How to choose a mini crane, 400 kg to 2 tons

Quick answer: The capacity on a mini crane is rated at its shortest reach; with the boom fully extended it drops to roughly 50 to 75%, so a 1 ton crane handles only about 500 kg at full reach. If the load must be placed far from the nose, choose a rated capacity of about twice the load. The semi-automatic 400 to 1,000 kg line has powered lifting and a hand-rotated boom, lifting to about 2.3 m and suits small shops and garages; the powered 500 kg to 2 ton line lifts to 3 m and suits heavy loads, long travel and frequent lifting.

What a mini crane is and where it is used

A mini crane (also called a mobile floor crane or battery mini crane) is a compact wheeled unit with a U-shaped base, a boom reaching forward and a counterweight at the rear. The boom is raised by a hydraulic cylinder or a winch powered by an on-board battery, so there is no cable to drag, nothing to install, and no need to drill the roof or pour a foundation.

In factories, mini cranes do the jobs a fixed crane cannot reach: lifting molds, motors and gearboxes during maintenance, moving sub-assemblies from a pallet onto a machine table, carrying heavy parts between several areas during the day, and working in rented plants, warehouses, garages and cleanrooms where the building cannot be modified.

The key point: mini crane capacity drops as the boom extends

The number in the model name (400 kg, 500 kg, 1 ton, 2 tons) is the capacity at the shortest reach. As the boom extends, the tipping moment rises and the allowable load falls sharply. This is the most common sizing mistake: a buyer needs to set a 400 kg mold in the middle of a machine table, 1 m from its edge, but orders a 400 kg crane.

FullSharp model line	Load at shortest boom	Load at longest boom	Max hook height
400 kg mini crane (manual push)	400 kg	300 kg	about 2.3 m
500 kg mini crane (semi-automatic)	500 kg	250 kg	about 2.3 m
1,000 kg mini crane (semi-automatic)	1,000 kg	500 kg	about 2.3 m
Wire rope mini crane (powered)	500 / 1,000 / 2,000 kg	250 / 500 / 1,000 kg	3 m

Rule of thumb: if the load must be placed far from the nose of the crane (the middle of a machine bed, inside a mold, behind a truck side wall), choose a rated capacity of about twice the load. If you always lift close to the base, a 20 to 30% margin is enough.

Push-type, semi-automatic or fully powered mini crane

After capacity, the way the crane travels and slews decides productivity and how many operators you need.

Item	Semi-automatic (400 to 1,000 kg)	Powered (500 kg to 2 tons)
Lifting	1.5 kW hydraulic pump, 8-button wireless remote	2.5 kW lifting unit, 45 to 50 mm/s lifting speed
Slewing	Rotated by hand, 360° (the operator pushes the boom)	Powered ±90°, clears lathes and molding machines
Travel	400 kg model pushed by hand; 500 kg and 1 ton models have a 48 V drive motor	Walk-behind electric drive, 4 to 6 km/h, electromagnetic brake
Battery	12 V 120 Ah, about 8 h charge, about 4.5 h continuous work	24 V 165 to 210 Ah
Minimum aisle	Machine width about 0.8 to 0.94 m	About 1.1 m
Best for	Small shops, garages, warehouses, cleanrooms, a few lifts per shift	Loads over 1 ton, long travel, frequent lifts

If you already own a push-type mini crane but need to move loads further, add an electric tow tractor so one operator can pull the crane and its load, instead of buying a new crane.

How to choose a mini crane in 5 steps

Weigh the heaviest load: include the hook, clamp, sling or fixture hanging underneath.
Measure the real reach: the distance from the front of the base to the center of the load at its final position. Compare it with the load at the longest boom, not the shortest.
Measure the height: how high the load must go (truck bed, machine table, rack) plus hook and sling height. Up to about 2.3 m, the semi-automatic line works; 3 m or more calls for the powered line.
Check the route: aisle width, doors, ramps, drains, epoxy or rough concrete floor. Powered models climb about 4 to 6% grades; push-type units need a flat floor.
Count the lifts: a few lifts per shift suits a semi-automatic crane; continuous lifting, long travel or loads above 1 ton suit a powered crane that saves labor and waiting time.

If lifting always happens at one machine with high frequency, a pneumatic jib crane is faster than a mini crane. For long, wide loads that must be lifted evenly at both ends, see our push-type gantry crane guide.

Safety tips for operating a mini crane

Check the load chart on the boom before each lift; never extend the boom while carrying a load close to the limit.
When traveling with a load, keep it low, retract the boom and move slowly; never turn sharply on a slope.
Never stand under a suspended load; use the remote to stay outside the danger zone.
Fit the full counterweight, lock the wheels when lifting, and make sure the floor can take the point load under each wheel.
Charge the battery fully and inspect hydraulic oil, wire rope and brakes on a regular schedule.

Real projects installed by FullSharp

400kg Semi-Automatic Push Mini Crane Paired with an Electric Tow Tractor

1-Ton Mini Crane for Workshops and Garages

500 kg Electric Mini Crane, Compact Lifting Equipment

3-Ton Electric Mini Crane with 4 m Lift Height, Mobile in the Shop

2-Ton Self-Propelled Electric Mini Crane

400 kg Push-Type Mini Crane for Small Workshops and Warehouses

400kg Mini Crane with Hand Cart for Workshops and Garages

400 kg Mini Crane for Tight Factory Spaces

Equipment in operation (videos)

400 kg push-type electric mini crane moving around the shop

How to operate the 500 kg mini crane with powered lifting and travel

2 ton battery-powered electric mini crane

Mini crane with a clamp for lifting and rotating drums

Frequently asked questions

How much can a mini crane lift?

FullSharp mini cranes come in 400 kg, 500 kg, 1 ton and 2 ton ratings at the shortest reach, and we have delivered a 3 ton unit on a project. At the longest reach, capacity falls to about half to three quarters.

How much can a 1 ton mini crane lift at full reach?

On the FullSharp 1 ton line, the allowable load at the longest boom is about 500 kg. Always check the load chart on the boom before lifting.

Should I choose a push-type or a powered mini crane?

For a few lifts per shift over short distances on a flat floor, a push-type or semi-automatic crane is enough. For loads over 1 ton, long travel or continuous lifting, choose a powered crane.

How long does a battery mini crane run?

The semi-automatic line uses a 12 V 120 Ah battery, charges in about 8 hours and works about 4.5 hours continuously; with intermittent lifting this usually covers a full shift.

Can a mini crane pass through narrow aisles?

Semi-automatic units are about 0.8 to 0.94 m wide; powered units need an aisle of at least about 1.1 m. Measure the narrowest door and aisle before choosing.

Send FullSharp the weight of your heaviest load, the reach to its center, the lift height, the aisle width and a few photos of the work area for a free recommendation and site survey.

Request a site survey View mini crane projects

How to choose a mini crane from 400 kg to 2 tons: push or powered