What it is
The 25–30 ton class covers small hydraulic truck cranes and, for work inside plants and yards, carry-deck and industrial cranes. It picks up where a boom truck runs out of capacity or reach, without the cost and footprint of a bigger crane.
Typical specs
- Typical capacity: roughly 25 to 30 tons rated for truck cranes; carry-deck and industrial cranes are typically smaller but can pick and carry a load short distances
- Typical reach: roughly 90 to 110 feet of main boom on many truck cranes, more with a jib; carry-deck booms are much shorter
- Setup & transport: truck cranes drive to the site and set up on outriggers quickly; carry-deck cranes are typically hauled on a trailer and work on firm, level surfaces
Those are headline figures. A crane’s rated capacity drops sharply as the load moves farther from the crane, so at the radius your job needs it may lift only a fraction of its rated tonnage. The crane company sizes the crane from its load charts using your weight, distances, and site.
What 25–30 ton cranes are used for
- Mid-size rooftop units and condensers
- Generators, transformers, and switchgear on smaller projects
- Moving equipment around a plant or yard (carry-deck)
- Trusses, beams, and steel on light commercial buildings
- Palm trees, boxed trees, and pool shells set over a house, where reach allows
Typical Phoenix and East Valley jobs
- RTU change-outs on one- and two-story commercial roofs
- Equipment sets in industrial parks and plants
- Sign, canopy, and light steel lifts
- Material moves inside fenced yards and plants
If a boom truck doesn’t have enough capacity at your radius, this is usually the next size to look at. Bigger loads or longer reach move into the 40–60 ton class.
What does 25–30 ton crane rental cost?
It varies with the crane, the hours, travel, crew, rigging, and the site. As a rough guide, our crane rental cost guide lists small/mid hydraulic truck cranes at roughly ~$150 – $350/hr, with minimum hours plus travel. Those are commonly cited ballpark ranges, not Phoenix quotes or a price offer. Ask about minimum hours and how travel is billed, and get a written quote for your lift.
What to have ready when you request a quote
Crane companies price a lift from a handful of facts. The more of these you can share, the faster and more accurate your quote:
- The load: what it is, approximate weight, and dimensions. Spec sheets or submittals for HVAC units, generators, or machinery are ideal.
- The pick and set points: where the crane can park, how far horizontally the load has to travel (radius), and how high it needs to go.
- Site conditions: ground surface (paved, compacted, soft dirt), slopes, overhead power lines, trees, and whether the crane would sit on a street or sidewalk.
- Timing: date, start time, and whether the work must happen early morning, at night, or on a weekend.
- Rigging: whether you have rigging and a qualified rigger and signal person, or need the crane company to supply them.
How it works
- Tell us about the lift using the quote form: the load, the reach, the site, and your date.
- We line up the right crew from the vetted, licensed and insured local crane companies we work with — one that handles that type and size of lift in your area.
- You get taken care of The crane company reaches out promptly, usually the same business day, to confirm details, schedule, and quote. You work directly with them, and there’s no fee to you.
Safety and compliance basics
On construction sites, federal OSHA rules for cranes (29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC) require, among other things, a certified or qualified operator, qualified riggers and signal persons, ground conditions that can support the crane, and specific clearances from energized power lines. In Arizona, workplace safety is administered by ADOSH, which adopts these standards. A reputable crane company will ask about these items up front — that’s a good sign, not red tape.
Lifts that are heavy relative to the crane’s capacity, over occupied areas, or involve multiple cranes often require a written lift plan. Lifts from a public street or sidewalk usually need a right-of-way or street-use permit from the city; the crane company or your general contractor can typically advise on who pulls it.
