A 5 ton overhead crane is a bridge crane rated to lift 5,000 kg, and a 10 ton overhead crane lifts 10,000 kg; both travel on elevated runway rails and are the standard workshop sizes for machine loading, mold changing, steel fabrication and assembly. Typical spans run from 7.5 m to 31.5 m, and FOB China prices range from $3,500 to $14,000 for 5 ton and $5,500 to $35,000 for 10 ton, depending on girder type, duty class and hoist type.
This guide puts the two capacities side by side: what the specifications look like, when a single girder is enough, what your runway has to carry, and what moves the price. Values without a bracket marker come from our own spec sheets and recent projects; we confirm exact figures on the drawing for your building.
Trolley 0 – 20 m/min; crane up to 0 – 32 m/min with VFD
Trolley 20 m/min; crane 20 m/min (VFD optional)
Power supply
220 – 460 V, 50 / 60 Hz, 3-phase, to your site standard
Same
Control
Pendant, wireless remote or cabin
Pendant, wireless remote or cabin
Runway rail
P22 (European-type); LD type P24 – P30
P30 – P38 single girder; P38 / QU70 double girder
Max wheel load, 16.5 m span
34.7 kN (about 3.5 t), European-type single girder; LD type
7 – 9 t single girder; 10 – 13 t double girder
Crane weight, 16.5 m span
3.69 t, European-type single girder; LD type
5.5 – 7 t single girder; 9 – 12 t double girder
The European-type 5 ton figures come from our A5 spec sheet. The other wheel loads and weights are typical ranges; we issue exact values with the general arrangement drawing for your span and lifting height.
5 ton or 10 ton: sizing the capacity
Size the crane for the heaviest load it will ever lift, plus everything under the hook: slings, a spreader beam, a magnet or a mold-handling fixture. If your heaviest regular lift is close to 5 t once the attachments are added, or heavier molds and parts are on the way, a 10 ton crane is the safer choice.
Look at the runway as well as the crane. The runway beams, columns and rail set the ceiling for any future upgrade. A 10 ton crane cannot simply replace a 5 ton crane on a runway designed for 5 ton wheel loads. If an upgrade is likely, design the runway for the larger crane now — the extra steel costs far less than rebuilding the runway later.
Single girder or double girder?
Choose a single girder crane (LD or European-type) when:
Capacity is 5 t at any common span, or 10 t with a span up to about 22.5 m
Duty is A3 – A5: intermittent lifting rather than continuous production
The building is low and a compact European-type hoist gives enough hook height
Budget and freight matter: a single girder crane is 30 – 45% lighter, so freight and runway steel come down with it
Choose a double girder crane (QD or European-type) when:
Capacity is 10 t with a span beyond about 22.5 m, or duty is A6 and above
You need the maximum hook height — the hook rises between the two girders
You want an auxiliary hook (for example 10/3 t) or a maintenance walkway on the bridge
An upgrade to 16 – 20 t is likely and you want to size the runway once
Double girder is not only for heavy loads. For a steel processing plant in the UAE we built four 5 ton European double girder overhead cranes for one workshop, each at an 18.95 m span and 7 m lifting height, M5 duty.
European-type or Chinese standard (LD / QD)?
European-type cranes use a compact wire rope hoist and trolley, a lighter girder and variable frequency drives as standard. They cost 40 – 70% more than LD / QD cranes but weigh 20 – 30% less, which reduces wheel loads and runway steel, and they run more quietly. Our European-type single girder crane at 5 t and 16.5 m span weighs 3.69 t, with a maximum wheel load of 34.7 kN on P22 rail. For cranes running two shifts, the runway saving often covers much of the price difference.
Runway rail and wheel load: what to check before you order
Most installation problems come from the runway, not the crane. Before you request a quote, confirm these five points:
Runway beam capacity. Your structural engineer needs the crane's maximum wheel load (see the table above). For a new building, get the wheel loads from the crane supplier before the steel structure is designed. If the runway does not exist yet, we can supply it: for a distributor in Texas we built the girder, end carriages, runway beams and columns around a customer-supplied hoist.
Rail size. P22 for a 5 t European-type crane; P30 – P38 for a 10 t single girder and P38 / QU70 for a 10 t double girder. The rail must be continuous and level within ±3 mm over 10 m.
