An electric pallet truck takes the effort out of moving loaded pallets — the operator steers and controls the lift, while the battery and motor do the lifting and driving. For any operation shifting pallets more than a few times an hour, or moving loads over long distances, a powered unit pays for itself in speed and in reduced manual-handling risk. But "electric pallet truck" covers everything from a compact pedestrian unit for a delivery van to a 5,000 kg heavy-duty mover, so choosing the right one means matching the truck to the load, the distance and the environment.
This guide explains what an electric pallet truck costs in the UK, how the types differ, the specifications that actually matter, and how to choose. If you are still weighing a powered unit against a hand pallet truck — or wondering about hire, licences and training — start with our manual vs electric pallet trucks comparison, which covers that ground in full. This article assumes you have decided that powered is the way to go.
Electric pump truck, pallet jack, powered pallet truck — what is it called?
Before anything else, the naming. The same machine is sold as an electric pallet truck, an electric pump truck, an electric pallet jack, a powered pallet truck, a battery pallet truck, an electric hand pallet truck or a pedestrian pallet truck. None of these is more correct than the others.
"Pump truck" is a hangover from the manual version, where you genuinely pump a handle to raise the forks — so an electric pump truck is a slight contradiction, but it is what a lot of the trade calls it and it is what a lot of people type into Google. "Pallet jack" is the American term that has drifted into UK use. "Pedestrian" is the useful one, because it draws the real distinction: the operator walks with the truck rather than riding on it. If a supplier lists something as a ride-on, that is a different class of machine with different training implications.
One term that does mean something specific: semi-electric. A semi-electric truck powers the lift but not the travel, so you still push the loaded truck by hand. It is a cheaper machine, and it solves the smaller half of the problem — pushing a laden truck across a floor is usually harder work than pumping the forks. We do not stock semi-electric trucks, and for most buyers we would not recommend one; if the budget only stretches to semi-electric, a good manual truck plus a genuinely fully powered unit later is often the better path.
How much does an electric pallet truck cost?
This is the most-asked question against these searches and almost nothing in the results answers it. Here is the whole UK market, honestly, including the parts of it we do not serve.
£400 – £900: entry imported units, 1,500–2,000 kg. Lead-acid or basic lithium, thinner steel, simpler controllers, shorter warranties and variable parts support. These are real, working trucks and plenty of businesses run them successfully. The thing to check before buying at this end is not the truck — it is who will service it in three years and where the battery and controller come from.
£900 – £1,500: the mainstream trade band. Recognisable brands, lithium as standard, proper dealer backing. This is where the bulk of the UK market sits, and where our lithium range starts — the VULCAN FPPT40 at £1,468.44 (1,500 kg) is priced squarely into it.
£1,500 – £4,000: specified and specialist. Higher-duty builds, premium lithium, high-lift models, extra-long and made-to-order forks. Most of our range lives here, £1,468.44 to £3,689.34.
£4,000+: heavy capacity and purpose-built. Reel handling, 5-tonne trucks, bespoke. Our reel-handling trucks run £7,182.60–£7,948.32 and the 5-tonne trucks £14,845.92–£15,023.70.
Second-hand is a real market — you will see 2,000 kg powered trucks advertised well under £1,000 — and it can be a sound buy if you can verify the battery's age and cycle count, see the truck lift a real load, and check the charger comes with it. The battery is most of the value in a used electric truck, and a tired pack is an expensive surprise. We sell new equipment only.
Worth saying plainly: unlike some categories, electric pallet trucks are one where our prices sit close to the general market rather than far above it. There is no large gap here to explain away.
