A new 2.5-3.5 t all terrain forklift costs about $25,000-$48,000 ex GST in Australia, as at October 2026. Two-wheel drive models sit at about $25,000-$33,000, and 4WD models at about $36,000-$48,000. Used machines are advertised from about $17,000 to $77,000 ex GST, depending on age, hours, drive and size. Short-term hire starts at about $180 a day ex GST, and most 5-10 t machines are priced on request.
All terrain forklift prices at a glance
The table sorts all terrain forklift prices by condition, then capacity and drive. Every figure is an advertised price, read in October 2026.
| Option | Capacity | Indicative price | Source and GST basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New, 2WD diesel | 2.5-3.5 t | About $25,000-$33,000 | Dealer and marketplace listings, October 2026, ex GST |
| New, 4WD diesel | 2.5-3.5 t | About $36,000-$48,000 | Dealer and marketplace listings, October 2026, ex GST |
| New, high-voltage lithium | 2.5-3.5 t | Priced on request, above diesel | Dealer listings, October 2026 |
| New, heavy duty | 5-10 t | Mostly priced on request | Marketplace listings, October 2026 |
| Used | 2-3.5 t | About $17,000-$77,000 | Dealer and marketplace listings, October 2026, ex GST |
| Used | 4.5-5.5 t | About $36,000-$74,000 | Dealer and marketplace listings, October 2026, ex GST |
| Short-term dry hire | 2.5-4 t | From about $180 a day, roughly $600-$1,300 a week | Hire listings and hire rate guides, October 2026, ex GST |
The bands are wide because drive, mast, engine and options change the price of the same capacity. If you already know the capacity and ground you need, compare current all terrain forklifts by drive and mast before you ask for prices.
Small 1.5-1.8 t machines and new 5-10 t machines are rarely advertised with a price. Ask for a written quote on the exact model, because a single advertised figure won't tell you what's included.
Why does a 4WD all terrain forklift cost more than 2WD?
A 4WD all terrain forklift costs more than a 2WD one because it adds a driven front axle, a 2WD/4WD switch and a differential lock. Across the listings above, 4WD versions of the same capacity were advertised higher than 2WD versions.
Two-wheel drive is enough on firm, dry, compacted ground such as a hardstand yard or a sealed site road. The Hangcha rough terrain forklift 2WD 2.5-3.5 t is one example. It's rated 2,500-3,500 kg at a 500 mm load centre, with 22-32% laden gradeability depending on the engine.
Pay for 4WD if the machine works in mud, sand, loose gravel or on steeper unsealed ground. If the ground is firm most of the year, 2WD saves money upfront, and the machine turns tighter. Choose wrong and a 2WD truck spends wet weeks bogged, while an unneeded 4WD adds driveline to maintain.
Diesel or lithium all terrain forklift: which costs more?
A lithium all terrain forklift costs more to buy than a diesel one of the same capacity, but it costs less to fuel. Few lithium rough terrain models carry an advertised price, so most are quoted on request.
DJJ Equipment supplied a Hangcha high-voltage lithium rough terrain forklift to Kimbriki Environmental Enterprises, a waste and resource recovery site in Terrey Hills, Sydney. The site runs seven days a week in dusty conditions, which shows lithium can suit hard outdoor work.
DJJ's own estimate for its lithium warehouse forklifts is about $7 a shift to charge, against about $40-70 a shift for LPG or diesel (Sydney figures). A rough terrain machine on slopes and soft ground uses more energy, so treat that as a direction, not your figure. Diesel still makes sense where the site has no power for a charger.
Options that change an all terrain forklift price
Options change an all terrain forklift price more than most buyers expect, so compare quotes on the same specification. The items that move the price most are:
- mast: a standard 3.0 m duplex mast costs less than a taller triplex or container-entry mast
- side shift: often extra, and it takes capacity off the rated load
- cab: an overhead guard is standard, while an enclosed cab is usually an option
- tyres: pneumatic tyres are standard, and solid tyres cost extra for puncture-prone sites
- engine: the same model can come with a cleaner Stage V engine or an older-standard engine
- safety extras: operator presence system, beacon, work lights and a reversing camera
Check what a low advertised price leaves out. One 4WD 3.5 t standard package advertised at about $46,000 ex GST had a 3 m two-stage mast and no side shift. If you're still working out which features matter on your ground, start with what an all terrain forklift is and how it handles rough ground.
