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The 30 Best Forklift Brands of 2026

Choosing the right forklift can have a major impact on your operation, from keeping employees happy and workflows efficient to reducing downtime and costly disruptions. Our in-depth guide highlights the top 30 forklift brands, offering clear insights into today’s leading manufacturers so you can confidently select the best forklift for your business needs.

1 Toyota

Cost

$20,000-$45,000

About

Toyota has been dominating the forklift industry as the top-selling forklift brand since 2002. With over 50 years in the forklift industry and over 2,000,000 industrial engines built since 1958, Toyota produces high-quality, durable lifts proven to stand the test of time.

Benefits of Toyota Forklifts:

Key Benefits of Toyota Forklifts:

  • Toyota designs and builds its own engines specifically for fork trucks from the ground up. Toyota’s forklift engines undergo extreme testing to ensure reliable, productivity-boosting performance.
  • Toyota’s forklifts are sought after for reducing safety-related incidents and maintenance costs with its System of Active Stability (SAS), which helps prevent accidents by auto-detecting and correcting instability.

Toyota's Forklift Legacy in Brief:

  • Toyota introduced the world’s 1st and only system of active stability (SAS) to reduce lateral and longitudinal tip-over risk through electronic monitoring. 
  • Toyota is dedicated to creating dependable forklifts with sustainable manufacturing.

Toyota's Customer Service:

  • Toyota takes a customer-first approach, creating safe forklifts with a promise of high value and an excellent driving experience.

The Bottom Line for Toyota Lifts:

Toyota strives to be the #1 forklift company for quality, durability and reliability. Toyota offers a low cost of ownership and has been widely acknowledged as the top forklift company for over two decades. 

 

2 Linde

Cost

$5,000-$50,000

About

Linde is a German manufacturer founded in 1904 and is now part of the KION Group (the world’s second-largest manufacturer of industrial trucks). Linde is known for its powerful drive technology and supremely responsive traction control for fast and easy load transport.

Benefits of Linde Forklifts:

Key Benefits of Linde Forklifts:

  • Linde forklifts are known for their precision, advanced technology and impressive efficiency. 
  • Linde’s hydrostatic drive system delivers smooth, accurate control of forklift speed and direction, which over time reduces wear on the lift truck resulting in fewer maintenance costs. 
  • Linde has a reputation for first-class agility and handling.

Linde's Forklift Legacy in Brief:

  • In 1958 Linde invented the first forklift truck with hydrostatic transmission. 
  • Linde focuses on engineering solutions for complex intralogistics- their revolutionary contributions to the forklift industry include Linde Steer Control, Linde Motion Detection, the Linde Rack Protection Sensor and the Linde Multifunction Lever.

Linde's Customer Service:

  • Linde is committed to reducing its customers’ fuel consumption and lowering emission levels. Linde is also dedicated to increasing productivity and reducing downtime with its maintenance-free brake and drive system.

The Bottom Line for Linde Lifts:

Linde is well-respected for its innovative approach to forklift technology. The advanced developments produced and perfected by Linde have been transformative for both productivity and driver experience.

3 Jungheinrich

Cost

$10,000-$25,000

About

The Jungheinrich Group, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, is a leader in the production of innovative forklifts with advanced technology.

Benefits of Jungheinrich Forklifts:

Standout Benefits of Jungheinrich Forklifts:

  • The Jungheinrich Group electric forklifts can run two shifts on a single battery charge in several applications. 
  • Jungheinrich Group forklifts are compact and easy to maneuver through narrow aisles. 
  • Jungheinrich Group lifts are recognized for their industry-leading speed and their ability to increase productivity levels.

Jungheinrich Forklift History & Legacy in Brief:

  • Established in 1953, Jungheinrich is one of the top 3 intralogistics brands in the world. 
  • Jungheinrich has undergone intensive restructuring and its strategy leading into 2025 is focused on creating sustainable value.

Jungheinrich's Customer Service:

  • Jungheinrich provides personalized service to get the right products for your specific business. 
  • Jungheinrich stands behind the performance of their forklifts. 
  • The company produces its own Li-ion batteries and chargers and provides comprehensive service in every aspect related to your lift trucks- from software and planning to maintenance and operation, Jungheinrich values building and maintaining strong, responsive relationships with its customers.

The Bottom Line for Jungheinrich Lifts:

Jungheinrich is focused on client success and centered on creating sustainable value. Jungheinrich forklifts are reliable and well-built.

4 Crown

Cost

$22,000-$30,000

About

Crown leads the forklift industry in ergonomics. Specializing in rough terrain and counterbalance forklifts, Crown is built for safe, confident lift driving. Crown trucks are well-known for being innovative, reliable and high-tech.

Benefits of Crown Forklifts:

Key Benefits of Crown Forklifts:

  • Crown’s fleet management system, InfoLink, lets businesses track and analyze fork usage.
  • Crown increases operator efficiency with QuickPick Remote order picking. 

Crown's Forklift Legacy in Brief:

  • Crown brings more than 50 years of experience to the material handling industry and has been family-led for 4 generations.
  • Crown has tons of award-winning designs that meet a variety of needs. 

Crown's Customer Service:

  • Crown values trust-based relationships and cares about driver comfort and safety. 

The Bottom Line for Crown Lifts:

Crown aims to reduce cost of ownership by creating high-performance, reliable and innovative fork trucks. Crown’s C-5 range is the clear leader in heavy-duty industrial forklifts.

5 Hyster

Cost

$20,000-$40,000

About

Hyster has been in the forklift industry for over 90 years, earning a reputation for durability and dependability. Hyster forklifts serve a number of industries and are all-around solid lifts.

Benefits of Hyster Forklifts:

Key benefits of Hyster Forklifts:

  • Hyster forklifts have won several awards for their durability and reliability- they withstand ultra-tough working conditions. 
  • Hyster has advanced pallet and narrow aisle trucks, and newer models are designed to avoid workplace accidents with operator-assist technology.
  • Hyster makes comfortable, spacious cabs with advanced safety features like speed reduction, auto parking brakes and warning systems.

Hyster's Legacy in Brief:

  • Hyster’s history began in 1929 with roots in the logging industry.
  • Hyster forklifts are known for delivering top-of-the-line, durable forklifts.
  • Hyster is well-loved for its trustworthiness, consistency and credibility. 

Hyster's Customer Service:

  • Hyster proudly offers low-maintenance, high-performance, cost-cutting solutions for material handling needs.

The Bottom Line for Hyster Lifts:

Hyster’s reputation for building tough, dependable lift trucks has earned them a loyal following of customers across a wide range of industries.