Crane Rental in Lincoln, NE
Boom trucks, mobile, rough-terrain and crawler cranes for state, university and commercial construction, manufacturing plants, grain elevators, wind and solar, rooftops and steel across Lancaster County and the I-80 corridor. Operated or bare rental — tell us about your lift and get a free quote.
- Boom trucks to crawlers
- Operated or bare rental
- Free quote — no obligation
Every kind of lift in southeast Nebraska
From a quick boom-truck pick to a multi-day crawler job, tell us what you need and get the right crane for it.
Boom Truck Rental
Fast-setup boom trucks for HVAC units, trusses, signs, tanks, ag equipment and material drops — often the most economical lift.
Learn more →Mobile & Truck Cranes
Hydraulic truck and all-terrain cranes that drive to the site, set up quickly and handle most commercial lifts.
Learn more →Rough-Terrain Cranes
Big tires and four-wheel drive for unpaved pads, farm and grain-elevator sites, wind sites and soft ground.
Learn more →Crawler Cranes
Track-mounted cranes for heavy, long-duration work like solar, plant, bridge and large steel projects.
Learn more →Operated & Maintained
Crane delivered with a certified operator (and rigger if needed) — the standard way most lifts are booked.
Learn more →Bare Crane Rental
Machine only, for qualified companies with their own certified operators, insurance and lift plans.
Learn more →
Need a crane on site this week?
Boom trucks to large crawlers, operated or bare rental, from Lincoln to Waverly, Crete and Seward.
Which crane fits your job?
A quick reference to the crane classes most often rented around Lincoln and Lancaster County. Not sure? Pick "help me choose" in the form.
| Crane type | Typical capacity class | Common jobs | Why choose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boom truck | approx. 15 – 60 ton | HVAC rooftop units, trusses, signs, light steel, material drops | Quick setup, road-legal, low cost per lift |
| Carry deck / pick-and-carry | approx. 4 – 20 ton | Plant maintenance, tight indoor or yard work | Compact; can travel with a load |
| Hydraulic truck crane | approx. 30 – 100+ ton | Commercial construction, steel erection, tanks | Drives to site, sets up fast |
| Rough-terrain crane | approx. 30 – 130 ton | Farm and grain sites, wind and solar fields, unpaved ground | 4×4, big tires; on-site work |
| All-terrain crane | approx. 40 – 1,000+ ton | Heavy commercial, industrial, solar and plant lifts | Highway travel + off-road capability |
| Crawler crane | approx. 50 – 3,000+ ton | Bridges, large steel, long-term plant projects | Highest capacity; transported in loads |
Typical industry capacity classes. Rated capacity drops quickly with radius and boom length — the crane is sized from your load weight, pick radius and height using the manufacturer's load chart.
Built for Lincoln work
Lincoln builds constantly — state government and university projects, hospitals and schools, manufacturing plants, distribution sites along I-80 and the grain and ag operations that ring Lancaster County. Whether it's a steel set downtown, a bin or leg section at an elevator before harvest, a rooftop unit swap before summer or machinery for a plant line, the right crane and an experienced operator make the lift safe and quick.
- State, university and institutional construction
- Grain elevators, bins, legs and ag co-ops
- Solar, utility and plant equipment
- Steel, tilt-up and commercial construction
State & University Construction
Steel, precast, mechanical units and materials for state government buildings, university campus projects, hospitals and schools around Lincoln.
Grain Elevators & Ag
Bin rings and roof sections, bucket-elevator legs, conveyors, dryers and feed-mill equipment for grain elevators and farms across Lancaster County.
Solar & Utility
Inverters, transformers, switchgear and component lifts for solar fields, wind projects and utility work across southeast Nebraska.
HVAC & Rooftop Units
RTU swaps on schools, retail, offices and plants — often a single early-morning boom-truck lift, scheduled around wind and winter weather.
