Industrial Freight / Buyer Guide
Freight Elevator Cost (2026): China FOB Prices by Capacity, Car Size & Buying Guide
Quick answer (checked October 2026): Publicly advertised equipment offers from Chinese suppliers put the equipment-only, FOB China price of a freight elevator at roughly:
| Freight elevator type | Typical listed price per set (US$) |
|---|---|
| Hydraulic goods lift / guide-rail cargo platform | 800 – 3,600 |
| Traction freight elevator, 1,000 – 5,000 kg | 5,000 – 23,000 |
| 2,000 kg machine-room-less (MRL) freight elevator, 5 floors | 17,000 – 19,000 |
| 5,000 kg traction freight elevator, 0.5 – 1.0 m/s | 15,000 – 20,000 |
Swipe horizontally to view the full table.
Shipping, import duty, shaft construction, installation and local inspection are paid on top of these figures.
Three factors move the price more than anything else: rated load and car size, number of stops, and how the goods are loaded (hand trolley, pallet truck or forklift).
Get a project price instead of a range. Send JAFITA five details — destination country, building use, quantity, maximum load and loading method — and we will tell you which configuration fits and what it costs. Request a Freight Elevator Quote on WhatsApp
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SECTION 01
1. Freight Elevator Price by Type and Capacity
The table below summarizes asking prices on publicly advertised equipment sources. They are equipment-only prices for one set unless stated.
| Public equipment example | Capacity / type | Listed price (US$) | MOQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial heavy-duty cargo lift | Hydraulic | 2,500 / set | 1 set |
| 3-floor hydraulic freight elevator, no machine room | Hydraulic | 3,600 / piece | 1 |
| Vertical outdoor hydraulic cargo lift | Hydraulic | 1,600 – 1,800 | 1 |
| 1–10 t warehouse cargo lift platform | Hydraulic platform | 800 – 2,000 / set | 1 set |
| 5 ton warehouse goods lift | 5,000 kg | 5,000 – 7,000 | 1 |
| Traction freight cargo elevator | Traction | 5,000 – 20,000 | 1 |
| Freight elevator, two-panel side opening | Traction | 15,000 – 23,000 | 1 |
| MRL freight elevator, 2,000 kg, 5 floors | MRL traction | 19,000 (1 unit) / 17,000 (5+ units) | 1 |
| Cargo lift, 5,000 kg, 0.5 – 1.0 m/s | Traction | 15,000 – 20,000; lead time 30 – 45 days | 1 |
Swipe horizontally to view the full table.
These equipment-only prices are public asking-price examples observed on 19 October 2026, not JAFITA quotations. Compare specifications and supply scope before budgeting.
How to read these prices
- Hydraulic platforms and traction freight elevators are different products. A US$1,600 cargo platform and a US$19,000 MRL freight elevator are not alternatives for the same job. The cheaper category often has lower travel, simpler controls and no full car enclosure.
- The wide spread within one capacity reflects specification, not just brand. Car size, door type, speed, controller, stops and documentation explain most of the difference between a US$5,000 and a US$20,000 offer for “5 tons”.
- Listings are asking prices. The final figure depends on the confirmed drawing and supply scope.
SECTION 02
2. Standard Freight Elevator Dimensions: Car, Door, Shaft, Pit and Overhead
Price and building space are linked: a larger car needs a larger shaft, a deeper pit and more overhead.
The dimensions below are a published industry planning reference for one equipment configuration. They do not define JAFITA model dimensions; use the approved drawing of the selected elevator for construction.
| Rated load | Car size W × D (mm) | Door width (mm) | Shaft W × D, single entrance (mm) | Shaft depth, through car (mm) | Pit depth (mm) | Overhead (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,600 kg | 1,400 × 2,400 | 1,400 | 2,350 × 2,800 | 2,950 | 1,450 | 3,900 |
| 2,000 kg | 1,500 × 2,700 | 1,500 | 2,500 × 3,100 | 3,250 | 1,450 | 3,900 |
| 2,500 kg | 1,800 × 2,700 | 1,800 | 2,900 × 3,080 | 3,250 | 1,600 | 4,100 – 4,300 |
| 3,000 kg | 2,000 × 2,750 | 2,000 | 3,285 × 3,130 | 3,300 | 1,600 | 4,100 – 4,300 |
| 3,500 kg | 2,100 × 3,000 | 2,100 | 3,360 × 3,290 | 3,370 | 1,750 – 1,800 | from 4,200 |
| 4,000 kg | 2,100 × 3,400 | 2,100 | 3,360 × 3,690 | 3,770 | 1,750 – 1,800 | from 4,200 |
Swipe horizontally to view the full table.
