Sticker shock is a common occurrence when customers look to buy a forklift. With prices ranging from $15,000 to more than $100,000, however, it is possible to find a forklift within your price range. In order to find the machine that meets your needs and fits in your budget, as well as to avoid sticker shock that might make buying a forklift seem out of your reach, you need to understand which factors affect price. When you know which factors influencing the price, you can be aware of which ones are important to you when you go to buy a forklift. Here are the biggest things that can affect forklift pricing, and tips for deciding which of them are most important to you.

Electric forklifts are a popular choice of machine thanks in part to the fact that they require less maintenance than do internal combustion forklifts. Due to having fewer moving parts, the engine itself does not require the same kind of regular preventative servicing as do the internal combustion engines. That reduced maintenance translates into saved time and money for companies that use electric forklifts.

Organization is key to running an efficient warehouse. When orders need to be picked, your people need to be able to access them quickly. When storing items, you often need to maximize limited space. When loading and unloading pallets, you need to be able to do so easily with a forklift. And when handling awkwardly shaped items, you need a way to store them neatly and compactly.