A new order picker in Australia costs from about $14,000 for a compact stock picker to $180,000 or more for a wire-guided high-level machine. Most new mid-level order pickers sit between about $18,000 and $65,000. Used order pickers are listed from about $3,500 to $30,000 ex GST, and hire runs from about $90 to $1,200 a week. These figures are indicative, as at October 2026, and the table shows the GST basis of each.
Pick height drives most of the gap, because each level adds mast, platform and safety equipment. If you're still deciding whether you need an order picker at all, start with how order pickers work and who needs an LO licence.
Order picker prices at a glance
The table groups order picker prices by condition, then by pick level, with the source type and GST basis for each row.
| Option | Typical pick height | Indicative price | Source and GST basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New, compact stock picker or low-level picker | First and second rack levels, up to about 5 m on compact units | About $14,000-$30,000 | Dealer listings, October 2026, ex GST; planning guide, March 2026, GST basis not stated |
| New, mid-level | About 3-6 m | About $18,000-$65,000 | Dealer listings, October 2026, ex GST; planning guides, March 2026, GST basis not stated |
| New, high-level man-up | About 6-12 m | About $40,000-$180,000 or more | Planning guides, March 2026, and a dealer guide, October 2026, GST basis not stated |
| Used, compact and low-level | Up to about 3 m | About $3,500-$12,500 | Listings, October 2026, ex GST |
| Used, high-level man-up | About 6-9.6 m | About $10,000-$30,000 | Listings, October 2026, ex GST |
| Hire, compact and low-level | Up to about 5 m | About $90-$600 a week | Listings, October 2026, ex GST; planning guide, March 2026, GST basis not stated |
| Hire, mid and high-level | About 4-12 m | About $240-$1,200 a week | Listing, October 2026, ex GST; planning guides, March 2026, GST basis not stated |
The bands are wide because two machines with the same label can differ in lift height, guidance and battery. Major brands rarely publish prices for new mid and high-level machines, so most are quoted on request. Treat guide figures as planning numbers and listings as asking prices.
What drives the price of an order picker?
The price of an order picker rises mainly with pick height, then with capacity at height, battery type and aisle guidance.
Pick height and capacity at height
Pick height costs money because a taller mast needs a stronger frame, more lifting power and more platform safety equipment. Capacity also falls as the platform rises. The Hangcha A Series 1.2 t high-level order picker is rated at 1,200 kg up to 3 m at a 400 mm load centre. At 9.5 m, that falls to 400 kg.
Price the machine on the weight you pick at your top shelf, not the figure in the model name. The data plate and load chart are the authority.
Lead-acid or lithium battery
A lead-acid order picker usually costs less to buy, while lithium usually suits sites that run more than one shift. Lithium can be topped up at breaks, needs no watering and charges faster. On the Hangcha 1.2 t, the lithium pack charges fully in about 2 hours, against 8-10 hours for lead-acid.
Lead-acid still needs a ventilated charging area and full charge cycles. On one shift a day, it's usually the cheaper choice. Lithium still needs the correct charger and battery management, so it isn't maintenance free.
Wire or rail guidance for narrow aisles
Guidance adds cost because it's work on your building as well as an option on the truck. Wire guidance lays a powered wire in a slot down each aisle, and the truck steers itself along it. Rail guidance fixes steel rails along both sides of the aisle.
Both are quoted per aisle, so the cost grows with the number and length of your aisles. Wire guidance also needs a flat, sound floor. Ask for guidance and floor work as separate lines on the quote.
Order picker prices by level
Order picker prices step up with each level, so match the level to your highest regular pick.
Compact and low-level order pickers
Compact and low-level order pickers are the cheapest way to pick from the first two rack levels. New compact stock pickers were listed at about $14,000-$19,000 ex GST in October 2026. They lift a person and a small tray rather than a pallet, so check what they're rated to carry.
Low-level order pickers carry a pallet on the forks and raise the operator about a metre. The X Series low-level order picker, for example, lifts its forks 125 mm with the operator standing at up to 1.03 m. A planning guide puts new low-level machines at $15,000-$30,000, GST basis not stated.
