Booking a crane is a trust exercise. You're handing a stranger a machine that can lift a rooftop AC unit over your building or drop it through the roof, and the difference is the operator and the lift plan. We went through the public Google record for Chicago's crane companies and ranked them on what contractors and homeowners actually report. Here's the shortlist.
Short answer: La Grange Crane Service is the clear leader with a perfect 5.0 across 652 Google reviews, the deepest and cleanest record in the Chicago market. Stevenson Crane follows at 4.8 across 140 reviews and runs two branches serving the metro, while Runnion Equipment (4.8) stands out for service, parts, and sales. Crane rental is priced by tonnage and duration, and several of these outfits quote fixed daily, weekly, and monthly rates, so ask for a rate that includes the operator.
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews
La Grange Crane Service, Inc.
5.0★★★★★652 Google reviews
La Grange Crane Service runs a full rental fleet out of Hodgkins, from telehandlers and rough-terrain cranes to boom trucks, all-terrain, and crawler cranes, with dispatch listed as 24/7/365. Its site describes a national footprint across more than a dozen states, but the operation is rooted in the Chicago area. Reviewers frame it as a project partner rather than just an equipment vendor. The account reps and operators come up by name again and again.
What people praise
- Operators repeatedly called the best in the business
- Strong, named account reps who handle the booking cleanly
- Commitment to safety singled out by long-term clients
- Precise, careful lifts in tight and tricky spots
- Jobs completed safely and efficiently without issues
Worth knowing
- In heavy demand, so book ahead for tight schedules
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown97% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: This is the safe default. A perfect 5.0 across 652 reviews is both the highest rating and the largest sample in the market, which almost never happens together. It earns the top spot outright.
📍6180 River Rd, Hodgkins, IL 60525
#2🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews
Stevenson Crane, Rigging & Heavy Haul
4.8★★★★★140 Google reviews
Stevenson Crane, Rigging and Heavy Haul is a crane rental agency based in Bolingbrook, and it's known around the trade as the Lifting Professionals. Reviewers describe a team that matches the crane to the size of the job and shows up with well-prepared operator certificates and lift plans. It's one of two Stevenson branches serving the metro. A nationwide network gets a few mentions for reach and fast mobilization.
What people praise
- Consistently professional, reliable, and quick to respond
- Right equipment picked for the size of each project
- Operators described as top-notch on tight-tolerance work
- Competitive pricing noted by repeat customers
- Lift plans and documents well prepared
Worth knowing
- A few low reviews sit among the many positives, so confirm timing and lift plan up front
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown94% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Second overall on a 4.8 average across 140 reviews. A strong, well-documented choice for contractors who want the equipment sized correctly the first time.
📍410 Stevenson Dr, Bolingbrook, IL 60440
#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews
Runnion Equipment
4.8★★★★★80 Google reviews
Runnion Equipment is a crane and aerial-lift provider out of Hodgkins offering sales, rentals, repairs, parts, and training, with locations serving Chicago and Milwaukee. Its Google record leans heavily toward service and parts work, with named technicians praised for field repairs and deep knowledge of specific crane brands. If you own or operate cranes, this is a well-regarded support partner. Rentals sit alongside the dealer and repair side of the business.
What people praise
- Field technicians praised for expertise and going the distance
- Fast parts ordering and shipping to keep machines running
- Smooth, well-priced rental returns reported
- Operates like a small business on service, big on capability
Worth knowing
- Reviews skew toward service, parts, and sales, so confirm rental crane availability and size for your lift
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown91% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Third on a 4.8 average across 80 reviews. Its clearest strength is keeping cranes working, so it's an easy call for service and a solid one for rentals once you confirm the machine you need.
📍6201 East Ave, Hodgkins, IL 60525
#4↩ Responds to reviews
Stevenson Crane, Rigging & Heavy Haul
4.7★★★★★69 Google reviews
This is Stevenson Crane's South Holland branch, a crane rental agency covering the south side and the Indiana line under the same Lifting Professionals banner. Reviewers point to careful work on tight residential sites where landscaping and property can't be disturbed, along with heavy commercial jobs with tight tolerances. Long-tenured tradespeople describe decades of dependable service. Preplanning and communication come up as strengths.