Other published parameters for this product family: speed up to 1.0 m/s, travel up to 40 m, up to 12 floors, centre-opening doors with heights of 2,100 – 2,600 mm. Overhead rises with car interior height (2,200 – 2,400 mm).
The dimensions are planning references only. Final construction must follow the approved drawings of the selected elevator.
For JAFITA projects, send your available shaft dimensions and we will check them against the proposed equipment drawing before quoting.
SECTION 03
3. What Makes a Freight Elevator Cost More?
| Cost driver | Why it changes the price | What to send the supplier |
|---|---|---|
| Rated load | Heavier frame, platform, guide rails, machine and suspension | Maximum gross load in kg |
| Car and door size | More steel, larger door system, bigger shaft | Largest pallet or item dimensions |
| Loading method | Forklift loading needs a stronger platform and sill and a defined loading class | Hand cart, pallet truck or forklift — with vehicle weight |
| Stops and travel | More landing doors, longer rails and cables | Floor schedule and travel height |
| Speed | 1.0 m/s needs a larger machine and different safety gear than 0.5 m/s | Required trips per hour |
| Drive type | Hydraulic is usually cheapest for low rise; traction/MRL for higher travel and frequent use | Building height and usage |
| Through-car (two entrances) | Second door set and deeper shaft | Door side at each floor |
| Environment | Cold store, washdown, dust, outdoor or explosion-proof options | Operating conditions |
| Documents | Destination-specific compliance files and drawings | Target code (EN 81-20, ASME A17.1, GB 7588) |
Swipe horizontally to view the full table.
SECTION 04
4. Calculate the Real Load Before Choosing Capacity
Rated load must cover everything that travels in the car, not just the goods.
Example for a warehouse moving pallets with a manual pallet truck:
| Item | Mass |
|---|---|
| Goods | 1,000 kg |
| Pallet and packaging | 40 kg |
| Pallet truck travelling with the load | 180 kg |
| Combined transported mass | 1,220 kg |
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A 1,220 kg load does not automatically fit a 1,250 kg elevator. Wheel loads concentrate force at the sill and platform, so the supplier also needs the truck’s wheel loads and the direction of entry.
If a forklift enters the car, the elevator must be designed and classified for industrial-truck loading. Rated capacity alone does not make an elevator forklift-rated.
SECTION 05
5. Your Total Budget: Equipment Is Only the First Line
| Budget line | How to estimate it |
|---|---|
| Elevator equipment (FOB China) | Use the price ranges above, then confirm with a project quote |
| Export packing and ocean freight | Ask your forwarder for a quote based on the supplier’s packing list |
| Import duty and taxes | Complete elevators are usually classified under HS 8428.10 (“lifts and skip hoists”); the rate depends on your country |
| Shaft, pit and structural works | Local contractor, using the supplier’s builder’s-work drawing |
| Installation and commissioning | Local licensed elevator installer |
| Inspection and permit | Local authority or notified body |
| Maintenance and spare parts | Annual service contract and a recommended spares list |
Swipe horizontally to view the full table.
Keep building works separate from the elevator equipment quotation. This makes supplier offers easier to compare.
Not sure which capacity or door size you need? Send us the largest pallet size and how it enters the car. JAFITA will propose a car and door size, and tell you which shaft and pit dimensions to reserve. Discuss Your Freight Elevator on WhatsApp
SECTION 06
6. How to Compare Freight Elevator Quotations
Two offers with the same rated load can describe very different elevators. Line them up like this:
| Check | Offer A | Offer B |
|---|---|---|
| Rated load and loading method | Load only | Load + loading class recorded |
| Car and door size | Nominal | Clear dimensions in mm |
| Drive, controller and door system | Generic | Brand and model listed |
| Drawings | “To follow” | General arrangement included |
| Packing and delivery | “FOB China” | Named port and packing list |
| Installation scope | Not stated | Responsibilities listed |
| Warranty and spares | General statement | Period and spares list |
Swipe horizontally to view the full table.
