Hire a manual chain hoist from Hirelink for safe, controlled vertical lifting on construction sites, in workshops, on events, and across industrial and maintenance jobs. Our chain hoists run from 500kg up to 10 tonne safe working load, with a range of chain lengths to match the lift height you need. Daily, weekly, and long-term hire is available. We deliver across Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield, Aldridge, and the wider Midlands from our four local depots.
The Cost
Hirelink stocks a full range of manual chain hoists, from 500kg up to 10 tonne safe working load, in multiple chain lengths. Prices vary by capacity, chain length, and hire duration. Call the team to find the right hoist for your lift.
The Reason
Our chain hoist hire covers the full SWL range from 500kg up to 10 tonne, so you can match the hoist to the load and avoid hiring something heavier (and more expensive to handle) than the job needs. The team can advise on the right capacity if you’re not sure.
Manual chain hoists work anywhere, with no need for mains power or a generator on site. Pull the hand chain, the load lifts. That makes them the right choice for remote sites, rigging work where motors aren’t an option, and any job where you need a lift but don’t want to run a power lead.
Every chain hoist we hire meets the relevant British and international standards for lifting equipment, including BS EN 13157 and BS EN 818-7 grade T(8) chain. The hooks have integrated safety latches and overload indicator marks, so you can spot stretch from misuse before it becomes a problem.
Hirelink operates from four depots: Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Aldridge, and near Birmingham Airport. Collect from your nearest depot or have the chain hoist delivered to your site. Local service means faster availability and a direct line for advice or swap-outs if the job changes mid-hire.
Hire for a single lift, a week of rigging, or for the duration of a long-running project. Hire periods are flexible so you only pay for the time you actually need the hoist.
Every hoist is inspected and tested between hires. Test certificates are available on request, which matters for site compliance and LOLER documentation. Ask the team when you book.
The Return
Hirelink’s chain hoist hire is a manual lever-operated lifting tool used for vertical lifting and lowering of heavy loads. The hoist hangs from a fixed anchor point (a beam, gantry, scaffold, or rated lifting point) and the operator pulls the hand chain to raise or lower the load on a load chain fitted with a hook. It’s a simple, reliable bit of kit that gets used everywhere from event rigging to engine pulls.
Our chain hoists range from 500kg safe working load up to 10 tonne, in multiple chain lengths to suit different lift heights. They’re built around a grade 80 load chain (BS EN 818-7 Grade T(8)) with cast steel hook latches, integrated overload indicator marks on the top and bottom hooks, and a load pressure brake that holds the load in any position so you don’t need to keep tension on the hand chain. Solid steel casing protects the gears and chain sprocket.
Chain hoists get used wherever a controlled vertical lift is needed and a powered hoist or crane isn’t practical. Common jobs include lifting plant machinery into place during installation, pulling engines and gearboxes in workshops, rigging speakers and lighting for events and weddings, hoisting materials to the top of a scaffold tower, lifting structural steel into position on smaller construction jobs, maintenance work in factories, and recovery work on vehicles or boats. Light enough to carry to position, strong enough to lift several tonne.
Hiring works out far cheaper than buying for occasional or project-based use. A new 1T 6m chain hoist costs several hundred pounds, plus the cost of annual LOLER inspection and certification to keep it compliant. Short-term and long-term hire from Hirelink removes the capital cost and keeps the inspection paperwork with us.
The Difference
Hand-operated using a pull chain. No power needed. Lightweight, portable, and the right choice for remote sites, event rigging, occasional lifts, and anywhere a power supply isn’t practical. Slower than electric but cheaper to hire and simpler to set up. SWL 500kg up to 10T.
Powered by mains or three-phase electricity. Much faster lift speed and far less effort for the operator, which makes it the better choice for high-frequency lifts in workshops, production lines, and warehouse settings. Needs a power supply and is heavier to position. Hirelink can advise if you need electric.
Designed and rated for vertical lifting only. The hoist hangs from a fixed overhead anchor and lifts a load straight up and down. This is what you need for almost any lifting and lowering job. Never use a chain hoist for sideways or angled pulling.
Lever hoists (also called come-alongs or ratchet hoists) are rated for pulling at any angle, not just vertical lifts. They’re the right tool for tensioning, recovery work, and pulling loads horizontally. If you’re tensioning rather than lifting, ask the team about lever hoist hire instead.
The Logistics
Hirelink delivers chain hoists from four Midlands depots located in Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Aldridge, and near Birmingham Airport. Together, these depots cover the full West Midlands region and large parts of Staffordshire.
