China Tower Crane Rental Market Overview, 2030

China’s tower crane rental market is one of the world’s largest, driven by the scale of urban development, mega infrastructure projects, and rapid industrial expansion. Cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Chengdu have shaped demand for modern, high-capacity cranes used in dense residential towers, commercial hubs, and massive public works like the Beijing Daxing Airport or the Belt and Road infrastructure corridors. Unlike many countries, China has a deep domestic supply chain OEMs like Zoomlion, XCMG, Yongmao, and SCM dominate the rental fleets, offering both traditional and smart cranes equipped with real-time monitoring, telematics, and automated load management systems. Rental demand is surging as more developers avoid ownership due to cost, fast-paced timelines, and technical service requirements. Crane rental companies such as Zoomlion Rental, Yongan Machinery, and local arms of OEMs provide dry and wet hire, with wet hire more common in government-led projects. The rental process is streamlined on-site delivery, installation, operator certification, and remote diagnostics are often bundled into one contract. Fleet ownership is mixed: some large contractors maintain in-house fleets, but over 60% of cranes in major cities are rented. Tower crane rentals in China are heavily supported by digital tools many companies offer app-based crane scheduling, operator tracking, and BIM integration for lift planning. Regulations are strictly enforced, cranes must pass local safety checks under GB standards, and operators are licensed by provincial construction authorities. In crowded urban environments, zoning approvals, anti-collision systems, and tower coordination software are mandatory. The rise of prefabricated building and high-rise automation is further driving demand for smart tower cranes with faster setup, real-time load sensors, and GPS-based positioning.

According to the research report ""China Tower Crane Rental Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the China Tower Crane Rental market is anticipated to grow at more than 5.07% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. China’s tower crane rental market operates at an unmatched scale, supported by strong domestic manufacturing, streamlined logistics, and rapid urban construction cycles. Site logistics vary by region coastal cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou have better crane access routes and digital permit systems, while interior provinces face transport delays and terrain-related mobilization issues. Cranes are typically transported via flatbed trailers, setup is conducted by dedicated OEM-linked rigging teams and monitored by municipal safety bureaus. Setup and dismantling require cranes to pass multiple inspections, including anchoring verification and tower alignment under GB/T 5031 and JGJ 196 codes. Most rented tower cranes are made by local giants like Zoomlion, Yongmao, XCMG, and SCM, known for wide model ranges (6–100+ tons) and integration-ready systems. Rental fleets in major cities are newer, averaging 3–6 years, while provincial zones may operate older 8–12-year-old units. Crane maintenance responsibilities lie with rental providers, who follow national schedules for preventive service and must submit logs for government review. All cranes must be certified under China’s National Construction Machinery Safety Inspection Standard, and operators require regional licenses issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD). Supporting technologies are widely embedded like load moment indicators, GPS fleet tracking, height-limit alarms, and anti-collision systems are mandatory for multi-crane sites, especially in urban districts. Many cranes are now linked to digital platforms like Zoomlion’s Smart Crane System, allowing real-time diagnostics, operator behavior tracking, and remote fault detection. In public and prefabricated building projects, integration with BIM models is also increasing to streamline hoisting planning. China’s massive residential and infrastructure projects rely heavily on fast-turnaround rentals, making bundled services (rigging, operator, permits) and smart tech features essential for contractors to meet aggressive construction timelines and strict safety compliance.

In China’s tower crane rental market, the landscape is strongly shaped by leading domestic manufacturers such as Zoomlion, Sany, XCMG, and LiuGong, whose equipment dominates most construction sites across the country. Among tower cranes, Hammerhead (Flat Top) cranes are the most prevalent, extensively used in rapidly urbanizing megacities like Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. Models like the Zoomlion ZTC5510 and Sany STC250A are widely rented due to their high lifting capacities, robust construction, and modular designs tailored for large-scale skyscraper and infrastructure projects. These flat top cranes allow overlapping crane zones, enabling multiple cranes to work safely in dense urban sites, a common scenario in China’s fast-growing urban centers. Luffing Jib Cranes such as the XCMG XCT35L5 and Zoomlion ZTC5613 are increasingly utilized in crowded city districts with limited airspace, such as Beijing’s central business areas and historic neighborhoods in Shanghai, where jib overswing restrictions require cranes with vertical lifting motion. These cranes excel in precision lifting while minimizing the footprint on congested sites. Meanwhile, Self-Erecting Cranes from manufacturers like LiuGong and Zoomlion are preferred in smaller cities, suburban zones, and rural provinces such as Sichuan and Hunan for low-rise residential, industrial, and agricultural projects, where fast setup and transportability reduce project timelines and costsRental companies typically offer comprehensive packages including operator certification, maintenance, and onsite support. The industry is rapidly adopting digital technologies such as GPS tracking, remote monitoring, and BIM integration to improve operational safety and efficiency.

