HIAB hire and conventional crane hire both solve the same basic problem — lifting and moving heavy loads. But they do it in very different ways, at very different costs.
The Key Difference
A HIAB crane is mounted on a lorry. It travels to your site under its own power, deploys its outriggers, lifts, and drives away. No setup, no erection, no separate transport costs.
A conventional mobile or tower crane must be transported on a low loader, positioned, sometimes partially assembled, used, then dismantled and transported away. Every one of those stages takes time and costs money before the first lift is made.
When HIAB Hire is the Right Choice
- Load weight under approximately 20-25 tonnes
- You need fast mobilisation — same-day or next-day
- The job involves delivery and placement rather than a sustained overhead lift
- The site has reasonable road access for a HGV
- You want a single all-in price with one vehicle and one operator
This covers the vast majority of UK commercial and construction lifting jobs — container placements, cabin deliveries, plant movements, rooftop equipment, events logistics.
When a Conventional Crane is Needed
- Loads are very heavy — significantly over 25 tonnes
- Extremely high lifts required, well beyond HIAB reach
- The crane needs to remain static on site for an extended period
- A multi-crane tandem lift operation is required
Cost Comparison
For equivalent jobs, HIAB hire is almost always significantly cheaper than conventional crane hire. The HIAB drives to site, lifts, and drives away — no erection, no dismantling, no separate transport. Mobilisation is faster and the all-in cost is lower.
Not sure which is right for your job? Call us on 0330 107 9400 and we will give you an honest assessment.