Tower cranes typically cost £120,000 to £900,000 new; most UK contractors finance them through HP or lease rather than tying up working capital.
Yes, tower cranes are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £120,000 to £900,000, and most deals are written over 12-84 months with a deposit of around 10-20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.
Typical Cost
£120k – £900k
Approval Speed
24–48 hours
Same-day for straightforward deals
Rates From
5.4% - 9.9% per annum
Your estimate
Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.
Pre-filled with a typical tower crane price. Indicative only, not a quote.
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Check EligibilityOn a purchase price of £350,000: a 10% deposit of £35,000, then 48 monthly payments of £7,383 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £389,384, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.
Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.
| Machine or specification | Guide price | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Potain Igo T85A | £180,000 - £260,000 | Self-Erecting Tower Crane |
| Potain HDT 80 | £320,000 - £480,000 | Flat-Top Tower Crane |
| Liebherr 132 EC-H | £450,000 - £700,000 | Flat-Top Tower Crane |
| Liebherr 71 EC-B | £280,000 - £400,000 | Flat-Top Tower Crane |
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Check EligibilityA tower crane is treated as plant and machinery for tax purposes, so it qualifies for the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting a business deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to the current £1,000,000 annual limit. Companies buying new, unused equipment may also qualify for full expensing, a 100% first-year deduction against Corporation Tax. These allowances apply where you own the asset, so they are available under a Hire Purchase agreement. Under a Finance Lease or Operating Lease you do not own the tower crane outright, so allowances are not claimed directly; instead the payments are generally deducted as a business expense against profits. Always confirm treatment with your accountant before committing to a structure.
Tower cranes are bought almost exclusively by main contractors, groundworks specialists and crane hire companies rather than by smaller subcontractors, because erection, dismantling and a certificated slewing operator all add cost on top of the machine itself. Many contractors finance rather than buy outright so capital stays available for the next site, and rely on hire for one-off jobs. Replacement is driven less by wear than by changing certification, LOLER inspection history and the reach or capacity needed for a scheme, so used cranes trade in a thin, specialist secondary market where provenance and inspection records matter more than age.
Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.
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