Crane Size & Reach Calculator

Use this planning tool to organize the basic geometry and site conditions that affect crane selection. It can highlight crane categories worth discussing with a provider, but it does not determine safe crane capacity or select a final crane.

Final crane selection must be confirmed from the actual load, crane configuration, working radius, boom length, setup conditions and the specific crane’s load chart.

How to Use the Crane Size Calculator

Start with the information you can measure or obtain from the project: approximate load weight, horizontal working radius and placement height. Then describe the site surface, access, setup space and whether the work is a short temporary lift or part of a longer construction project.

The tool uses those site characteristics to identify crane categories worth discussing. It deliberately does not convert load weight and radius into a tonnage recommendation because safe capacity depends on the specific crane and configuration.

Why Load Weight Alone Is Not Enough

A crane’s advertised tonnage is not the amount it can lift at every distance. Available capacity changes with working radius, boom length, boom angle, counterweight, configuration and other factors defined by the manufacturer’s load chart.

A relatively light load at a long radius can therefore require a larger crane than a heavier load positioned much closer to the crane.

For a detailed explanation, see What Size Crane Do I Need?. Before requesting a quote, the Crane Site Access & Photo Checklist can help you collect the site measurements and photos a provider may need.

What Is Working Radius?

Working radius is the horizontal distance relevant to the crane’s lifting geometry. For early project planning, users often estimate the distance between the anticipated crane setup position and the load or final placement point.

The actual radius used for crane capacity calculations must be confirmed for the specific crane and setup.

What Does the Diagonal Distance Mean?

The calculator displays a simple geometric diagonal when both horizontal radius and placement height are entered. This is only a basic right-triangle calculation to help visualize the project geometry.

It is not the required boom length. Real crane geometry also depends on the boom pivot position, hook and rigging geometry, boom angle, clearance, crane configuration and other equipment-specific factors.

Crane Categories the Tool May Suggest

• Mobile cranes: broad temporary-lift category for road-accessible projects.
• Boom trucks and truck cranes: truck-mounted configurations where road mobility is useful.
• Rough-terrain cranes: projects on unfinished or demanding ground.
• All-terrain cranes: projects combining road mobility with more demanding site conditions.
• Crawler cranes: larger sites, repeated lifting and longer-duration work.
• Tower cranes: long-duration vertical construction and repeated lifting over a defined area.
• Mini and spider cranes: restricted-access, indoor or tight-footprint projects.

Crane Size Calculator FAQ

Can this tool tell me exactly what ton crane I need?

No. It organizes project information and highlights crane categories worth discussing. Exact crane capacity must be verified against the actual equipment, configuration and manufacturer’s load chart.

Can I use the diagonal distance as boom length?

No. The displayed diagonal is only basic geometry. Required boom length depends on the crane’s physical geometry, setup, hook height, boom angle, clearances and configuration.

What if I do not know the working radius?

Measure or estimate the horizontal distance from the likely crane setup position to the pickup or placement point and tell the provider that it is an estimate. Site photos or a plan can also help.

What information should I send with a crane enquiry?

Useful information includes the load, approximate weight, horizontal reach, required height, project address, requested date, access, setup space, ground conditions and known obstructions.

Ready to Have the Project Reviewed?

Submit the project location, requested date, load information, approximate radius, required height and site-access details. You do not need to guess a crane tonnage before making an enquiry.

---

Planning-tool disclaimer: This tool does not determine safe crane capacity, approve a lift, replace a load chart, select rigging, verify ground conditions or substitute for the qualified professionals responsible for crane selection, lift planning, engineering or crane operation.