Span vs. rail centres. Crane span is measured from rail centre to rail centre, not wall to wall. Quoting the building width is one of the most common mistakes in the inquiries we receive. Measure on site — our Argentina crane was built to a 14.129 m span.
Clearances. Allow at least 100 mm from the highest point of the crane to the roof structure, and check for lights, ducts and sprinkler pipes along the runway.
Power. A 5 t European-type single girder crane draws about 5.85 kW in total. Our 10 t LDA crane in Indonesia uses a 13 kW hoist motor, two 0.8 kW cross-travel motors and two 1.5 kW long-travel motors — about 17.6 kW. Confirm the voltage and the length of the conductor bar or festoon.
5 t single girder LD, span 16.5 – 22.5 m, 9 m lift
$5,000 – 9,000
5 t European-type single girder, 16.5 m span, 9 m lift
$12,500 – 14,000
10 t single girder LD, span up to 16.5 m
$5,500 – 9,500
10 t single girder LD, span 16.5 – 22.5 m
$7,500 – 13,000
10 t double girder QD, span 16.5 – 22.5 m
$12,000 – 24,000
10 t European-type double girder
$18,000 – 35,000
Prices exclude runway rails, installation and freight. For the full landed cost of the 5 t × 16.5 m example — freight, port charges and the option of fabricating the girder locally — see complete overhead crane vs crane kit. More capacities are covered on our overhead crane price page.
What moves the price:
Span. Every extra 3 m of span adds roughly 8 – 12% to girder steel and price.
Duty class. A5 instead of A3 means a stronger hoist motor, thicker plate and larger wheels: +15 – 25%.
Hoist type and brand. Chinese CD/MD, European-type, or an imported hoist (Kito, SWF, Demag): the hoist alone can move the price by $1,500 – 8,000.
Controls. VFD on all motions, wireless remote, anti-sway and load display: +$600 – 3,000.
Environment. Outdoor use (rain covers, IP55), explosion-proof, high temperature above 50 °C or low temperature below −20 °C.
Typical applications
Food and beverage plants — a 5 ton European single girder crane in Argentina: 14.129 m span, 6.2 m lifting height, M5, dual-speed hoist and VFD travel, installed with its own supporting runway in a hall never built for a crane.
Water control and hydropower — a 10 ton LDA single girder crane in Indonesia on a 9 m span with 15 m of lifting height, A3 duty, used to raise sluice gate leaves for maintenance.
Precast concrete and steel structure yards — 10 t double girder cranes on longer spans, often outdoors with rain covers.
Selection checklist (copy into your inquiry)
Capacity: 5 t / 10 t (include slings, spreader or other attachments)
Span, rail centre to rail centre: ___ m
Lifting height, floor to hook: ___ m
Runway length: ___ m; new building or existing runway?
Duty: lifts per hour ___ / shifts per day ___
Indoor or outdoor; ambient temperature ___ °C
Power supply: ___ V / ___ Hz
Control: pendant / wireless remote / cabin
Destination port: ___
FAQ
How much does a 5 ton overhead crane cost?
A 5 ton LD single girder overhead crane costs $3,500 – 9,000 FOB China for spans up to 22.5 m. A European-type 5 t crane at 16.5 m span and 9 m lift comes to $12,500– 14,000. Add runway rail, freight and installation for the landed cost.
Can a 10 ton overhead crane be single girder?
Yes — up to about 22.5 m span and A5 duty. Our 10 ton LDA crane in Indonesia is single girder on a 9 m span. Beyond that span, or for A6 duty and above, a double girder is the safer choice and usually cheaper over the crane's life.
What runway rail do I need for a 10 ton overhead crane?
P30 – P38 for a single girder crane and P38 or QU70 for a double girder crane, on a runway beam designed for the crane's maximum wheel load — typically 7 – 13 t at 16.5 m span.
How long does delivery take?
Standard 5 – 10 t cranes ship 20 – 30 days after drawing approval. Sea freight adds 25 – 45 days depending on the destination port.
How is a 5 or 10 ton crane installed?
Most 5 – 10 t single girder cranes are installed by the customer's own team with our remote guidance in 2 – 4 days. On-site supervision is available through our service team.
Get a drawing and quote in 24 hours
Send us your span, lifting height and duty cycle — we return a drawing and quote within 24 hours. The general arrangement drawing includes the wheel loads your runway designer needs.
Thank you for your interests in Kinocranes. Please feel free to submit your inquiry information to us. Our sales manager will contact with you as soon as possible.
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