Crane Rental Cost: What to Expect in Sherman & North Texas
Real published hourly rates, minimum charges and the extras that change your bill, so you can budget before you request quotes.
Get a free crane quotePublished operated crane rates in North Texas
Most crane companies don't post prices, but North Texas Crane Service in Lewisville publishes a rate sheet. The figures below come from its 2025 crane rental rate sheet and include the crane with operator. They are one company's published rates, shown to help you budget. They are not our prices or a quote, and crane companies serving Sherman may charge more or less.
| Crane (with operator) | Hourly rate | Minimum | Minimum base charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23-ton boom truck | $155/hr | 3 hr | $465 |
| 30-ton boom truck | $175/hr | 4 hr | $700 |
| 40-ton crane | $205/hr | 4 hr | $820 |
| 50-ton crane | $225/hr | 4 hr | $900 |
| 60-ton crane | $250/hr | 4 hr | $1,000 |
| 75-ton crane | $310/hr | 4 hr | $1,240 |
| 100-ton crane | $355/hr | 4 hr | $1,420 |
| 165-ton crane | $520/hr | 4 hr | $2,080 |
| 275-ton crane | $595/hr | 4 hr | $2,380 |
Charges that get added to the hourly rate
The same rate sheet lists these extras. Other companies use similar line items, with different amounts.
- Travel time: billed portal to portal, so the clock runs from the yard to your site and back.
- Fuel surcharge: 7% on all invoices.
- Road permits: about $52 for a 23-ton boom truck up to $275 for the largest crane listed. City street and right-of-way approvals are separate; see crane permits in Sherman.
- Rigger or signal person: $95/hour with a 4-hour minimum.
- Overtime: $50/hour per person after 8 hours, before 7:00 am or after 5:00 pm, and on weekends. Sundays and holidays add $85/hour.
- Equipment: spreader bar or man basket, $150/day each. Extra trucks and trailers are billed hourly.
Worked example: a rooftop unit in Sherman
Say you need a 23-ton boom truck to set a rooftop unit in Sherman, the lift itself takes about 2 hours, and the truck comes from a yard about an hour away. Using the published rates above as an illustration:
- 2 hours on site + about 2 hours round-trip travel = 4 hours × $155 = $620
- Road permit: about $52
- 7% fuel surcharge on the invoice: about $47
- Estimated total: about $720, before any rigger, overtime or extra equipment.
A crane company based closer to Sherman would bill less travel. A bigger crane, a second crew member or a weekend lift would add more. This is an illustration only. The only way to get a real number is a quote for your specific job.
What drives the price up or down
- Crane size, which depends on weight and reach, not weight alone.
- Distance from the crane yard to your site.
- Site readiness: blocked access, soft ground or a load that isn't ready means paid waiting time.
- Crew: riggers and signal persons for complex or blind lifts.
- Timing: overtime, weekend and holiday hours.
- Permits and escorts for large cranes on highways. In Texas, oversize/overweight permits come from the TxDMV.
Not sure which crane you need? Compare crane vs. boom truck, read about boom truck rental and operated crane service, or just send the details below and let local crane companies size it for you.
Crane cost FAQ
How much does it cost to rent a crane for a day?
With an operator, many cranes are billed hourly, so an 8-hour day on a published North Texas rate sheet runs roughly $1,240 for a 23-ton boom truck to about $4,760 for a 275-ton crane, before fuel surcharge, travel, permits and extra crew. Multi-day and monthly jobs are usually priced separately.
Why is travel time on my crane bill?
Many crane companies bill "portal to portal": the clock starts when the crane leaves the yard and stops when it returns. A crane based closer to your job usually means a smaller bill.
Is a bare crane rental cheaper?
The machine costs less without an operator, but you take on a qualified, certified operator, rigging, insurance, fuel and responsibility for the lift. For short jobs, operated crane service is usually the better value.
How can I lower my crane rental cost?
Have accurate weights and distances, prepare a firm and clear setup area, have the load unbolted and ready, group lifts into one visit, and avoid overtime and weekend hours when you can.
Get a crane rental quote
Free, no obligation. Tell us about the lift and we'll pass it to local crane companies that serve Sherman.