A complete breakdown of single girder overhead crane costs — purchase price, installation, maintenance, energy and 10-year TCO — with comparison data to help you budget and choose the most cost-effective lifting solution for your workshop or warehouse.
Published: July 7, 2026 | By Chen Wei, Senior Design Engineer at SIEC Cranes
A single girder overhead crane costs USD 4,200 to 48,000 in 2026 depending on capacity, span and hoist specification. But the purchase price is only half the picture — the total installed cost with runway steel and commissioning runs 1.6 to 2.2 times the equipment price, and the 10-year total cost of ownership, including maintenance and energy, typically reaches 2.5 to 3.5 times the initial crane price. For cranes under 20 tons, the single girder design delivers a 30–40% lower TCO than a comparable double girder crane, making it the most economical overhead lifting solution for most workshops and warehouses.
I keep seeing buyers compare only equipment prices when budgeting for an overhead crane. A USD 13,000 crane can end up costing USD 60,000 over a decade if you don't factor in installation, maintenance and energy costs. Not many sales teams tell you that part.
Three parameters determine 80% of the equipment price: capacity, span and hoist type. Add control mode and special coatings for the remaining 20%.
Lifting capacity is the biggest driver. A 1-ton crane is roughly 4x less expensive than a 20-ton crane even though they share the same design. The girder section grows exponentially with capacity to handle bending moments.
Span matters almost as much. A 25 m span girder needs roughly 60% more steel than a 10 m span for the same capacity. Every 5 m of additional span adds about USD 2,000–4,000 to the girder cost.
Hoist type and control add another layer. Standard CD1 wire rope hoist is what most installations use. Dual-speed lifting and VFD (variable frequency drive) control add USD 1,500–3,500 but give smoother starts and stops — worth it for precision handling.
| Capacity | Standard Span | Hoist Type | Price Range (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ton | 10 m | CD1 wire rope | USD 4,200 – 6,500 |
| 2 ton | 12 m | CD1 wire rope | USD 5,800 – 8,500 |
| 3 ton | 12 m | CD1 wire rope | USD 7,500 – 11,000 |
| 5 ton | 15 m | CD1 wire rope | USD 10,500 – 16,000 |
| 8 ton | 18 m | CD1 wire rope | USD 14,000 – 21,000 |
| 10 ton | 20 m | CD1 wire rope | USD 18,000 – 28,000 |
| 15 ton | 22 m | CD1 wire rope | USD 24,000 – 36,000 |
| 20 ton | 25 m | MD1 wire rope | USD 32,000 – 48,000 |
Prices are FOB for CE-certified cranes with standard pendant control. Add USD 1,500–3,500 for VFD/remote control. Prices exclude runway steel, installation and freight. Contact SIEC Cranes for a detailed quote based on your span, lifting height and voltage requirements.
Installation is where first-time buyers get blindsided. The crane itself is only part of the project.
Runway steel — the beams, rails and brackets that support the crane — costs USD 3,000 to 15,000 depending on span and column spacing. A 15 m runway for a 5-ton crane typically runs USD 5,000–8,000. Longer spans need heavier sections and push the price up.
On-site installation labor ranges from USD 4,000 to 12,000 and depends on building height (taller buildings need more rigging), crane weight, and whether you need a mobile crane for lifting the girder into place. Installation usually takes 3–7 days for a single girder crane.
Commissioning and safety testing — load test, brake adjustment, limit switch calibration and documentation — adds USD 1,500–3,000. Some jurisdictions require third-party inspection for certification, which can add another USD 1,000–2,000.
| Cost Component | 5-ton / 15 m | 10-ton / 20 m | 20-ton / 25 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crane equipment | USD 13,000 | USD 23,000 | USD 40,000 |
| Runway steel + rails | USD 5,500 | USD 8,000 | USD 13,000 |
| Installation labor | USD 5,000 | USD 7,000 | USD 10,000 |
| Commissioning & testing | USD 2,000 | USD 2,500 | USD 3,500 |
| Total installed | USD 25,500 | USD 40,500 | USD 66,500 |
One thing buyers don't always realize: runway steel is a one-time sunk cost. If you replace the crane in 15 years, the runway can usually stay. So it's worth investing in decent runway design the first time.
