Electric Forklift Hire Melbourne | From $30/Day

Toyota electric forklifts, 1.8 to 3 tonne, on hire anywhere in Melbourne from $30/day + GST. Quiet, with zero fumes at the point of use, they suit indoor warehouses, food sites and anywhere people work close by. A charger is included with every electric hire, servicing and breakdown cover are included for the whole hire, and you can hire for a week, a season or years. Call 1300 326 654 or send an enquiry.

Electric forklift hire from a Melbourne family business

Damoli Forklift Services is a family owned and operated Melbourne business, hiring forklifts since 2009. Our hire fleet is 150+ forklifts, mainly Toyota: LPG (gas) forklifts for yards, docks and trucks, plus electric forklifts for indoor work. We also hire electric reach trucks for racking and narrow aisles. Electric forklift hire and electric forklift rental are the same thing here: you get the machine, we look after it.

When you ring about electric forklift hire in Melbourne, you deal with the people who own and look after the machines, not a national call centre. Tell us what you’re lifting, how high it needs to go and where it will work, and we’ll match the machine and quote delivery before you book.

When an electric forklift suits your site

Gas and electric forklifts lift the same loads. The right choice depends on where the forklift works, how many hours a day it runs, and how you’ll keep it fuelled or charged. Electric is usually the better fit when the work is mostly indoors, around stock or people, or where noise and fumes matter.

Indoor warehouses and distribution centres. There are no exhaust fumes where the forklift is working, which is why electric forklifts are recommended in confined spaces.
Food handling. With no exhaust around the stock, electric forklifts suit food sites and food handling.
Quiet workplaces. Electric forklifts make much less noise, which helps when people are working nearby.
Better visibility. There’s no gas cylinder on the back, so the view behind the forklift is clearer when reversing in tight spaces.
Less to look after. No engine oil, spark plugs or gas system, and no LPG cylinders to swap or store.

Electric is usually not the right pick for wet weather or rough outdoor ground, because most electric forklifts aren’t designed for those conditions. If your forklift spends the day moving between the shed and a gravel yard, a gas forklift is likely to suit you better.

Electric vs LPG forklift hire

Both are on hire from $30/day + GST in 1.8 to 3 tonne sizes, so the hire rate shouldn’t decide it. The site and the shifts should.

Electric forklifts run on a large rechargeable battery and electric motors. When the battery runs low, it goes on charge. They’re quiet, have no exhaust at the point of use and suit indoors, warehouses, food handling and confined spaces. Running costs are often lower, because electricity for charging generally costs less than buying gas and there’s less engine servicing.

LPG (gas) forklifts run an engine on liquefied petroleum gas from a removable cylinder on the back. A cylinder swap takes a few minutes, so they handle long or back-to-back shifts, yards, uneven ground and truck loading well. They produce exhaust, including carbon monoxide, so indoors you need good ventilation, and they aren’t suited to confined spaces. They’re also louder.

A mix of both? Some sites run an electric forklift inside and a gas forklift in the yard. If you can’t decide, hire one of each for a short period and see which suits your site. For the full side-by-side, read LPG vs electric forklifts, or see all our gas and electric options on the forklift hire Melbourne page.

Battery and charging basics

An electric forklift is only as useful as its battery, so it’s worth thinking about charging before the machine arrives. A charger is included with every electric hire.

Charging takes hours. A traditional lead-acid battery typically needs a full charge, plus time to cool down, between shifts. Plan for the forklift to go on charge at the end of the working day.
Running more than one shift? If the forklift runs more than one shift a day, you may need a spare battery or a different set-up. Lithium-ion batteries can be topped up during breaks. Tell us your shift pattern when you call.
You need the right power supply. Chargers run off mains power, single or three phase depending on the size of the battery and charger. Let us know what power you have where the forklift will be charged.
Charge in a well-ventilated area. Lead-acid batteries give off gas while charging, so pick a charging spot with good airflow, away from where stock and people crowd in.
Battery care matters. Lead-acid batteries need regular watering. A neglected battery is one of the most expensive things to replace on an electric forklift, which is one reason hiring appeals: servicing and breakdown cover are included for the whole hire.

Not sure your site is set up for charging? Ask us when you call 1300 326 654 and we’ll talk it through before you book.

Electric forklift sizes for hire

Electric counterbalance forklifts, 1.8 to 3 tonne

Our Toyota electric forklifts for hire come in the same 1.8 to 3 tonne sizes as our gas fleet, from $30/day + GST. That range covers most warehouse, factory and food-site work: pallets in and out of racking, loading and unloading at the dock, and moving stock around the floor.

Electric reach trucks

Reach trucks are built for tight aisles and high racking, with access above 10 m in confined spaces. We hire electric reach trucks for warehouse racking and narrow aisles. Call 1300 326 654 for rates, and tell us the rack height and how long you need it.

Choosing the capacity

Tell us the heaviest load you lift, how high it needs to go, whether you unload containers, and whether the forklift works indoors or outdoors. We’ll match the capacity and mast to the job. On a longer hire, you have the option to change capacity if the work changes.

