Forklift Operating Cost Calculator
Put a number on what a forklift costs to run — per hour and per year — from its energy or fuel use and upkeep.
Operating cost
Cost per hour = rate × consumption + maintenance; annual cost = cost per hour × hours per year. Keep units consistent — $/kWh × kWh/hr for electric, or $/L (or $/gal) × L/hr for LPG and diesel. Figures are estimates for planning and exclude finance, insurance, and operator labor.
The hourly rate behind the fleet
A forklift’s running cost is easiest to reason about per hour, because energy, fuel, and wear all accrue with use. The unit rate times consumption gives the energy or fuel cost, and a maintenance allowance folds in the servicing and wear parts that time on the clock brings.
Scaled to a year’s run-hours, that hourly rate turns into a budget line you can compare across trucks and power types. It is only part of total cost of ownership — purchase, finance, and labor sit on top — but it is the part most sensitive to how, and how much, a truck is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is forklift operating cost calculated?
Energy or fuel cost per hour is the unit rate times the consumption per hour — for example $0.15/kWh × 6 kWh/hr = $0.90/hr for an electric truck, or a fuel price per litre times litres per hour for LPG and diesel. Add a per-hour maintenance allowance to get the total cost per hour, then multiply by the run-hours per year for the annual figure.
What units should I enter?
Keep the rate and the consumption in matching units. For electric trucks use $/kWh with kWh/hr; for LPG use $/kg or $/L with the matching consumption; for diesel use $/L or $/gal with L/hr or gal/hr. The calculator just multiplies, so the currency and volume unit you choose carry straight through to the result.
What does the maintenance-per-hour figure cover?
It is a catch-all for the running upkeep tied to hours of use: scheduled servicing, tyres, hydraulic and filter changes, brakes, and wear parts, spread across the hours they last. Fleet operators often track this as a blended hourly rate. Leave it at zero if you only want the pure energy or fuel cost.
What isn't included in this estimate?
This tool covers energy or fuel plus optional maintenance. It deliberately excludes the purchase price or lease and finance cost, insurance, operator wages, and facility overhead — the largest of which is usually labor. For a full cost-of-ownership picture, add those separately alongside the hourly running cost this gives you.
How do electric and LPG or diesel trucks compare on running cost?
It varies with local energy and fuel prices, but electric trucks typically show a lower energy cost per hour and lower routine maintenance, offset by battery and charger investment; internal-combustion trucks often cost more per hour to fuel and service. Run the numbers for each with your real rates to compare like for like.
Estimates for planning — not professional financial, safety, or operator-certification advice. Verify rates and consumption against your own records before budgeting.