Cherry picker hire cost
Last updated
Cherry picker hire rates 2026
All prices are with a certified operator and exclude VAT. Delivery to site is shown as its own line.
| Size (working height) | Per day | Per week | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12–15 m | R2,400–R4,000 | R11,500–R12,500 | R32,500–R37,000 |
| 16–17 m | R4,150–R7,900 | On WhatsApp | On WhatsApp |
| 20–25 m | about R8,200 | On WhatsApp | On WhatsApp |
| 50 m+ | about R16,500 | On WhatsApp | On WhatsApp |
The 20–25 m and 50 m+ prices rest on few price points, so treat them as a guide; the exact figure comes back in writing on WhatsApp. Which size fits your job, with reach and basket load for each: cherry picker hire.
Get a cherry picker price on WhatsAppDay, week or month: which works out cheaper?
On the 12–15 m class, five separate days at the day rate come to R12,000–R20,000, while the weekly rate is R11,500–R12,500. Four separate weeks come to R46,000–R50,000, while the monthly rate is R32,500–R37,000. So if the job runs three days or more, ask for the weekly price, and for anything past three weeks, ask for the monthly price.
Can I hire a cherry picker per hour?
We price by the day, week or month, because the machine is delivered and set up even for a one-hour job. If you only need it for a few hours, say so on WhatsApp and we confirm the price for that in writing.
Example quotes
These worked examples show how a quote is built: hire, plus delivery there and back. They are for illustration only; your quote comes in writing on WhatsApp.
Two days, 12–15 m, in Sandton
Gutter repairs and painting the fascias on a double-storey house.
| Example quote (for illustration only) | Amount |
|---|---|
| 12–15 m cherry picker, 2 days at R2,400–R4,000 a day with operator | R4,800–R8,000 |
| Transport both ways to Sandton | R1,300–R3,840 |
| Example total, excl. VAT | R6,100–R11,840 |
One week, 12–15 m, in Bellville
Resealing windows along the front of a three-storey office block.
| Example quote (for illustration only) | Amount |
|---|---|
| 12–15 m cherry picker, 1 week at R11,500–R12,500 a week with operator | R11,500–R12,500 |
| Transport both ways to Bellville | R1,300–R3,840 |
| Example total, excl. VAT | R12,800–R16,340 |
What changes the price
- Working height: the biggest factor. A 16–17 m machine is R4,150–R7,900 a day against R2,400–R4,000 for 12–15 m. Measure the height of the work; don't round up a whole class "to be safe".
- Outreach: if the basket must reach over a canopy, a wall or a garden bed, you may need the next size up for the same height.
- Type of machine: truck-mounted, trailer-mounted or self-propelled. Truck-mounted units drive to site; trailer and self-propelled units are delivered.
- Length of hire: weekly and monthly rates cost less per day than single days.
- Delivery: inside a main centre, R1,300–R3,840 there and back. Further out it's per kilometre from the nearest main centre: for example, Secunda is about 106 km from eMalahleni (Witbank) by road. Transport for a cherry picker there and back usually comes to R9,120–R11,020, shown as its own line on your quote.
- Standing time: if the machine waits because the site isn't ready or the work area isn't clear, that time is charged. Rain and strong wind stop basket work, so build a spare day into outdoor jobs.
- Permits and traffic control: if the machine stands on a road or pavement, the municipality's permission and any traffic control must be in place before it arrives, or the machine stands and waits.
Every quote shows hire and delivery separately, and the price is confirmed in writing before the machine moves. How booking and the deposit work: how hiring works. Lifting loads rather than people? See telehandler hire, forklift hire or crane truck hire.
Hire or buy a cherry picker?
Buying makes sense only if the machine works most days of the year. Owning one adds legal and running costs on top of the purchase price:
- A yearly load test: a thorough examination and performance test by a lifting machinery inspector of a registered lifting machinery entity at intervals of no more than 12 months (Driven Machinery Regulations, reg 18(5)).
- Six-monthly examinations of chains, ropes, brakes and safety devices by a competent person (reg 18(6)), and a register of every test and repair (reg 18(7)(a)).
- A certified operator: a C53 certificate from an accredited training provider, and a licence card that runs for up to 24 months before re-licensing (National Code of Practice, 2024).
- Service records: if you ever hire the machine out, full service history must be kept for at least 10 years (reg 18(7)(c)).
- The rest: insurance, storage, servicing, batteries or diesel, and a truck or trailer to move it.
Hiring with an operator puts all of that on us. For a long contract, the monthly rate (R32,500–R37,000 on the 12–15 m class) keeps a machine and operator on site without any of the ownership costs.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to hire a cherry picker per day?
R2,400–R4,000 a day with operator for a 12–15 m cherry picker, R4,150–R7,900 for 16–17 m, about R8,200 for 20–25 m and about R16,500 for 50 m and up, all with an operator and excluding VAT. Delivery inside a main centre is R1,300–R3,840 there and back.
How much do cherry pickers cost?
To hire, from R2,400 a day for the smallest class up to about R16,500 a day for 50 m+. To buy, the price depends on height, type and age and comes from the manufacturers' dealers. On top of the price, owning one means a yearly load test, six-monthly examinations, a certified operator and the paperwork, which is why most people hire for jobs of a few days or weeks.
What is the price of a cherry picker in South Africa?
Our hire prices are the same in every province: R2,400–R4,000 a day for 12–15 m, R11,500–R12,500 a week and R32,500–R37,000 a month, with operator and excluding VAT. What changes between towns is delivery: inside a main centre it's R1,300–R3,840 both ways, and further out it's charged per kilometre from the nearest main centre.
Can I hire a cherry picker for personal use?
Yes. Home owners hire cherry pickers for gutters, trees, roof leaks, painting and security lights. Our machine comes with a certified operator, so you don't need a licence yourself: the operator sets it up and drives the basket while you or your contractor do the work. You need firm ground for the outriggers and a clear way in; WhatsApp us a photo and we confirm the size and price.
Is the operator included in the price?
Yes. Every rate on this page is with an operator who holds a mobile elevated work platform (code C53) certificate. Fuel or charging is confirmed in writing on your quote.
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Need a cherry picker?
WhatsApp us the job, the town and the dates. We confirm the machine, the start date and the price in writing before the machine moves.
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