Used all terrain forklift prices and what to check
A used all terrain forklift costs about $17,000-$77,000 ex GST at 2-3.5 t, and about $36,000-$74,000 for 4.5-5.5 t machines. Imported 2.5-3.5 t machines a few years old were mostly advertised at $17,000-$32,500.
Some used 4WD machines cost more than a new imported 4WD. That's usually a brand-tier gap: compact 4WD models from established European makers sell for more used, and dealers often sell them refurbished. A used machine isn't automatically the cheaper option, so compare it with a new quote.
Before you buy a used all terrain forklift, check:
- hours on the meter and the service history to match
- the 4WD driveline: engage 4WD and the differential lock on a test drive
- mast chains, hoses and the oscillating steer axle for wear and leaks
- tyre condition, since large pneumatic tyres are a big replacement cost
- the data plate and load chart, which must match the mast and attachments fitted
- the overhead guard, which must not be drilled, welded or modified
- a PPSR search, so you don't buy a machine still under finance
Ask whether a used machine comes with any warranty. If it's sold as is, budget for a technician's inspection and early repairs.
What does it cost to hire an all terrain forklift?
Hiring an all terrain forklift costs from about $180 a day ex GST for a 2.5 t diesel in Sydney. Hire listings and rate guides put a 2.5-4 t machine at roughly $600-$1,300 a week ex GST, as at October 2026.
Weekly rates usually fall on longer terms, and delivery is often charged separately. Hire is dry hire, so you need an operator with an LF high risk work licence. Long-term hire and rent to own cost much less per week than short-term hire, because the term runs for years.
Rough terrain forklifts are part of DJJ's hire fleet on selected models. Minimum hire terms depend on the machine and branch, so ask about forklift hire options for your term and location.
Worked example: pricing an all terrain forklift for a landscape yard
Say you run a landscape supply yard and move 1,500 kg pallets of pavers onto truck decks. The yard is compacted gravel, with soft patches in winter, and the machine runs one shift a day.
Start with capacity. A 2.5 t machine is rated at a 500 mm load centre, and a long pallet pushes the load centre out. A 3 t or 3.5 t model leaves a margin for side shift and bulky loads.
Next, drive. Soft winter patches point to 4WD, which puts a new machine in the $36,000-$48,000 ex GST band. Add side shift if it isn't included, and keep the standard 3 m mast for truck decks. If the yard stays firm all year, a 2WD model in the $25,000-$33,000 band does the job.
If you only need the machine for a two-month winter job, compare hire. At about $180 a day, 40 working days costs about $7,200 ex GST ($180 x 40), before delivery. That's well under the price of a new machine, but hire stops making sense once the work runs most of the year. The same sum works for forklifts for farms: a harvest peak of a few weeks often suits hire, while a machine that moves bins and bales most of the year is worth buying.
Tax, finance and what to confirm on a quote
Tax can change the sums on an all terrain forklift. From 1 July 2026, eligible small businesses with aggregated turnover under $10 million may be able to immediately deduct assets costing less than $20,000 each. Some used machines come in under that line, while new ones don't. Check with your accountant.
Finance spreads the cost over regular payments. DJJ arranges finance through a finance partner, subject to approval, and the terms depend on your business and the machine. Whichever way you pay, get these points in writing:
- whether each price is ex GST or inc. GST
- capacity and the load centre it's rated at, since 500 mm gives a higher figure than 600 mm
- 2WD or 4WD, and whether a differential lock is fitted
- mast type and maximum lift height, with the load chart at that height
- engine and emission standard
- side shift, cab, tyres and lights, listed one by one
- delivery, pre-delivery inspection and warranty in months and hours
The right all terrain forklift is the cheapest one that still lifts your heaviest load on your worst ground. DJJ sells Hangcha 2WD and 4WD diesel models and high-voltage lithium models from 1.5 to 10 t, with branches in Silverwater, Meadowbrook and Bayswater. Tell us your load weight, lift height and ground, or call 1800 355 388, and we'll price the rough terrain forklifts that fit.