Compare price only after both offers describe the same equipment and scope.
SECTION 07
7. Freight Elevator RFQ Checklist
To get a first quotation, five details are enough:
- Destination country and city
- Application (factory, warehouse, logistics, retail)
- Quantity
- Maximum load in kg
- Loading method (hand, trolley, pallet truck, forklift)
For a final quotation, add:
| Information | Format |
|---|---|
| Goods and packaging | Maximum mass and dimensions |
| Vehicle details | Mass, wheelbase and wheel loads |
| Floors and travel | Stop schedule and travel height in m |
| Car and door | Clear width × depth × height in mm |
| Existing shaft | Width, depth, pit and overhead in mm |
| Duty | Operating hours and trips per hour |
| Delivery | Port, city or site |
Swipe horizontally to view the full table.
SECTION 08
8. Safety Codes and Compliance
- European Union: Lifts are covered by the Lifts Directive 2014/33/EU, with EN 81-20 and EN 81-50 as the main harmonised standards for new passenger and goods-passenger lifts.
- North America: ASME A17.1/CSA B44 sets freight elevator loading classes (general freight, motor vehicle and industrial truck loading).
- China: GB 7588 is the national elevator safety standard.
Tell us the code your project must meet. We will confirm which documents come with the equipment.
SECTION 09
9. Why Discuss Your Freight Elevator Project with JAFITA?
JAFITA is the international brand of Beijing Jieteda Elevator Co., Ltd., founded in Beijing in 2001. The company began in freight-elevator manufacturing and OEM work and has served international buyers since 2008.
For a freight elevator project, JAFITA coordinates the technical review, equipment supply, drawings, documentation and delivery.
See JAFITA Freight Elevators, Elevator Engineering and Inspection and Testing.
SECTION 10
10. Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a freight elevator cost?
In Chinese public equipment listings in October 2026, hydraulic goods lifts are listed at about US$800 – 3,600 per set, and traction freight elevators at about US$5,000 – 23,000 per set (equipment only, FOB). Freight, duties, shaft works and installation are extra.
How much is a 2,000 kg freight elevator from China?
A 2,000 kg MRL freight elevator for 5 floors is listed at US$19,000 for one unit and US$17,000 each for five or more. Prices vary with car size, speed, doors and stops.
How much does a 5-ton freight elevator cost?
Listings for 5,000 kg freight elevators range from about US$5,000 – 7,000 to US$15,000 – 20,000 per set. The higher range typically covers traction drives at 0.5 – 1.0 m/s. Check speed, car size and documentation before comparing.
What shaft size does a 2,000 kg freight elevator need?
An independent published freight-elevator reference lists a 1,500 × 2,700 mm car, a 1,500 mm door and a 2,500 × 3,100 mm shaft (single entrance), with a 1,450 mm pit and 3,900 mm overhead. Confirm against the drawing of the elevator you buy.
Is a hydraulic freight elevator cheaper than a traction one?
Usually, yes, for low-rise use. Hydraulic cargo lifts are listed from about US$800 – 3,600, while traction freight elevators start around US$5,000. Traction drives suit greater travel and more frequent trips.
Can a forklift drive into a freight elevator?
Only if the elevator is designed and approved for forklift loading. Send the forklift’s weight and wheel loads with your enquiry.
How long does delivery take?
One 5,000 kg listing states a 30 – 45 day lead time. Add drawing approval before production and sea freight after it.
Does JAFITA publish a fixed price list?
No. Freight elevators are built to the load, car size and building. Send the five RFQ details above and we will quote the configuration that fits.
SECTION 11
Request a Freight Elevator Quotation
Start with the load and how it enters the elevator, not just a capacity number.
Send JAFITA your destination country, application, quantity, maximum load and loading method. Add shaft dimensions or drawings if you have them.
Get Your Freight Elevator Quote on WhatsApp
Email: info@jafita.cn · Contact page