minimum is 8 hours and the crew is an operator plus an oiler. A 40-ton crane for 4 hours is $1,060; a 50-ton for 8 hours is $2,800. That gap is why the setup spot matters so much on warehouse jobs.
Street space in Memphis
If the crane fits in the parking lot, no city permit is needed. If it takes a lane or a sidewalk, the city code sets the fees:
- Lane closure: $50 plus $10 per lane per day.
- Sidewalk closure: $50 plus $10 a day.
- Full road or alley closure: $50 plus $50 a day.
- Notice: at least 10 calendar days. Blocking a street without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor with a $50 daily fine plus the fees.
Lines and the airport
Tennessee law keeps the crane and the load 10 feet from high-voltage overhead lines unless the line is de-energized and grounded, insulated or guarded by barriers arranged with the owner, which in Memphis is MLGW. Book any outage well ahead.
Memphis International Airport and the FedEx hub sit south of the city. Federal rules can require FAA notice before tall construction equipment goes up near a public-use airport, and a crane boom counts.
The bill for a typical unit swap
| Job | Crane | Rough bill before extras |
|---|---|---|
| Condenser at a house | 15 to 30-ton truck crane, 3 hours | $585 |
| Packaged unit on a strip center | 35-ton truck crane, 4 hours | $960 |
| Large unit on a warehouse | 50-ton all-terrain crane, 8 hours | $2,800 |
From the posted sheet. Add a rigger, weekend work and any lane closure.
Common questions
Who applies for the lane closure?
Usually the mechanical contractor or the crane company. The City of Memphis Engineering Division handles right-of-way permits, and the code asks for at least 10 calendar days of notice.
Can a rooftop unit go up in a Memphis summer heat wave?
Yes, and that is when most units fail. Crews often start at dawn to beat the heat and the afternoon storms. Lightning and high wind stop the lift.
Is a 50-ton crane ever worth it for a rooftop unit?
When the unit is heavy and has to travel far across a warehouse roof, yes. Because of the 8-hour minimum, ask first whether a 40-ton truck crane parked closer to the unit can do it.
Sources for the Memphis numbers
- Memphis Code of Ordinances 2-22-7, right-of-way fees
- Tennessee Code 50-3-1003, high-voltage line clearance
- FAA, 14 CFR 77.9, construction or alteration requiring notice
- Missouri Crane, rate sheet updated August 2026
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Read next
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Memphis crane prices, 15 to 90 tonsA full posted sheet from August 2026: truck cranes, all-terrain cranes, minimums, weekly rates and riggers.
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Renting a crane in Southaven and DeSoto CountyA crane in Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake or Hernando: DeSoto County road permits, city streets, MDOT state highways, the drive from Memphis, rates.