Wilmington crane prices in 2026
A short boom truck lift around Wilmington can come in near $265 thanks to a 1-hour minimum. A 75-ton runs $1,400 for its first 4 hours, and a 115-ton day tops $4,800.
One fleet's posted hourly prices
| Machine | Per hour | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| 22-ton boom truck, 101 ft of boom | $265 | 1 hour |
| 40-ton crane, 123 ft of boom | $285 | 2 hours |
| 75-ton crane, 127 ft of boom | $350 | 4 hours |
| 115-ton crane, 169 ft of boom | $450 | 8 hours |
Source: the pricing page of Dependable Crane in Sacramento, California, read November 12, 2026. The 115-ton also needs a counterweight trailer at $1,200. The page does not say how travel time is billed. The company works in Northern California, not North Carolina, and Wilmington operators quote job by job, so use the sheet as a reference point.
Ballpark a Wilmington crane ticket
Choose the nearest job and a machine. The tool uses the posted hourly rate and each machine's minimum from the sheet above. Travel, riggers and permits are not counted.
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Where this sheet comes from
Crane companies around Wilmington price by phone after they hear the job. Dependable Crane, a Sacramento company, posts hourly rates for four machines, from a 22-ton boom truck to a 115-ton crane. It does not work in North Carolina, but its sheet shows how minimums scale with crane size.
Each rate includes the operator. The page does not say whether travel is billed portal to portal, so ask any Wilmington operator how they count drive time.
Minimums grow with the crane
The minimums climb with the machine: 1 hour on the 22-ton boom truck, 2 hours on the 40-ton, 4 on the 75-ton and 8 on the 115-ton. That makes the boom truck the cheapest way to do a quick pick, at $265 for the first hour.
The 115-ton also travels with a counterweight trailer, listed at $1,200. Past each minimum, more hours add the hourly rate.
Tickets figured from the sheet
- $265The 22-ton boom truck for its 1-hour minimum.
- $855The 40-ton crane for 3 hours, 3 times $285.
- $4,800The 115-ton for its 8-hour minimum, $3,600, plus the $1,200 counterweight trailer.
Figured from a posted rate. Your operator gives the real price.
Quote this liftCharges outside the hourly rate
The posted price covers the machine and its operator. Ask about these as well:
- Travel time to and from the job, which the posted page does not address.
- The counterweight trailer on the largest cranes.
- A rigger or signal person when the operator cannot see the landing spot.
- Mats when the crane sets up on sand, a lawn or ground near the water.
- A city right-of-way permit and traffic control when the crane works in a Wilmington street (City of Wilmington right-of-way permits).
- NCDOT and city permits for an oversize move, filed at least 10 days ahead.
Boom truck, 40, 75 or 115 tons
Load weight and reach decide the crane. Capacity drops fast as the boom goes out, so a hot tub 12 feet from the truck is easy and the same tub 50 feet back over a house is not.
Most home, dock and small shop lifts fit the 22-ton boom truck or the 40-ton. Big live oak limbs, deep rooftop units and steel move up to the 75-ton. The rooftop guide and the live oak guide cover sizing in more depth.
Cost questions from Wilmington jobs
What is the cheapest crane option in Wilmington?
On the posted sheet, the 22-ton boom truck at $265 an hour with a 1-hour minimum. Wilmington companies set their own minimums, and many use 2 to 4 hours, so ask.
Why does a big crane cost so much more for a short job?
Because the minimum grows with the machine. On the posted sheet the 115-ton bills at least 8 hours, $3,600, plus a $1,200 counterweight trailer, even for a short lift.
Is drive time included?
The posted page does not say. Many crane companies bill from yard to yard, so a job in Shallotte or Burgaw can cost more than one near downtown. Ask the operator.