Planning a crane lift in the CBD
Inner-city lifts often need road occupancy permits and traffic management, and many are done out of hours. Tell us the street and the date so the operator can plan it. Compact sites may suit a Franna or a spider crane; bigger lifts need a mobile slewing crane.
What adds cost in the city
- Road occupancy permits and traffic management plans
- Out-of-hours and weekend surcharges
- Travel time from outer-suburb depots
How our crane hire referral works
- Tell us the lift: what, how heavy, where.
- We match a local operator with the right crane for the job.
- They call you with a price and book the lift.
Lift capacity at a glance
Builds, steel, panels, HVAC on tight urban sites.
Long reach and heavy lifts on outriggers.
Glazing, indoor and narrow-access lifts.
Deliver and lift in one visit.
Suburbs served
- Melbourne CBD
- Docklands
- Dandenong
- Campbellfield
- Keysborough
- Cranbourne
- Berwick
- Pakenham
- Footscray
- Sunshine
- Coburg
- Box Hill
- Ringwood
- Frankston
- All metro Melbourne
Crane hire cost guide (Melbourne)
Indicative Melbourne wet-hire rates (operator and rigger included, ex GST), from iseekplant (30 June 2026). They exclude travel to and from the depot, extra rigging labour, permits and traffic management. Your quote depends on the lift.
| Crane | Typical rate |
|---|---|
| Franna 12t | $160–$195/hr |
| Franna 20t | $195–$235/hr |
| Franna 25t | $220–$265/hr |
| Mobile slewing 50t | $330–$430/hr |
| Mobile slewing 100t | $480–$630/hr |
Same source: most Melbourne suppliers apply a 4-hour minimum for Frannas and a full day for larger slewing cranes. Rates for spider cranes are not covered; they are quoted on request.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a crane in the Melbourne CBD?
Often, yes. Lifts in the CBD, Docklands and inner suburbs that occupy a road or footpath usually need a road occupancy permit and a traffic management plan, and many must happen out of hours. Iseekplant (June 2026) estimates a standard permit and plan at $1,500–$4,000. The operator can advise what your lift needs.
Why do city crane lifts cost more?
Most Melbourne crane depots are in outer industrial suburbs, and travel is usually charged at the crane's hourly rate, which can add 1–2 hours each way for city jobs, according to iseekplant (June 2026). Permits, traffic control and out-of-hours penalty rates of 25–50% on weekends and public holidays add further cost.
How does this crane hire referral service work?
You send your lift details once through the form or by phone. We pass the request to one independent local crane operator suited to the job, and that operator contacts you directly with a price and books the lift. We are a referral service, not a crane company, and the request is free with no obligation.
What details do I need for a crane quote in Melbourne?
Give the load weight, the lift height and distance from where the crane can set up, the site suburb and street, ground and access conditions, and your preferred date. Photos of the site and load help. Operators use this to choose the crane size, check if permits are needed and price the lift accurately.
Related crane hire services
- Crane hire Melbourne (all cranes)
- Franna crane hire Melbourne
- Mobile slewing crane hire Melbourne
- Spider and mini crane hire
- Crane hire in Dandenong and the south-east
- Crane truck hire Melbourne
- Hiab truck hire Melbourne
- Mini and small crane hire
- Crawler crane hire Melbourne
- Crane hire cost and rates Melbourne
- Crane hire in Campbellfield and the north