What people praise
- Careful work on tight, sensitive sites without damage
- Decades-long relationships with commercial clients
- Strong preplanning and communication on complex lifts
- Quick mobilization, including short-notice jobs
Worth knowing
- Hours aren't listed on Google, so call to confirm dispatch
- A handful of low reviews exist alongside the praise
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Info completenesssite · phone
Rating breakdown91% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Fourth on a 4.7 average across 69 reviews. Same operator reputation as the Bolingbrook branch, positioned for the south suburbs.
📍16675 Van Dam Rd, South Holland, IL 60473
#5🕑 Open 7 days
G.F. Crane Service
4.8★★★★★26 Google reviews
G.F. Crane Service is a Bensenville crane and rigging outfit that advertises fixed daily, weekly, and monthly rates and 24/7 dispatch, with a fleet running from 5-ton spyder cranes up to 500-ton crawlers. It pitches itself on sizing the right crane so you don't overpay for capacity you don't need. Reviewers mention rooftop HVAC lifts and last-minute rescues after another company fell through. Steel erection and specialty rigging are part of the service.
What people praise
- Fixed rates make budgeting straightforward
- Same-day and last-minute jobs handled reliably
- Honest, skilled operators who remove the old unit too
- Clear communication from quote to completion
Worth knowing
- Smallest review base of the five, though the record is strong
Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown96% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Fifth on a 4.8 average across 26 reviews. It matches the rating of the higher-ranked names but has fewer reviews behind it, so it sits here on volume, not on quality. A strong pick for fixed-rate, right-sized lifts.
📍1071 Waveland Ave, Bensenville, IL 60106
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Claim this spot › How the scoring works
Everything here comes from the public Google record. Rating is the live Google average. Review volume is how many customers rated each company, ranked against the rest. Confidence weights the rating by that volume, so a strong score on hundreds of reviews outranks the same score on a couple dozen. Recency shows how lately people are still posting. None of these figures can be bought.
What crane rental costs in Chicago (2026)
Rental price swings too widely for a single number to be honest. The main drivers are the crane’s tonnage and reach, how long you need it (hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly), whether a certified operator and rigging are included, mobilization and transport to and from the site, and permits or lift plans for street closures and tight access. Several companies here quote fixed daily and weekly rates, so ask for an all-in figure that names what’s included.
Coverage across Chicagoland
These fleets are spread around the metro, with yards in Hodgkins, Bolingbrook, South Holland, and Bensenville, reaching downtown high-rise work, the suburbs, and the Indiana line. If you’re searching crane rental near me from the north, west, or south suburbs, all five dispatch across Chicagoland, so pick on operator reputation and the right crane rather than the nearest yard.
What to ask before you book a lift
- Are your operators certified, and can you share insurance and certificates?
- Will you build a lift plan for my site and access constraints?
- What tonnage and reach do you recommend for this load, and why?
- Is the rate hourly or daily, and is there a minimum?
- Are mobilization, transport, and rigging included in the quote?
- Do I need a permit for street access, and who pulls it?
Frequently asked questions
Are these rankings paid?
No. The order comes from public Google data, the live rating and the review volume behind it. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another company’s score or where it lands on this page.
How did you pick these five?
We looked at Chicago-area crane rental and crane service companies with a real track record on Google, then ranked them by rating weighted by review volume and recency. Two entries are separate branches of Stevenson Crane, each with its own Google listing and reviews.
Does the rate include an operator?
Not always. Many crane rentals in Chicago are operated rentals with a certified operator on the machine, but some quotes are bare rental. Confirm which you’re getting, because an operator and rigging change the price meaningfully.
Can I get a crane same day?
Sometimes. Several companies here list 24/7 dispatch and reviewers mention same-day and last-minute jobs, but availability depends on the crane size and the season. Call early for tight timelines.
How often is this page updated?
We last verified the ratings and review counts in July 2026 and refresh them as the Google record moves, so the numbers here reflect that check.
Bottom line
La Grange Crane Service is the standout, with a perfect 5.0 across more reviews than anyone else in the market, and it’s the pick if you want the surest hands. Stevenson Crane is the strong all-rounder for right-sized lifts, Runnion is the go-to when a crane needs service, and G.F. Crane is worth a call for fixed-rate, same-day work. Whoever you book, get the operator, rigging, and mobilization named in the quote.
