Hiring a standard 2.5 t LPG or diesel forklift in Australia costs about $140-$220 a day or $315-$720 a week, ex GST, as at October 2026. Electric forklifts cost about the same, while reach trucks and 5 t forklifts cost more. On top of the hire rate, budget for delivery and collection, a damage waiver and fuel or LPG, which can add a few hundred dollars to a short hire.
Forklift hire rates in Australia by machine type
Forklift hire rates depend first on the machine type and capacity, then on how long you hire it. The table groups typical rates by forklift type, with the source type and GST basis for each row.
| Machine | Per day | Per week | Source and GST basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 t LPG or diesel counterbalance | About $140-$220 | About $315-$720 | Hire company price lists and rate guides, September-October 2026, ex GST |
| 2.5 t electric counterbalance | About $150-$220 | About $480-$700 | Hire company rate guides, 2026, ex GST |
| Reach truck | Usually quoted | About $380-$750 | Hire listing and rate guide, September-October 2026, ex GST |
| Walkie stacker | Usually quoted | About $95-$250 | Hire price lists and buyer guide, March-October 2026, inc. GST and GST basis not stated |
| 5 t diesel or LPG counterbalance | About $250-$340 | About $850-$1,200 | Hire company price lists and rate guides, 2026, ex GST |
| 2.5-3.5 t rough terrain forklift | From about $180 | About $600-$1,300 | Hire listings and rate guides, October 2026, ex GST |
The low end of each weekly band usually comes with a longer term or an older machine, and the high end with short-term hire in a capital city. Ask what the quote assumes before you compare it with another one.
Daily, weekly or monthly forklift hire: how the term changes the price
The forklift hire term changes the price more than most buyers expect, because the weekly rate is usually only three to four times the daily rate. If you need a machine for more than three or four days, a weekly rate normally works out cheaper.
Monthly rates fall further. Hire company guides put a 2.5-3 t counterbalance at about $1,300-$1,900 a month in 2026 (GST basis not always stated), and long-term contracts over a year or more cost less again per month.
Short-term hire suits a seasonal peak, a breakdown or a one-off project. If you'll need the forklift most of the year, buying or rent to own usually costs less than hire over time.
Costs on top of the forklift hire rate
The hire rate is rarely the whole bill, so ask for these items on the quote:
- Delivery and collection: about $80-$500 each way, depending on machine size and distance from the depot. Some suppliers include metro delivery on weekly or longer hire.
- Damage waiver: usually about 10-15% of the hire cost. A waiver reduces what you pay if the machine is damaged, but it isn't insurance and has exclusions.
- Fuel and LPG: LPG forklifts are often supplied with a cylinder you must return full or pay to refill, and diesel machines usually go back with a full tank.
- Hours: most rates assume one shift of about 8 hours a day. Extra hours or a second shift are usually charged.
- Cleaning and damage: a machine returned dirty or damaged can attract extra charges.
Two quotes with the same weekly rate can differ by hundreds of dollars once these are added, so compare the total for your hire period.
Do you need a licence to hire a forklift?
Most forklift hire in Australia is dry hire, which means no operator comes with the machine. Anyone driving a forklift truck needs a high risk work licence in class LF, and an order picker where the operator rises with the load needs class LO.
Pedestrian-operated walkie stackers and pallet jacks don't need an LF licence, but your operators still need training and instruction. Hire companies usually also ask for public liability insurance before the machine leaves the yard.
If nobody on site holds a licence, ask about wet hire, where the supplier provides a licensed operator. You pay for the operator's time as well as the machine, so wet hire costs much more per hour.
What makes one forklift hire quote dearer than another?
A forklift hire quote rises with capacity, lift height and anything outside a standard machine. A taller mast, side shift, fork positioner, special tyres or a lithium battery can each add to the weekly rate.
Location and timing matter too. Rates in capital cities and during peak months, such as the run-up to Christmas or the end of the financial year, are often higher, and less common machines may need to come from another depot. If you're weighing hire against buying, the best time to buy a forklift is a few months before your own busiest period, so it arrives before the rush.
Load centre is easy to miss. If your loads sit further out than the rated load centre on the data plate, you may need a bigger forklift than the weight alone suggests, and a bigger machine costs more to hire.
Worked example: hiring a forklift for a six-week peak
Say your warehouse needs one extra 2.5 t LPG forklift for six weeks before Christmas, on one shift a day, delivered in a capital city.
Start with the hire rate. At the weekly band in the table, six weeks costs about $1,890-$4,320 ex GST (6 x $315 and 6 x $720).
Add the extras. Delivery and collection at $80-$500 each way adds about $160-$1,000, and a 10% damage waiver adds about $189-$432. That puts the six weeks at roughly $2,240-$5,750 ex GST, plus LPG.
Daily hire would cost more. Thirty working days at $140-$220 a day comes to $4,200-$6,600 before extras, which is why a weekly rate suits anything longer than a few days.
Forklift hire with DJJ
DJJ Equipment hires electric, diesel and LPG forklifts, reach trucks, pallet stackers, order pickers, rough terrain forklifts and pallet jacks on selected models. Availability varies by location and term, and minimum hire terms depend on the machine and branch.
Depending on the plan, our forklift hire may include an inspection before the hire starts, servicing support and breakdown assistance. Ask our team about transport options to your site. An optional Equipment Waiver costs 10% of the weekly hire. It isn't insurance and doesn't cover unlicensed operators, wilful damage or overhead strikes.
If you're unsure whether to hire or buy, we can show you both. Try Before You Buy, and buying the machine you've hired, may be available on selected equipment, subject to approval.
The cheapest forklift hire is the one that matches your load, your floor and how long you actually need the machine. Tell us the load weight, lift height, surface and how many hours a day you'll run it, and the Hire Team at Silverwater, Meadowbrook or Bayswater will quote the options. Call 1800 355 388, and ask for a purchase quote too if the hire period keeps growing.