Delivery and collection is available with every hire. Areas served include Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Walsall, West Bromwich, Solihull, Tamworth, Burton upon Trent, Cannock, Stafford, and the surrounding towns and villages across the Midlands. Chain hoists are compact enough that most hires ship same-day from your nearest depot.
The Process
Tell us what you’re lifting (load weight and how high), and the team will recommend the right SWL and chain length. As a rule of thumb, choose an SWL at least 25 percent above the actual load weight to leave a safety margin.
We’ll check availability at your nearest depot, confirm pricing, and arrange delivery or collection to suit your dates. If you need a test certificate for site compliance, let us know when you book.
Your chain hoist arrives inspected and ready to use. Hang it from a properly rated anchor point, hook the load, and pull the hand chain to lift. Always lift vertically, wear PPE, and never exceed the SWL. Return the hoist on your agreed collection date.
FAQs
Chain hoist hire prices depend on the SWL (capacity), the chain length, and how long you need the hoist. Daily rates suit short rigging jobs, while weekly hire works out cheaper per day for longer use. Smaller capacities cost less than larger ones. Call Hirelink or submit an enquiry for current pricing on the SWL and chain length you need.
Hirelink stocks manual chain hoists from 500kg up to 10 tonne safe working load. Standard chain lengths typically run 3m, 6m, 9m, and 12m, with longer chains available on request. The most commonly hired sizes are 1T and 2T, which cover most general lifting jobs. Tell the team what you’re lifting and how high, and they’ll recommend the right combination.
SWL (safe working load) is the maximum weight the hoist is rated to lift in normal use. It already includes a safety margin against the chain’s breaking load (the point at which the chain would actually fail), so always work to the SWL figure and never assume you can go higher. As a rule of thumb, pick a hoist with at least 25 percent more SWL than your actual load.
There’s no legal requirement for formal qualifications to use a manual chain hoist for most trade applications, but you must use it safely and in line with the manufacturer’s guidance. For commercial site work, lifting operations should be planned by a competent person and follow LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998). If your team handles regular lifting, look into Appointed Person or Slinger/Signaller training.
No. Manual chain hoists are rated for vertical lifting only. Using one to pull a load sideways or at an angle puts uneven stress on the chain and the hooks, which can cause failure. If you need to pull horizontally or at an angle (for tensioning, recovery, or positioning), hire a lever hoist or come-along instead. Ask the team.
The anchor point you hang the hoist from must be rated for at least the SWL of the hoist plus the load you’re lifting, with a safety margin. On a building site, that usually means a structural beam, a properly rated gantry, or a certified lifting point. Don’t hang a chain hoist from scaffold tubes, exposed pipework, or anything you’re not sure about. If you need advice, the team can talk you through it.
Yes. Chain hoists are a common hire for event rigging, where they’re used to lift speakers, lighting trusses, drapes, and other equipment into position. The 500kg and 1T capacities are the most common for event use. Tell the team your venue and rigging requirements when you book.
Yes, on request. Every hoist in our fleet is inspected and tested between hires. If you need a current test certificate for LOLER compliance or to satisfy a site’s documentation requirements, let us know when you book and we’ll have it ready with the hoist.
Standard lifting PPE applies. Wear a hard hat (to protect against falling objects or accidental release), safety gloves (chains can pinch and the hand chain can mark hands over long lifts), and safety boots with toe protection. Keep clear of the suspended load. Never stand under a load, and make sure anyone else on site knows a lift is in progress.
Yes. Hirelink offers daily hire on the full chain hoist range. Daily hire suits one-off lifts like an engine pull, a single rigging job, or a short maintenance task. For anything beyond two or three days, weekly hire is usually better value.
Hirelink is a Midlands-based hire company with four depots covering Birmingham and Staffordshire. National hire chains run larger national fleets but work through national call centres and longer delivery distances. For trade and event customers across the West Midlands, Hirelink offers local service, a team that knows the region, and a direct line for advice on the right hoist for your lift.
For most hires we’ll need photo ID (driving licence or passport), proof of address dated within the last three months, and a small refundable deposit. Trade customers with an account just need to confirm the booking. For commercial site use, also bring any site documentation that needs the test certificate attached.
The Hire
Chain hoist hire from Hirelink is straightforward. Tell us the load weight, the lift height, and your hire dates, and we’ll match you to the right SWL and chain length, deliver it to your site or have it ready to collect, and supply a test certificate if you need one. Call the team, or complete the enquiry form below and we’ll get back to you.
