Comparison · · Forklifts
Which forklift should a UK yard or warehouse buy: diesel, LPG or electric?
New counterbalance forklift trucks bought factory-direct start from £4,460 ex VAT for a 2 to 4.5 t diesel, at £3,980 ex VAT for a 3 to 5 t LPG and at £3,370 ex VAT for a 1.5 to 3.5 t lithium electric. Diesel suits open yards, LPG suits mixed indoor and outdoor work with ventilation, and electric suits warehouses, food premises and cold stores. Compare nothing until the written quote shows freight, duty and VAT.
Which forklift fuel suits your site: diesel, LPG or electric?
Start with where the forklift will spend most of its shift. A diesel forklift is the default for an open yard, a builders merchant or a loading area with ramps and rough concrete: it pulls hard, runs a full day on a tank and does not mind the rain. The 2 to 4.5 t diesel forklift truck with cabin in our range starts from £4,460 ex VAT with a 3 m to 6 m mast.
LPG is the compromise for sites that move between a yard and a shed. It burns cleaner than diesel, so with proper ventilation it can work inside a warehouse or cash and carry, and it refuels in minutes by swapping a cylinder. The LPG forklift truck, 3 to 5 t, starts from £3,980 ex VAT and the 2 to 3.5 t LPG forklift at £4,410 ex VAT. Both can be specified with a mast from 3 m to 7 m, and dual fuel LPG and petrol models are also listed.
Electric is the right answer for indoor work, food and drink premises, chilled stores and anywhere noise and fumes matter. The 1.5 to 3.5 t lithium electric forklift starts at £3,370 ex VAT and charges in short bursts during breaks rather than needing a battery swap, so one truck can cover a normal shift pattern.
Diesel vs LPG vs electric forklift: the comparison
| Question | Diesel | LPG | Electric (lithium) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open yards, ramps, rough ground, long shifts | Mixed yard and shed work with ventilation | Indoor warehouses, food premises, cold stores |
| Capacity in our range | 2 to 4.5 t on the entry model; 6 t and 12 t yard trucks also listed | 2 to 5 t | 1.5 to 3.5 t, plus a 3 wheel model for 1.5 to 2 t |
| Refuel or recharge | Fill the tank, keep working | Swap the cylinder in minutes | Plug in at breaks, no battery swap |
| Indoor use | Avoid, unless the building is very well ventilated | Yes with ventilation and cylinder storage | Yes, quiet and no exhaust |
| Noise and exhaust | Highest | Lower than diesel | Lowest |
| Tyres usually fitted | Pneumatic or solid | Solid or pneumatic | Solid or cushion, non-marking available |
| Guide price | from £4,460 ex VAT | from £3,980 ex VAT | at £3,370 ex VAT |
The entry prices sit close together, so the fuel decision is about the site, not the ticket. Pick the fuel first, then capacity and mast, then tyres. Everything on the forklift range page is new, built to order and priced ex VAT as a guide until your quote confirms it.
What capacity and mast height do you actually need?
Rated capacity is quoted at the load centre printed on the data plate with the mast vertical. Lift a wide pallet with the weight further out, or lift to the top of a tall mast, and the truck carries less than the headline figure; the load chart says how much less. Take your heaviest regular pallet, allow for the occasional heavy one, and buy the next size up rather than run at the limit.
Most warehouses in the 1.5 t to 3.5 t class run one truck size for everything. A cash and carry moving drinks and tinned goods on full pallets usually lands at 2.5 t to 3 t. Builders merchants, paper and steel stockholders go to 5 t. Above that, the range lists 6 t and 12 t diesel yard trucks for container work and heavy stock.
On mast height, measure two things: your lowest doorway or container opening with the mast fully lowered, and the top beam of your highest rack with the forks raised. A 3 m mast suits low sheds and lorry work. A triplex mast to 6 m reaches taller racking but sits higher when closed, so check the lowered height against your doors before you order. Standard forks are 1070 mm; ask for longer forks if you handle oversized pallets or double stacked bins.
3 wheel or 4 wheel, and which tyres?