Maintenance is the part most people underestimate. A single girder crane isn't maintenance-free, but the costs are predictable if you stay on top of them.
I've seen facilities push wire rope replacement by 6 months to save USD 800 — then end up with a snapped rope and a crane idle for a week. Planned maintenance is cheaper than reactive repair every time.
Annual maintenance cost by duty class:
Major replacement items over 10 years:
Total maintenance cost over 10 years for a 10-ton single girder crane running A4 duty: approximately USD 18,000–22,000. That is roughly 80–95% of the crane's purchase price spread over a decade. Not cheap, but a lot less than the double girder alternative.
The single girder design has a lighter deadweight — typically 30–45% lighter than a comparable double girder crane. This directly reduces motor load during travel.
A 10-ton single girder crane with 20 m span weighs roughly 4–6 tons. A comparable double girder crane weighs around 8–12 tons. The single girder's electric motors consume 35–50% less energy per operating hour because they are moving less steel around.
Real numbers: if a 10-ton single girder crane runs 6 hours a day, 260 days a year, at an average motor draw of 8 kW, annual energy consumption is about 12,480 kWh. At USD 0.12/kWh industrial rate, that is roughly USD 1,500 per year. A double girder crane at 13 kW average draw would consume about 20,280 kWh — USD 2,400 per year. The difference of USD 900 per year adds up to USD 9,000 over 10 years.
VFD drives can cut energy use by another 20–30% compared to across-the-line starting, but that is optional and adds to the upfront cost.
Now compare a 10-ton single girder crane against a 10-ton double girder crane over 10 years at A4 duty.
| Cost Category | 10-ton Single Girder | 10-ton Double Girder |
|---|---|---|
| Crane equipment | USD 23,000 | USD 38,000 |
| Installation (runway + labor + testing) | USD 17,500 | USD 25,000 |
| Maintenance (10 years) | USD 18,000 | USD 22,000 |
| Energy (10 years) | USD 5,000 | USD 10,000 |
| 10-Year TCO | USD 63,500 | USD 95,000 |
| TCO per year | USD 6,350 | USD 9,500 |
The single girder crane saves about USD 31,500 over 10 years — a 33% lower TCO. For a 5-ton crane the percentage saving is similar but the absolute gap is smaller. For a 20-ton crane the gap narrows because the double girder design becomes more cost-effective at higher capacities.
Single girder is not always the cheaper option. At some point the girder gets so heavy that a double girder design becomes comparable in steel weight. Here is where that crossover happens:
But for 90% of workshop and warehouse applications under 15 tons, the single girder crane delivers the lowest TCO.
Here's how I tell buyers to budget for the full project:
For a 5-ton installation, expect the total project cost to land between USD 22,000 and 29,000. For 10 tons, budget USD 36,000–48,000. For 20 tons, USD 58,000–75,000.
I get this question a lot, and the honest answer is: it depends on your budget and how long you plan to use the crane.
A used 5-ton single girder crane might sell for USD 5,000–7,000. After inspection, refurbishment and re-certification, the total cost often reaches USD 15,000–19,000 — close to 70–85% of a new crane's installed cost. The refurbished crane gives you 8–12 years of remaining life. The new crane gives you 20–25 years with lower maintenance costs throughout.
My rule of thumb: if you plan to keep the crane for 10+ years, buy new. If you need a crane for a short-term project (3–5 years), a used unit bought from a reputable refurbisher can work well. But inspect before buying — check for girder twist (tolerance ±3 mm per 10 m span), end carriage weld integrity, and hoist brake lining wear.
Plain numbers for a typical 5-ton single girder crane:
A typical 10-ton single girder crane:
The single girder crane is the most cost-effective overhead lifting solution under 20 tons when you account for all costs — not just the equipment price. The 33% TCO advantage over a comparable double girder crane, lower building structural requirements, and simpler maintenance make it the practical choice for workshops, warehouses and light manufacturing facilities.
For a detailed quote tailored to your span, lifting height and application, contact the SIEC Cranes sales team. We provide free load calculations and layout drawings with every quotation.