Forklift Price: The Complete 2026 Guide (New, Used, Rental)
August 18, 2026 · 7 min read
The price of a new forklift ranges from €14,000 for an entry-level electric model to more than €200,000 for heavy-tonnage machines; used, expect between €5,000 and €40,000, or 40 to 55% of the new price for a machine 3 to 5 years old. On rental, a 2.5-tonne forklift leases for around €350 to €500/month under a 48-month long-term lease. Over 5 years, the most revealing calculation remains total cost of ownership: about €26,000 for a lithium electric model versus €53,500 for an equivalent diesel.
Forklift price: the direct answer
A forklift's price depends above all on three variables: the energy source (diesel, LPG or electric), the lifting capacity, and the machine's condition (new, used, reconditioned). In France, the overall range for new machines runs from €14,000 to more than €200,000 excl. VAT, used machines from €5,000 to €40,000, and reconditioned units between €8,000 and €60,000 (source: hellopro.fr).
What few guides make clear is that the purchase price is only part of the bill. Over 5 years, a 2.5-tonne lithium electric forklift averages €26,000 all-in, versus €53,500 for an equivalent diesel model — the gap comes almost entirely from the energy line item (€6,600 versus €31,500, source: chariotelevateur.fr). Before comparing price tags, you need to compare full costs.
Forklift price table by energy type
Energy type is the first factor driving forklift price variation, at equal capacity.
| Energy | New price (excl. VAT) | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | €15,000 to €40,000+ | Outdoor use, heavy tonnage, long range |
| LPG (gas) | €12,000 to €40,000 | Indoor/outdoor, fast refuelling |
| Electric lead-acid | €15,000 to €25,000 | Regular battery maintenance, moderate purchase cost |
| Electric lithium | €18,000 to €38,000 | Fast charging, zero battery maintenance, longer lifespan |
Sources: hellopro.fr, chariotelevateur.fr. The higher purchase cost of lithium over lead-acid is justified by a longer battery lifespan and near-total absence of maintenance — a point that weighs heavily in the detailed TCO calculation below.
Forklift price table by capacity
The second determining variable is lifting capacity, which also shapes the price of a new forklift.
| Capacity | New price (excl. VAT) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1.5 t | €14,000 to €20,000 | Warehouse, light storage |
| 2 to 3.5 t | €20,000 to €35,000 | General-purpose use, core of the market |
| 5 to 16 t | €40,000 to €150,000+ | Heavy industry, ports, construction sites |
Source: hellopro.fr. On top of this, options push up the price: a triplex mast, for example, typically adds €2,000 to €4,000 to the price of a used forklift (source: chariotelevateur.fr).
New, used or rental: which choice fits your budget
The choice between new, used and rental depends mainly on your intended usage horizon and available cash flow.
New forklift
Buying new guarantees a machine that meets current standards, a full manufacturer's warranty, and the optimal power source for your use case. It's the most expensive option upfront, but it limits unexpected maintenance costs in the early years.
Used forklift
A used forklift 3 to 5 years old generally sells for 40 to 55% of the new price (source: chariotelevateur.fr). It's the most economical option to buy, provided you check the maintenance log, the hour meter reading (the equivalent of mileage), and the battery condition on electric models. Reconditioned units, offered directly by some manufacturers, strike an appealing balance between price and reliability.
Forklift rental
Forklift rental makes sense for one-off or seasonal needs, or to trial a power source before investing. Under a 48-month long-term lease, a 2.5-tonne forklift rents for €350 to €500/month; for an electric model, expect €400 to €600/month for 2 tonnes and €800 to €1,000/month for 5 tonnes, plus €100 to €200/month in maintenance (source: louerchariotelevateur.com). The main rental companies on the French market are Jungheinrich, Loxam, Still, Aprolis and Experlift.
| Acquisition method | Main advantage | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| New | Full warranty, latest generation | High upfront investment |
| Used | Price reduced by 40 to 55% | Quality inspection essential before purchase |
| Long-term lease | Smoothed cash flow, flexibility | Higher cumulative cost over the long term |
Operating costs not to overlook
The purchase or rental price is only the visible part of the budget. Three recurring cost items weigh on the real cost of a forklift.
Energy. This is the most differentiating line item between power sources: over 5 years, energy for a diesel forklift costs around €31,500 versus €6,600 for an equivalent lithium electric model (source: chariotelevateur.fr).
Maintenance and the VGP. Every forklift is subject to the periodic general inspection (VGP) every 6 months (French order of 1 March 2004), charged at €80 to €150 excl. VAT per machine by a body such as Apave, Socotec or Dekra (source: chariovalie.fr). Failing to complete a VGP exposes the operator to a formal notice, or even having the equipment taken out of service.