A 3 wheel electric forklift steers on a single rear wheel, so it turns in a tighter circle than a 4 wheel truck of the same capacity. That makes it the truck for narrow aisles and lighter loads. Our 3 wheel electric forklift for 1.5 to 2 t loads starts at £4,860 ex VAT with 1150 to 1220 mm forks. A 4 wheel truck is steadier with a heavy load raised, handles ramps better and is the sensible choice outdoors or above 2 t.
Tyres decide where the truck can go. Pneumatic tyres soak up rough yards and gravel but can puncture. Solid tyres fit the same rims, never puncture and suit mixed sites. Cushion press-on tyres are for smooth concrete indoors only, and non-marking versions keep a food warehouse floor clean. Tell us the floor and we will specify the tyre on the quote.
What must the written forklift quote cover?
The guide prices on the site are converted from the factory list at a buffered exchange rate and shown ex VAT. They are a starting point, not the final number. Before you compare it with any other offer, get the written quote by email and check it lists all of these: the model and mast height, the capacity at the stated load centre, tyres, fork length, any attachment such as side shift, sea freight to a UK port, import duty, UK haulage to your door, VAT and the lead time. The quote is valid for 30 days.
Every forklift is built to order at our partner factories and inspected before dispatch, and you receive photos and a video of your actual truck before it ships. You can order a single forklift or several; tell us how many you need and the quote is priced for that quantity. Warranty terms are on the warranty and returns page, and delivery anywhere in the UK is confirmed on your written quote.
What to check before you buy a forklift
- Operator training. HSE Approved Code of Practice L117 says nobody should operate a lift truck until they have completed basic training, specific job training and familiarisation training, with records kept. There is no statutory forklift licence; a certificate of basic training from a recognised trainer is the evidence.
- LOLER 1998. A forklift is lifting equipment, so it needs a thorough examination by a competent person at least every 12 months, or every 6 months if it is used to lift people, and the report must be kept.
- PUWER 1998. The truck must be suitable for the job, maintained in a safe condition, inspected, and used only by trained and authorised people. Build a daily pre-use check into the shift.
- Paperwork. Declaration of conformity, a data plate showing capacity and serial number, and an operator manual in English.
- Site fit. Door heights, floor condition, ramp gradients, a charging point or LPG cylinder storage, and whether the truck must drive into a container or trailer.
- Attachments. Side shift, fork positioners and clamps reduce the rated capacity, so specify them on the quote rather than adding them later.
Send us the site details, heaviest pallet and door height and the quote comes back with the right truck specified. Use the contact page or email sales@londonpallettrucks.co.uk.
Forklifts discussed in this guide
Questions people ask
How much does a new forklift cost in the UK?
Factory-direct, a 2 to 4.5 t diesel forklift starts from £4,460 ex VAT, a 3 to 5 t LPG forklift at £3,980 ex VAT and a 1.5 to 3.5 t lithium electric forklift at £3,370 ex VAT. Freight, duty, VAT and lead time are confirmed on your written quote, which is valid for 30 days.
Can I use a diesel forklift indoors?
Only in a building with very good ventilation, and most sites avoid it. For a shed or warehouse choose LPG with ventilation, or electric, which has no exhaust at all.
Is a 3 wheel forklift better than a 4 wheel forklift?
A 3 wheel electric forklift turns in a tighter circle, so it wins in narrow aisles and for loads up to about 2 t. A 4 wheel forklift is steadier with a heavy load raised and is the better choice outdoors or above 2 t.
Do my drivers need a forklift licence?
There is no statutory forklift licence in the UK. HSE Approved Code of Practice L117 requires the employer to make sure each operator has completed basic training, specific job training and familiarisation training, and to keep records and give written authorisation.
How often does a forklift need a LOLER inspection?
Under LOLER 1998 a forklift needs a thorough examination by a competent person at least every 12 months, or every 6 months if it is used to lift people. PUWER 1998 also requires routine maintenance and a pre-use check by the operator.
Does the forklift price include delivery and import duty?
The website price is a guide in GBP ex VAT converted from the factory list. Your written quote confirms sea freight, import duty, UK haulage, VAT and lead time.
Sources: HSE, Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), HSE, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), HSE L117, Rider-operated lift trucks: operator training and safe use
