Crane rental costs in Tallahassee
Small lifts around Tallahassee usually cost $720 to $900. Large trees and building work with a 75 to 120 ton crane run $1,160 to $3,400.
Rates by size
| Machine | Hourly rate | Least you pay (4 hours) |
|---|---|---|
| 28-ton boom truck | $180 - $220 | $720 - $880 |
| 40-ton crane | $195 | $780 |
| 50-ton crane | $215 | $860 |
| 75-ton crane | $290 | $1,160 + $100 permit |
| 100-ton crane | $330 | $1,320 + $100 permit |
| 120-ton crane | $410 | $1,640 + $100 permit |
Sources: Hurd Oilfield Service posted crane rates (Jack County, Texas), with a 4-hour minimum, a $75 an hour rigger and a $100 permit fee over 50 tons; 28-ton boom truck range from the Tennessee Tech bid tabulation, Nov 2025.
Estimate a Tallahassee crane bill
A quick multiply using the rates above. Pick the closest lift, adjust the hours, and see a ballpark.
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Where the numbers come from
Crane companies in the Big Bend do not post prices. A Texas company does, and so did the bidders on a Tennessee public university job in November 2025. Those are the sources for the table. Tallahassee quotes tend to fall nearby, but your operator sets your price.
The 4-hour minimum
Both sources bill at least four hours. A 30-minute pick costs the same as a 3-hour one, so plan every lift you have for the same visit. Crews often line up two or three nearby tree or rooftop jobs on one day for the same reason.
What the minimum means in dollars
- $720A 28-ton boom truck at the low bid of $180 an hour.
- $960A 50-ton crane for four hours plus the $100 permit fee.
- $1,740A 120-ton crane at its minimum with the permit fee, for a long reach behind a house.
Send in your job for a number of your own.
Request a crane priceFees beyond the hourly rate
Ask about each of these:
- A rigger, $75 an hour on the posted sheet.
- A $100 permit fee on cranes over 50 tons.
- Lane closure and traffic control if the crane takes a city lane (City ROW manual).
- Canopy road tree permits and replanting from Leon County (canopy roads).
- Overtime for overnight lane closures, which the city allows from 7 PM to 6 AM.
Picking the size
Weight times reach. Oaks are heavy and usually far from the street, so tree work often needs a 75 ton or larger crane. Rooftop units close to a parking lot fit a boom truck. The tree removal guide and the rooftop unit guide cover sizing.
Cost questions
Why does a tree job need such a big crane?
Because a section of a live oak can weigh thousands of pounds and the crane often has to reach 60 to 100 feet over the house. Capacity drops fast with reach.
Is a rigger always charged?
Not always. Small boom truck jobs often run with just the operator. Tree and steel jobs usually add one.
Can I save money with an overnight lift?
Rarely. Overnight lane closures avoid traffic but add overtime. They make sense on busy streets where the city will not allow a daytime closure.
Sources
- Hurd Oilfield Service, crane services and rates (Jack County, Texas)
- Tennessee Tech University, Crane/Boom Truck bid tabulation, Nov 18, 2025
- City of Tallahassee, Right-of-Way Management Manual
- Leon County, canopy roads