CACES training. For a ride-on truck, initial CACES R489 training costs €700 to €1,100 excl. VAT, and refresher training €450 to €750 excl. VAT, over 3 to 5 days (source: caces.fr). CACES itself is not automatically a legal requirement: what is required is the driving authorisation issued by the employer, with CACES serving as the proof of competence recommended by the CNAM and INRS.
Forklift TCO: lithium vs diesel, the real comparison
For a 2.5-tonne forklift, the 5-year total cost of ownership (TCO) is the most reliable indicator for choosing between power sources — far more so than the purchase price alone.
| Item | Electric lithium | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| Total 5-year TCO | ≈ €26,000 | ≈ €53,500 |
| Of which energy over 5 years | ≈ €6,600 | ≈ €31,500 |
Source: chariotelevateur.fr. The TCO gap is more than double in favour of lithium electric, driven mainly by the energy line. There's also an often-overlooked advantage: lithium needs almost no battery maintenance, unlike lead-acid, whereas a combustion engine racks up oil changes, filters and standard mechanical upkeep. Lithium's higher purchase price at the outset therefore fades quickly once the full calculation is done.
The forklift market in 2026
The French market for material-handling trucks (all categories combined, including pallet trucks) represents around 55,000 to 60,000 units sold per year, with electric now accounting for close to 55% of sales — still below Italy (more than 70%) or Germany (around 60%), a sign of room for growth in France (sources: mon-chariot-elevateur.com, businesscoot.com). Warehouse equipment, including pallet trucks, is gaining market share from classic counterbalance forklifts.
On the brand side, Fenwick-Linde remains the historic leader in France, to the point that "a fenwick" has become the everyday generic name for a forklift, while Toyota Material Handling dominates the global market. In the narrower telehandler segment, Manitou holds 31.1% of the French market in 2025, ahead of JCB (26.3%) and Kramer (11.1%) (source: madeinfr.fr). Manitou has also teamed up with China's Hangcha to open a lithium battery assembly plant in Le Mans, a sign that fleet electrification is accelerating (source: usinenouvelle.com).
For warehouses that don't need high-level stacking, an alternative is gaining ground on the classic forklift and its operator: the autonomous pallet truck, capable of moving pallets with no driver and no infrastructure work.
FAQ
How much does a new forklift cost?
A new forklift costs between €14,000 (light electric, ≤ 1.5 t) and more than €200,000 for heavy tonnage. Price mainly depends on energy source and capacity: lead-acid electric €15,000-25,000, lithium €18,000-38,000, LPG €12,000-40,000, diesel €15,000-40,000+ (source: hellopro.fr).
What is the price of a used forklift?
A used forklift typically sells for between €5,000 and €40,000, or 40 to 55% of the new price for a machine 3 to 5 years old. Always check the hour meter reading and battery condition on electric models (source: chariotelevateur.fr).
How much does it cost to rent a forklift?
Under a 48-month long-term lease, a 2.5-tonne forklift rents for €350 to €500/month. For an electric model, expect €400 to €600/month for 2 tonnes and €800 to €1,000/month for 5 tonnes, plus €100 to €200/month in maintenance (source: louerchariotelevateur.com).
Electric or diesel: which forklift costs less overall?
Over 5 years, a 2.5 t lithium electric forklift costs about €26,000 in total TCO, versus €53,500 for an equivalent diesel model. The gap is mainly driven by energy: €6,600 versus €31,500 over 5 years (source: chariotelevateur.fr). Lithium also requires less maintenance than a combustion engine.
Do you need a CACES certificate to drive a forklift?
CACES itself is not mandatory as such: what's required is the driving authorisation issued by the employer, based on medical fitness, training and site knowledge. CACES R489 remains the proof of competence recommended by the CNAM and INRS for ride-on trucks.
Related reading
- CACES R489: the guide to the 9 categories
- Price of CACES 1 3 5 training
- Forklift operator salary: pay scale by experience, region, bonuses
- Price of an electric pallet truck in 2026
- Autonomous pallet truck vs forklift operator: the detailed TCO comparison
- Lithium or lead-acid battery for forklifts and robots: range, opportunity charging, real cost, chemistry by chemistry.
And what if a forklift isn't always necessary? For pallet flows that don't require high-level stacking, Easy to Carry distributes the autonomous pallet truck in France, a fully autonomous 2,000 kg pallet truck deployable with no construction work or infrastructure. Request the free site pre-assessment to check feasibility for your site.
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