Steel, Tilt-Up & Commercial
Structural steel, precast and tilt-up panels, trusses and roof decks for warehouses, shops and commercial builds.
Manufacturing & I-80 Plants
Machinery setting, tanks, generators and plant equipment for Lincoln manufacturers and the distribution sites along I-80.
Lifts across Lancaster County
Steel, plants, rooftops, site work and heavy lifts — every kind of Lincoln-area job.
Three steps to a crane on site
Tell us about the lift
Weight, height or radius, location, date and whether you need an operator. Two minutes, free.
The crane is sized to the job
Your lift is checked against load charts so the right crane and tonnage go to your site.
Get your quote & book
You get a call to confirm the details and a written quote. Book the date that works for you.
Tell us about your lift
Weight, height, site and date — that’s all it takes to get a real price.
Lincoln, Lancaster County & the I-80 corridor
Crane rental for Lincoln and the surrounding towns of Lancaster County and its neighbors — from Waverly and Ashland to the northeast, Hickman, Firth and Beatrice to the south, and west to Crete and Seward. Travel and mobilization time can affect price on farther jobs, so include the job location in your request.
- Lincoln
- Waverly
- Hickman
- Bennet
- Firth
- Malcolm
- Crete
- Seward
- Ashland
- Beatrice
Rooftop unit, steel or grain bin?
Send the weight, height and date and get a quote sized to your lift.
Crane rental questions
How much does crane rental cost in Lincoln?
Price depends on crane size, hours, travel and rigging. Published national rate guides list about $155/hour for a 23-ton boom truck up to about $595/hour for a 275-ton mobile crane, with operator (RiggingForce). Another guide puts small cranes around $245–$315/hour, mid-size $320–$535/hour and large cranes $415–$1,350+/hour (source). Your quote gives you the exact price for your lift in Lincoln or Lancaster County.
Is there a minimum charge?
Many crane companies bill a minimum call-out (commonly several hours) plus travel or mobilization, and some add charges for rigging crews, permits or overtime. Ask for these to be itemized in your quote — it makes quotes easy to compare.
What's the difference between operated and bare rental?
An operated ("maintained & operated") rental includes a certified operator, so the machine is handled for you. A bare rental is the crane only — your company supplies certified operators, insurance and lift planning. Most one-off lifts are booked operated.
What size crane do I need?
It depends on the load weight, how far the crane must reach (radius) and how high it lifts. Rated capacity falls quickly as the radius grows, so a "50-ton" crane may lift far less at distance. Share the weight, distance and height in your request — the tonnage guide is a good starting point.
Do crane operators need to be certified in Nebraska?
Yes. Crane operators must be certified by an accredited program such as NCCCO under federal rules (29 CFR 1926.1427). Private-sector job sites in Nebraska fall under federal OSHA. Ask for operator certifications and a certificate of insurance with your quote.
Can lifts go ahead in wind or winter weather?
Every crane has wind-speed limits, so on gusty Nebraska days lifts are often planned for calmer mornings, and winter jobs need firm, cleared ground for outriggers. Note your preferred date and start time in the request and the schedule can be planned around the weather.
Do I need a permit to set a crane on a street?
If the crane or its outriggers will sit on a public street or sidewalk, the city or county usually requires an encroachment or street-use permit and traffic control. Mention the setup location in your request so it can be planned into the quote.
How fast can I get a crane?
Smaller lifts can often be scheduled within days, and urgent requests are welcome. Availability depends on the season and crane size — put your date in the form and note if it's urgent.
Is the quote really free?
Yes. There is no charge to request a quote and no obligation to book.
Get your Lincoln crane quote
Send the basics of your lift — what you’re lifting, where and when — and get a quote with a real price and a date. Operated or bare rental, any size job.
- A real price and a date for your lift
- Operated (with certified operator) or bare rental
- Boom trucks through large all-terrain and crawler cranes
- Lincoln, Waverly, Hickman, Crete, Seward & Ashland