Our electric pallet truck prices
Live prices from this site, with the manufacturer's published capacities.
| Model | Type | Capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FPPT40 | VULCAN lithium, 1,150 × 540 forks | 1,500 kg | £1,468.44 |
| FPPT50 | VULCAN lithium, 1,150 × 540 forks | 2,000 kg | £1,627.86 |
| FPPT30 | VULCAN premium lithium | 1,200 kg | £1,842.89 |
| FPPT60 | VULCAN premium lithium | 1,500 kg | £1,886.58 |
| PHL54H | Electric high lift, 540 mm width | 1,000 kg | £1,957.80 |
| PHL68H | Electric high lift, 680 mm width | 1,000 kg | £2,006.10 |
| PHL60H | Electric high lift, 540 mm width | 1,500 kg | £2,147.34 |
| PHL70H | Electric high lift, 680 mm width | 1,500 kg | £2,201.46 |
| FPPT10 | Fully powered, 1,150 × 540 forks | 1,500 kg | £2,381.76 |
| FPPT70 | VULCAN premium lithium | 2,000 kg | £2,590.30 |
| ELFPPT15 | Extra long, 1,500 × 550 forks | Made to order | £3,020.46 |
| ELFPPT18 | Extra long, 1,800 × 550 forks | Made to order | £3,198.24 |
| ELFPPT20 | Extra long, 2,000 × 550 forks | Made to order | £3,553.80 |
| FPPRPT20 | Premium fully powered, 1,150 × 550 | 2,000 kg | £3,689.34 |
| FPRPT10 | Fully powered reel handling | 1,000 kg | £7,182.60 |
| FPRPT20 | Fully powered reel handling | 2,000 kg | £7,948.32 |
| FPT51254 | 5 tonne, 1,220 × 540 forks | 5,000 kg | £14,845.92 |
| FPT51268 | 5 tonne, 1,220 × 685 forks | 5,000 kg | £15,023.70 |
What an electric pallet truck does
A powered (or "fully powered") pallet truck motorises two functions a manual truck leaves to the operator: the hydraulic lift and the travel drive. Press the thumb control and the forks raise electrically; press the throttle on the tiller arm and the truck drives itself forward or back at walking pace. The operator walks alongside or behind, guiding with the tiller. That removes the two most physically demanding parts of the job — pumping the forks up under a heavy load, and pushing a laden truck across the floor — which is where most pallet-truck strains and injuries come from.
Browse the full range on our powered pallet trucks collection, or see manual pallet trucks for the hand-operated equivalents.
Types of electric pallet truck
Standard pedestrian trucks. The everyday workhorse: a fully powered truck with 1,000–2,000 kg capacity and standard 1,150 mm forks for moving single GB/Euro pallets around a warehouse or onto and off a vehicle tail-lift. Our GPC Fully Powered Pallet Truck (FPPT10) handles 1,500 kg on 1,150 × 540 mm forks; the GPC Premium Fully Powered Pallet Truck (FPPRPT20) conforms to EN 1757-1 and lifts 2,000 kg with an energy-efficient, compact split-body design for tight aisles.
Lithium-battery compact trucks. Where weight, charging and footprint matter — supermarkets, multi-drop delivery, mezzanine work — a lithium unit is lighter and charges far faster than lead-acid. The VULCAN lithium range conforms to EN 1757-1 with 48 mm fork width, 115 mm raised and 80 mm lowered fork height, a CURTIS controller with non-polar speed control, auxiliary wheels on both sides for stability, and an open design that makes battery removal and installation straightforward. Lowering speed is adjusted through the handle angle.
Heavy-duty trucks. For 2,000 kg-plus loads moved regularly, a heavier-built unit with a more powerful drive motor earns its keep. The GPC 5 Tonne Fully Powered Pallet Truck carries 5,000 kg on a 3 kW drive motor with electronic steering and polyurethane wheels for stable, quiet running, on 1,220 mm forks, with an optional ride-on platform and protection arms, UKCA marked and plated.
High-lift trucks. A powered high lift pallet truck raises the load to working height — useful as a mobile work platform or for feeding a production line. The VULCAN electric high-lift range conforms to EN 1757-2 with 1,170 mm forks at 160 mm wide, 85 mm lowered fork height, 180 × 55 mm steering wheels and 75 × 50 mm front rollers, a 12 V / 60 Ah battery and charger included, a 0.8 kW lifting motor, and adjustable stabilising bars that prevent the unit moving once raised. Manual lift and lower is included alongside the electric function for precise positioning.
