Rigging companies structure their pricing around crew billing rates, equipment costs, and project complexity. Crew rates typically fall between $200 and $500 per hour, covering the rigging team, a qualified signal person, and basic hardware. Equipment cost often exceeds labor cost on the invoice — crane selection is the single largest budget driver, and the crane charge is itemized separately from crew time on most quotes. OSHA 1926 Subpart CC requires a qualified rigger and qualified signal person on every crane lift, and most projects also need additional crew members depending on the complexity of the operation.
Most rigging contractors use one of three pricing models: hourly billing with a 4-hour minimum, a fixed per-project fee for well-defined scopes, or time-and-materials (T&M) for projects with uncertain site conditions. Hourly billing is common for short-duration lifts, while fixed-fee quotes are standard for installations where the rigging company can conduct a thorough site survey beforehand. T&M contracts protect both parties when access constraints, structural unknowns, or phased schedules make a flat price impractical.
Typical project ranges illustrate the spread: a single machine move runs $1,500 to $5,000, a specialized equipment installation $3,500 to $6,500, and a full plant relocation $50,000 to $200,000 or more. Beyond the base rate, expect line items for mobilization (2-10% of total project cost), municipal permits, engineered lift plans per ASME P30.1, and any third-party crane rental. The primary cost driver is load weight — it dictates crane capacity, rigging hardware ratings, and the scope of planning required under ASME P30.1. Distance, site access, and permit requirements also shift the total significantly.
Free on-site estimates are industry standard. Request quotes from at least two contractors and compare the breakdown — not just the bottom line — to understand what each company includes in their price.