Mid-level order picker prices
A new mid-level order picker usually costs about $18,000-$65,000, depending on lift height, battery and brand. At the lower end, new pickers with platforms of about 3.6-4.9 m were listed at $18,500-$23,800 ex GST in October 2026. Planning guides put most mid-level machines between $20,000 and $65,000, GST basis not stated.
Mid-level machines suit top pick levels of about 3-6 m. DJJ Equipment sells the Hangcha A Series medium-level order picker, which lifts up to 4.5 m with a 24V lead-acid or lithium battery. We quote it on request, with a 24 month / 2,000 hour warranty.
High-level order picker prices
High-level order pickers cost the most, from about $40,000 for a free-ranging man-up machine to $180,000 or more for a wire-guided cab-up unit. These figures come from planning guides and a dealer guide, GST basis not stated. Most suppliers quote high-level machines to the job.
Used order picker prices and what to check
Used order picker prices depend on age, hours, battery health and lift height. Listings in October 2026, all ex GST, ran from $3,500 for a reconditioned low-level pallet picker to $29,000 for a 2005 turret truck lifting 9.4 m.
Used high-level man-up pickers rated about 1.2-1.5 t were listed at $9,900-$28,000, with lift heights up to 9.6 m. Small used stock pickers sat between about $5,000 and $12,500. A planning guide puts newer used machines as high as $60,000, GST basis not stated.
Before you buy a used order picker, check:
- battery age, condition and charging records, because a replacement battery is a large cost
- hours and service history
- platform gates, interlocks and the harness anchor point, which must all work
- the data plate, which should be legible and match the mast fitted
- mast chains, hydraulics, and guide rollers or wire sensors if fitted
- a technician's inspection before you pay
If you're replacing an older machine, DJJ takes trade-ins from all forklift brands. Value depends on hours, condition, battery and demand.
Order picker hire rates: when hiring beats buying
Order picker hire costs about $90-$600 a week for compact and low-level machines, and about $240-$1,200 a week for mid and high-level machines. Listed rates usually apply to longer terms. Short-term hire costs more per week, and delivery and collection are extra.
Hire suits seasonal peaks, a trial of a new picking layout or a breakdown. Buying suits steady picking over several years. DJJ hires order pickers on selected models, and minimum terms for forklift hire depend on the machine and branch.
Worked example: pricing a mid-level order picker
Say you pick cartons from racking with a top shelf at 4 m, on one shift a day, with steady orders all year.
A mid-level order picker fits that height, so the new band is about $18,000-$65,000. On one shift, a lead-acid battery is usually enough, which keeps you toward the lower half of that band.
Hiring at the $240 a week listed rate costs $240 x 52 weeks = $12,480 a year ex GST, before delivery. Over three years that's $37,440, more than a new machine in the lower half of the band. For a 12-week Christmas peak, though, hire costs $240 x 12 = $2,880 ex GST, so hiring wins.
Other costs to budget for with an order picker
The purchase price isn't the whole cost of an order picker. Budget for these as well:
- LO licence training for each operator of a forklift-type order picker, with fees that vary by training provider and state
- delivery and commissioning at your site
- a charger that suits your power supply
- servicing, tyres and a replacement battery over the machine's life
Tax can change the sums. 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. A compact or used order picker can come in under that line, while new mid and high-level machines usually won't. Check with your accountant.
What to ask for on an order picker quote
An order picker quote should state, in writing:
- whether each figure is ex GST or inc. GST
- the capacity at your top pick height, from the load chart
- battery type, capacity and charger
- guidance type, and the aisle width from the maker's drawing for your racking
- delivery, commissioning and operator familiarisation
- warranty terms for the truck and the battery
The right order picker is the cheapest one that safely reaches your top pick level with the weight you pick there. The Hangcha order pickers for sale at DJJ come in low, mid and high-level versions, from Silverwater NSW, Meadowbrook QLD and Bayswater WA. Send us your top pick height, load weight and shifts a day, or call 1800 355 388, and we'll quote the machines that fit.