Reel and specialist trucks. For horizontal loads — rolls, reels and cable drums — a reel-handling truck carries the load on its side. The GPC Fully Powered Reel Handling Truck is made to order with fully powered lift, lower and travel, built-in safety interlocks and operator protection, an external charger, and UKCA marking: FPRPT10 takes 750–1,000 mm reels at 1,000 kg on 960 mm width over forks; FPRPT20 takes 1,200–1,600 mm reels at 2,000 kg on 1,080 mm. Long or non-standard loads are covered by the made-to-order Extra Long Fully Powered Pallet Truck (any length, width or capacity), driven by a brushless 1.0 kW motor with a 0.8 kW lift motor, a reinforced steel chassis and a quick-swap lithium battery on a two-hour charge; a 685 mm wide fork option is also available.
Capacity: 1,500 kg, 2,000 kg and 3,000 kg
Capacity is how most people shop for these, so here is where the numbers actually land.
1,500 kg handles the great majority of UK pallet work. A loaded GB or Euro pallet in general warehousing, retail distribution or light manufacturing usually sits well under this. FPPT40 at £1,468.44 is the entry point.
2,000 kg is the sensible specification if you regularly handle dense goods — drinks, tinned stock, building products, print — or if you simply want headroom. FPPT50 at £1,627.86, FPPT70 at £2,590.30 and the premium FPPRPT20 at £3,689.34.
3,000 kg is a common search and we should be straight about it: we do not stock a 3,000 kg powered pallet truck. If your loads genuinely exceed 2,000 kg, the honest options are the 5-tonne truck (FPT51254, £14,845.92), a powered stacker if you also need to lift to height, or a specialist forklift dealer. We would rather tell you that than sell you a truck rated below your load.
The rule that matters more than any of these numbers: rate to your heaviest pallet, not your average, and never specify to the limit. Capacity ratings assume the load is centred and evenly distributed. Our guide to load ratings, UDL and SWL explains why that caveat is not a technicality.
Batteries and charging
The battery is the single biggest determinant of whether an electric pallet truck suits your operation, and it is the component most likely to cause regret.
Lithium-ion is now the default for frequent use. It charges in a fraction of the time, can be opportunity-charged during breaks and lunch without damage, needs no watering, and weighs considerably less — which matters if the truck ever goes on a tail-lift. Most of our range is lithium.
Lead-acid still suits lower-duty operations where the truck sits on charge overnight and duty cycles are predictable. It is cheaper to replace and the technology is thoroughly understood. What it does not tolerate is partial charging: repeatedly topping up a lead-acid pack mid-shift will shorten its life significantly, which is precisely the habit a busy warehouse falls into.
Multi-shift operations should look at a quick-swap arrangement, as on the Extra Long unit — a second pack charges while the first works, so the truck never stops. It costs more up front and removes charging from the critical path entirely.
Two practical points that catch people out. First, check where the truck will charge: some units run from any 13 amp socket, others need a dedicated point, and battery charging areas have their own ventilation and fire considerations — which is also why lithium battery storage is a subject in its own right. Second, the charger is part of the purchase: confirm it is included and correctly matched, particularly on a used truck.
The other specifications that matter
Fork dimensions. Standard 1,150 mm forks suit GB and Euro pallets entered from the end. Check fork width against your pallet apertures, and check the lowered fork height — the VULCAN sits at 80 mm lowered and 115 mm raised — so the forks enter cleanly and clear the floor when travelling. If you handle plastic pallets or shallow-aperture pallets, lowered height is the specification that decides whether the truck works at all. Our guide to UK pallet sizes covers the dimensions in detail.
Drive motor and steering. A more powerful drive motor — the 5-tonne unit runs 3 kW — maintains speed under heavy load and on slight inclines. Electronic steering and creep-speed control matter most in congested areas where precise, slow manoeuvring near people and racking is routine.
Wheels and environment. Polyurethane wheels are quiet and kind to smooth indoor floors. For rougher yards or uneven surfaces look at a rough-terrain option instead — a standard indoor truck will struggle outdoors, and dragging one across a pitted yard is how you destroy a drive unit.
