Gantry Crane vs Jib Crane: Which Do You Need?
Both lift loads overhead, but they solve different problems. A gantry rolls anywhere on its own legs; a jib mounts to a wall or floor and swings in an arc. Here's a representative unit of each.
| Model | Price | Span | Capacity | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vestil Gantry Crane 10ft Height, 2000lbs | $1,664 | 10-20 ft | 2000 lb | View → | |
| HSI 2000lbs Heavy-Duty Foundationless Freestanding… | $5,923 | 8-16 ft | 2000 lb | View → |
Gantry crane
A gantry is a freestanding A-frame on wheels or fixed legs — it needs no wall, no foundation, and moves to the load. That flexibility is the whole point when your lifts happen in different places.
Jib crane
A jib mounts to a wall, column, or floor base and rotates through an arc to cover a fixed work zone. It clears floor space and is ideal for a repeated lift at one station, but it doesn't travel.
The verdict
Need to lift in different spots or where you can't mount anything? A portable gantry. Repeating the same lift at a fixed workstation and want the floor clear? A jib. Compare capacity and reach in the table above.
FAQ
A gantry is freestanding and mobile — it rolls to the load on its own legs. A jib mounts to a wall or floor and rotates to cover a fixed area. Gantry for flexibility, jib for a fixed station.
A jib covers a circular arc around its mount; a gantry covers a straight line along its beam and can be repositioned. Reach depends on the model — see the specs above.
Related Guides
Specs and prices reflect current product data. · Updated 2026-07-21