Electric forklift hire rates

Electric forklift, 1.8–3 tonne: from $30/day + GST.
Toyota LPG (gas) forklift, 1.8–3 tonne: from $30/day + GST.
Weekly hire, late-model Toyota 1.8–2.5 tonne container mast: $180–$250 + GST per week. A standard mast is sometimes cheaper.
Minimum hire: generally one week.
Local delivery: from around $180 + GST, depending on your suburb.
Longer hires: call 1300 326 654 for long-term rates.
Reach trucks and scissor lifts: call 1300 326 654 for rates.

All prices exclude GST. Delivery and pick-up are extra and quoted up front for your suburb. Delivery costs less the longer you hire. On hires over a month, ask us about reduced delivery. Hire now, pay later, with an account set up in under 5 minutes.

Short-term and long-term electric forklift hire

Short-term hire covers the jobs that come and go: a container that’s just landed, a stocktake, peak season, a fit-out, or covering your own forklift while it’s off the road. Minimum hire is generally one week. See short term forklift hire Melbourne.

Long-term hire gives you an electric forklift on site without buying one. The machine stays ours to look after, you get a predictable cost, and you have the option to change capacity if the work changes. Many Melbourne warehouses and factories run this way for months or years. Long-term rates are quoted on enquiry. See long term forklift hire Melbourne.

Buying instead? Electric forklifts usually cost more up front, because the battery and charger are part of the price, and with a used electric forklift the battery’s age and condition makes a big difference to value. If owning makes more sense, our used forklifts for sale in Melbourne are mainly Toyota, start from $6,000 + GST and come with up to a 3-year warranty. You can also see all used forklifts on one page.

What’s included on every electric forklift hire

A charger with every electric forklift.
Servicing and breakdown cover for the whole hire. If something goes wrong, call us and we’ll sort it.
A machine matched to the job, sized for your loads, lift height and aisles.
Hire now, pay later, with an account set up in under 5 minutes.
Delivery and pick-up are extra and quoted up front for your suburb, so there are no surprises.

How electric forklift hire works

Call 1300 326 654 or send us an enquiry.
Tell us the load weight, lift height, aisle space, your shift pattern, the power you have for charging, how long you need it, and the delivery address.
We’ll quote the hire plus delivery and pick-up before you book.
We deliver the forklift, ready to work. When you’re done, we pick it up.

Delivered across Melbourne from Werribee and Epping

We deliver hire forklifts across Melbourne from two yards. Our Werribee yard at Unit 2/76 Riverside Ave, Werribee VIC 3030 (Monday to Friday, 8am–4pm; weekends by appointment) serves the west and inner west. Our Epping yard at 55 Produce Drive, Epping VIC 3076 (visits by appointment only) serves the northern industrial suburbs. We also deliver to the south-east, east and inner suburbs, including Dandenong, Keysborough, Carrum Downs, Braeside and Port Melbourne. Not sure if we reach you? Call 1300 326 654 with the delivery address and we’ll confirm.

Servicing your own electric forklifts

If you run your own forklifts alongside a hire, we offer on-site forklift servicing and repairs. Our service special is $345 + GST (normally $420 + GST), with travel, labour, parts and consumables included, for gas, petrol and electric forklifts up to 3t, anywhere in Melbourne. We service all makes and models, and we specialise in Toyota. If your own machine is off the road, we can often get a hire forklift to you while yours is fixed.

Electric forklift hire FAQs

How much does electric forklift hire cost in Melbourne?

Electric forklifts from 1.8 to 3 tonne start from $30/day + GST, the same as our gas forklifts. Minimum hire is generally one week, and delivery is from around $180 + GST, depending on your suburb. For longer hires, call 1300 326 654 for long-term rates.

Is an electric or gas forklift better for my site?

Electric usually suits indoor work, warehouses, food handling and confined spaces, where noise and fumes matter. Gas (LPG) usually suits yards, rough ground, wet weather and long back-to-back shifts. If you work both inside and out, ask us and we’ll help you choose.

Can an electric forklift be used outdoors?

On dry, sealed surfaces for short runs, often yes. Most electric forklifts aren’t designed for wet weather or rough outdoor ground, so if the forklift spends much of its day in a yard, a gas forklift is likely to suit better.

How long does it take to charge an electric forklift?

Charging takes hours. A traditional lead-acid battery typically needs a full charge, plus time to cool down, between shifts. Lithium-ion batteries can be topped up during breaks. If you run more than one shift a day, tell us when you call.

Is a charger included with an electric forklift hire?

Yes, a charger is included with every electric hire. Chargers run off mains power, single or three phase depending on the size of the battery and charger. Let us know what power you have at the charging spot and your shift pattern, and charge in a well-ventilated area.

What sizes of electric forklift can I hire?

Electric forklifts from 1.8 to 3 tonne, plus electric reach trucks for warehouse racking and narrow aisles. Call 1300 326 654 for reach truck rates.

Can I hire an electric forklift long term?

Yes. Long-term hire puts an electric forklift on site without buying one, with servicing and breakdown cover included for the whole hire. Long-term rates are quoted on enquiry, and you can ask about reduced delivery on hires over a month.

Is servicing included on an electric forklift hire?

Yes. Servicing and breakdown cover are included for the length of the hire. If the machine needs attention, call us and we’ll sort it.

Ready to hire an electric forklift?

Call 1300 326 654. Electric forklifts from 1.8 to 3 tonne, from $30/day + GST, delivered all over Melbourne, with servicing and breakdown cover included. Gas forklifts too. See all options on our forklift hire Melbourne page, or send an enquiry.