Turning space. A powered truck needs more room to manoeuvre than a manual one because the tiller arm sweeps. Measure your tightest aisle and your worst corner before ordering, not after. Compact split-body designs exist precisely for this problem.
Standards, safety and training
Powered pallet trucks sold in the UK should conform to the relevant part of BS EN 1757 (EN 1757-1 for fork-over pedestrian trucks; EN 1757-2 for high-lift and certain specialist types) and carry UKCA or CE marking with a rated capacity plate. Our GPC powered units are built to these standards and plated accordingly.
In use, a powered truck is work equipment, so the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) apply: it must be suitable for the task, maintained in safe working order, and used by people who have been given adequate information, instruction and training. There is no statutory licence for a pedestrian powered pallet truck in the UK, but "no licence" is not the same as "no training" — and electric pallet truck training should cover the specific machine: tiller controls, the belly-button reverse safety stop, braking and emergency stop, gradients, load limits, and what to do when the battery warning appears mid-move. Treat training, daily pre-use checks and routine maintenance as part of owning the truck, not an optional extra.
Our guide to using a pallet truck safely covers day-to-day operation, and pallet truck maintenance and servicing covers keeping it in condition. This is general guidance; base your final decision on a task and site risk assessment.
How to choose — a quick method
Work through six questions in order. 1) What is my heaviest load? That sets the minimum capacity — and if the answer is over 2,000 kg, read the capacity section above before going further. 2) How far and how often do I move it? Long distances or frequent moves justify a more powerful drive and a faster-charging battery. 3) Where and when will it charge? This decides lithium versus lead-acid, and whether you need a swap pack. 4) What do the floor and aisles look like? Tight aisles need a compact split-body unit; rough ground needs a truck built for the surface. 5) Do I need to lift to height as well as travel? If yes, that is a high-lift truck or a stacker, not a standard pallet truck. 6) Standard pallets or special loads? Reels, drums and over-length loads need a reel-handling or made-to-order truck.
If you are deciding between a powered pallet truck and a stacker that also lifts to height, our pallet stacker vs pallet truck guide sets out where each one fits, and how to choose a pallet stacker goes further. If the load needs weighing as it moves, see weigh scale pallet trucks. And if what you actually need to move is cages and trolleys rather than pallets, an electric tug may be the better machine.
FAQ
How much does an electric pallet truck cost? Entry imported units run roughly £400–£900; the mainstream trade band is £900–£1,500; specified and specialist trucks £1,500–£4,000; and heavy-capacity or purpose-built machines above that. Our range starts at £1,468.44 for a 1,500 kg lithium truck and runs to £15,023.70 for a 5-tonne model.
Do you need a licence to drive an electric pallet truck? No formal licence is required for a pedestrian powered pallet truck, but under PUWER the operator must be trained and competent on that specific machine. Ride-on and stacker types may carry additional requirements.
What is an electric pump truck? The same machine as an electric pallet truck. "Pump truck", "pallet jack", "powered pallet truck" and "pedestrian pallet truck" are all used interchangeably in the UK. The only naming distinction that changes what you get is semi-electric, which powers the lift but not the travel.
How heavy a load can an electric pallet truck lift? Our powered range runs from 1,000 kg high-lift units and 1,500 kg standard trucks up to a 5,000 kg heavy-duty truck. We do not stock a 3,000 kg model. Always specify above your heaviest actual load.
Lithium or lead-acid battery? Lithium for frequent, multi-shift or fast-turnaround use — rapid and opportunity charging, lighter, maintenance-free. Lead-acid for lower-duty operations that charge fully overnight; it does not tolerate repeated partial charging.
Can an electric pallet truck go outside? A standard indoor truck on PU wheels is built for smooth floors. For yards and uneven ground, choose a rough-terrain or heavier-duty model designed for the surface.
Ready to compare models? See the full powered pallet trucks range, or the wider pallet trucks collection for manual and weigh-scale options. For lifting rather than travelling, see lift tables and pallet lifters. Our team can help match a truck to your loads, floor and duty cycle.