How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Cherry Picker?

Last Updated on December 16, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Need to access something way up high? Renting a cherry picker brings people and gear up to work heights safely. Also called an aerial lift or boom lift, these versatile machines position operators or loads exactly where needed high off the ground.

Companies typically rent cherry pickers hourly, daily, or weekly. Rates range from around $100 on the low end up to $500+ on the top end per day. Determining factors include machine size, features and your rental duration.

We’ll go over the most important factors influencing cherry picker rental pricing:

But first…

How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Cherry Picker?

The average cost of renting a cherry picker is anywhere between $100 and $500 or more per day, depending on factors like local availability, power source, lift capacity, and height reach.

• Low height unit: $100 – $150 per day
• Average height unit: $150 – $250 per day
• Tall height unit: $250 – $500+ per day

Boom Lift Basics

These versatile machines position workers and tools straight to the work area with adjustable booms reaching variable heights. Some important terms to know:

• Cherry picker: Rental industry slang referencing aerial work platforms based on a truck or van chassis – hence the cherry picker name.
• Scissor lift: Vertical extending work platform with linked, crossed supports raising the small bucket up. No boom reaches outward. Crossover bucket access across objects.
• Boom lift: Horizontal boom arm selectively raises and extends a bucket away from the base unit. Precisely positions bucket through windows or over obstacles.

All provide safe, stable work spaces elevating personnel and materials without ladders. Choosing between scissor lifts and boom lifts depends on reach needs. Operators get trained for cautious operation. Now let’s explore cost details.

Hourly vs. Daily vs. Weekly Rates

Rental yards price lifts by the hour, day, or week aiming at construction industry needs. Occasional homeowners or residential contractors balance their project timing against total costs choosing hourly or daily terms. Yard managers happily quote any term.

Typical Rates:

• Hourly: $25-$60
• Daily: $100-$350
• Weekly: $300-$1,000

Hourly works well for quick jobs like gutter cleaning. Day terms allow knocking bigger tasks like tree trimming or exterior home painting. Got extended plans? Weekly rates offer the bottom tier by the day amortizing peak delivery/pickup fees over more use days against the base machine costs. Now let’s explore why rates vary so widely.

How High And How Much?

The primary factors setting rental rates center around height reach capability and load capacity. Categories include:

• Rough Terrain Lifts – Compact bucket trucks handling offroad access well with stabilizing outriggers deployed. Medium-duty bucket heights around 40 feet cost $200-$300 daily.
• Straight Boom Lifts – Van or trailer trucks positioning booms reaching up to 125 feet start around $350 daily plus big delivery charges. Goes way up from there!
• Scissor Lifts – Purely vertical telescoping work platforms rise 20-50 feet for $150-$250 daily. No side reach.

Obviously, a 125-foot diesel towable telescopic boom lift costs exponentially more than a 40-foot van mounted bucket lift! Clarify your exact height and capacity needs when requesting quotes. Why overspend lifting 500-pound technicians with thousand-pound rated units for basic tasks?

Electric vs Gas Engines

Cherry pickers rely on electric or combustion engines for smooth power. Battery packs silently spin lifting gear with instant precision. Gasoline/diesel motors rumble loudly but pack extended running times between refueling. Tradeoffs exist when choosing either:

You might also like our articles about the cost of Scissor lifts, crane rental, or scaffolding rental.

Electric lifting gear offers very precise positioning thanks to instantaneous speed response directly from batteries. Electric units operate quietly without engine racket. Downsides count range anxiety constantly aware batter levels and frequent recharging needs obstructing workflow.

Internal combustion lifts have extensive run times and range without worrying over batteries like electric ones. Just keep the fuel tank full! However, engine noise and fumes bother some operators and nearby homes. Refueling trips also take workers away from tasks. And they prove complex to maintain correctly.

Additional Rental Fees

Basic equipment rental quotes hide additional fee layers that conveniently get mentioned once on-site! Watch for tacking on charges like:

Transport delivery/pickup – Oversize towing fees if contractors deliver instead of you hauling smaller scissor lifts. Big boom trucks often get delivered instead of trailering behind your own vehicle due to challenges and licensing.

Fueling/recharging – Electric lifts require starting each day fully charged. Gas/diesel units need arriving fueled up at your expense too. Refueling rates and minimums apply for both.

Insurance waivers – Legal liability coverage for accidents is very important. Waiver fees range from 12-22% tacked onto baseline quote totals.

Operator training – OSHA legally mandates all lift operators undergo orientation training before taking control of aerial platforms on the job. Fees range from $25-$100 per operator.

Ask for full cost quotes IN WRITING early in planning to avoid painful budget surprises when arriving at the rental counter needing that lift ASAP!

Lowering Cost to Rent a Boom Lift or Cherry Picker

• Seek multi-day terms lasting a week if possible for cherry picker or boom lift rental
• Ask about simultaneous rental bundle deals
• Compare multiple vendors for the best pricing
• Ask what daily minimums apply (4 hours? 8 hours? etc)
• Have all waivers, licenses, and training ready beforehand
• Clearly specify lift height reach and capacity wanted
• Pick up/return off-hours avoiding wait charges
• Handle transport yourself cautiously within your abilities

Saving money borrowing lifts means matching correctly sized gear towards scenarios optimizing work accomplished per day. Don’t pay extra hauling around excess capacity vehicles if smaller units meet vertical reach goals.

Carefully calculating needs and then asking about discounts available when renting a half dozen different lifts across an entire housing project makes for smiles arriving at the site.

Do I Need Special Licenses When Renting Lifts?

Great question! Operators need to complete on-site equipment orientation training by the rental facility before taking possession. However actually “driving” the lift over roads or rough terrain to reach project sites requires additional owner licensing like:

• Regular operator’s driving license for compact trailered lifts you haul behind a vehicle.
• Commercial driver’s license (CDL) necessary to operate the largest boom lift trucks and bucket trucks on public roads.
• Scissor lifts often get pushed around sites manually as a way of avoiding driving licensing.

Check details on transportation rules for whichever lifts are selected in your region. Police actively fine contractors improperly licensed operating rental machinery on public byways.

Other Cherry Picker Rental Considerations

Wondering what other instructions make aerial lift rentals go smoothly? Consider these factors too:

Safety Emphasis – Rental companies demand hearing explicit job purposes not violating safety best practices before releasing equipment.

Cleaning Expectations – Mud or grease staining lifts risk considerable detailing fees.

Theft Deterrence – Truck lifts allowing street mobility also translate to hot target status overnight. Some rental firms offer theft protection services.

Outdoor Exposure Limits – Things rust surprisingly fast outside.

Maintenance History Reviews – Ask for full logs ensuring frequent inspections are maintained on rented lifts. Confirm scheduled preventative service checks too.

There’s a lot more in avoiding damage or unexpected charges renting aerial work platforms than you might think. But thinking through transportation, cleaning, licensing, weather exposure, and other factors prepares you to avoid budget issues.

Final Words on Cherry Picker Rentals

Renting cherry pickers costs $100-$500 daily depending primarily on platform height reach and load capacity specs. Electric lifts offer quiet precision, while diesel packs extensive runtimes between refueling.

Some contractors maximize savings by quoting multi-week rentals. Don’t forget to include transport, fuel, insurance, training, and cleanup costs as well! Carefully determining true working height, and capacity needs, and asking questions make aerial lift rentals far more affordable ensuring safe access to complete work in an efficient way.