---
title: "How much does a forklift weigh?"
description: "A forklift weighs 2,200–8,000 kg (4,850–17,600 lb). How that compares to other things, and where the number comes from."
url: https://atoneplace.net/weight/forklift/
site: "At One Place"
---

# How much does a forklift weigh?

**Typical weight: 2,200–8,000 kg**

That is 4,850–17,600 lb.

A counterbalanced industrial truck that lifts palletised loads on two forks.

> Service weight. A 2.5-tonne-capacity truck weighs 3,500-4,200 kg: most of the machine is the counterweight that stops it tipping.

## How that compares

*Forklift against things of a similar mass.*

- Helicopter: 1.2–9.979 t
- Ambulance: 3,200–6,800 kg
- MRI machine: 3,000–11,000 kg
- Orca: 1,300–10,000 kg
- Tractor: 1,000–15,000 kg
- Forklift: 2,200–8,000 kg
- Asian elephant: 2,000–6,000 kg
- Southern elephant seal: 350–4,000 kg

## More about a forklift

- [How much does a forklift cost?](https://atoneplace.net/cost/forklift/) — 20,000–80,000 $
- [Forklift vs Tractor](https://atoneplace.net/vs/forklift-vs-tractor/) — Side by side
- [Forklift vs SUV](https://atoneplace.net/vs/forklift-vs-suv/) — Side by side
- [Forklift vs Shipping container](https://atoneplace.net/vs/forklift-vs-shipping-container/) — Side by side

## Common questions

### How much does a forklift weigh?

A forklift weighs 2,200–8,000 kg (4,850–17,600 lb). Service weight. A 2.5-tonne-capacity truck weighs 3,500-4,200 kg: most of the machine is the counterweight that stops it tipping.

## Related pages

- [How much does a forklift cost?](https://atoneplace.net/cost/forklift/)
- [How much does a car weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/car/)
- [How much does a bicycle weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/bicycle/)
- [How much does a SUV weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/suv/)
- [How much does a pickup truck weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/pickup-truck/)
- [How much does a motorcycle weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/motorcycle/)
- [How much does a shipping container weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/shipping-container/)
- [How much does a school bus weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/school-bus/)
- [How much does a semi truck weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/semi-truck/)
- [How much does a fire truck weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/fire-truck/)
- [How much does a tractor weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/tractor/)
- [Forklift vs Tractor](https://atoneplace.net/vs/forklift-vs-tractor/)
- [Forklift vs SUV](https://atoneplace.net/vs/forklift-vs-suv/)
- [Forklift vs Shipping container](https://atoneplace.net/vs/forklift-vs-shipping-container/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)