Low-capacity cranes, up to 5 tons, are widely used in dense urban environments for small residential buildings, interior construction, and renovation projects where space is limited and maneuverability is crucial. These cranes are valued for their compact size, ease of transport, and quick setup, making them ideal for the rapid pace of urban redevelopment and prefabricated construction that is common in many Chinese cities. Medium-capacity cranes, ranging from 5 to 20 tons, represent the backbone of the rental market, favored for mid-rise residential buildings, commercial developments, and infrastructure upgrades such as roads, railways, and utilities. This segment offers a good balance of lifting capacity and operational flexibility, fitting the growing demand for modular construction and large-scale urban projects. High-capacity cranes, above 20 tons, are essential for large industrial projects, heavy infrastructure construction, port facilities, energy plants, and major public works requiring the lifting of heavy materials over long distances and at significant heights. While less commonly rented due to their higher costs and logistical demands, high-capacity cranes play a critical role in China’s expanding infrastructure and industrial sectors. Rental companies maintain diverse fleets across these capacity ranges to meet the varying needs of regional construction projects. The market is also evolving with the integration of smart technologies such as remote monitoring and digital management systems to improve safety, efficiency, and fleet utilization.

The China tower crane rental market is predominantly driven by the construction and infrastructure sector, which accounts for a significant portion of demand due to rapid urbanization, large-scale residential and commercial developments, and extensive transportation infrastructure projects including high-speed rail lines, metro systems, bridges, and highways. Flat-top tower cranes with lifting capacities typically between 5 and 20 tons are widely used across urban construction sites, while luffing jib cranes are favored in densely populated city centers where space is limited, and self-erecting cranes serve smaller residential or low-rise projects. Rental durations in this sector are often short to medium term, reflecting the fast-paced nature of construction activities. The energy and power segment also plays a crucial role in the market, with China’s massive investment in wind farms, hydropower stations, thermal power plants, and transmission infrastructure fueling demand for high-capacity flat-top and luffing jib cranes, often crawler-mounted for mobility on large and complex sites. These cranes typically have lifting capacities ranging from 20 to 66 tons, and rentals tend to be long-term, frequently accompanied by operator services due to the complexity of installations. The oil and gas industry in China relies on tower cranes for refinery construction, offshore platform assembly, LNG terminals, and heavy fabrication yards. This sector predominantly uses luffing jib and heavy-duty flat-top cranes with lifting capacities exceeding 30 tons, and rental agreements are often customized to meet stringent safety regulations and project-specific requirements. The mining and heavy industries sector employs large tower cranes, both flat-top and crawler types, with lifting capacities between 20 and 50 tons to support steel plants, aluminum smelters, cement factories, and mining equipment assembly. This sector favors long-term rentals or capital investments due to ongoing operational needs. Other end-use industries include ports and shipyards where large flat-top cranes above 30 tons are essential for ship-block handling and heavy deck component installation, aerospace and defense projects requiring precise luffing jib cranes for aircraft hangars and missile silo assembly, and temporary event infrastructure where flat-top and mobile tower cranes facilitate large stadium roof lifts and major public events.

In the Chinese tower crane rental market, short-term rentals typically range from one day to three months and are primarily used for smaller-scale construction projects such as residential buildings, low-rise commercial developments, and temporary lifting tasks during site setup or dismantling. The cranes commonly rented in this segment include self-erecting cranes and small flat-top models with lifting capacities generally up to 5 tons. Short-term rental prices in China usually range from ¥1,500 to ¥5,000 per day, ¥8,000 to ¥25,000 per week, and ¥30,000 to ¥70,000 per month, with most agreements often including operator services, insurance, and necessary permits. Long-term rentals, spanning three months to several years, cater to larger infrastructure projects like commercial towers, highways, bridges, metro systems, and industrial sites. These rental contracts generally include flat-top cranes ranging from 5 to 20 tons, luffing jib cranes suited for densely populated urban areas, and heavy-duty cranes exceeding 20 tons. Monthly rental rates for long-term contracts in China typically range from ¥50,000 to ¥150,000 for medium-capacity cranes and ¥150,000 to ¥400,000 for heavy-duty cranes, with many contracts incorporating additional services such as operators, rigging, and maintenance. Lease-to-own agreements, lasting between one and three years, are an increasingly popular option for contractors and construction companies looking to eventually own the crane while avoiding significant upfront costs. Monthly payments for lease-to-own arrangements in China generally range from ¥80,000 to ¥250,000, with buyout costs between ¥300,000 and ¥800,000. This model provides contractors access to mid and high-capacity cranes from top-tier manufacturers, allowing payments to be spread over time.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Tower Crane Rental Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Type of Tower Crane
• Hammerhead (Flat Top) Cranes
• Luffing Jib Cranes
• Self-Erecting Cranes
• Mobile Tower Cranes

By Lifting Capacity
• Low Capacity (Up to 5 Tons)
• Medium Capacity (5–20 Tons)
• High Capacity (Above 20 Tons)

By End-Use Industry
• Construction & Infrastructure
• Energy & Power
• Oil & Gas
• Mining & Heavy Industries
• Others End User Industries

By Rental Type / Duration
• Short-Term Rental
• Long-Term Rental
• Lease-to-Own Show more