Heavy Equipment

10 Popular Forklift Types

A quick overview of the most common types of forklift.

Updated on

December 15, 2021

Designed to pick, lift, move, and place a wide range of materials, a forklift is one of the most valuable machines you can invest in for the transportation of heavy materials on site.

Here are the 10 most popular forklift types.

1. Warehouse Forklift

This is arguably the most recognizable of all types of forklifts.

It resembles a yellow golf cart with double forks extending from the front, which are used to load and offload items on pallet racking.

It is also great for removing and carrying things from delivery vehicles.

There are several types of warehouse forklifts available in the market today, the most common ones being side loader and counterbalance forklifts.

Each of the categories is discussed below.

2. Side Loader

A side loader is one of the most common warehouse types of forklift. It is mainly found in manufacturing facilities that require moving heavy and bulky items.

Side loaders are operated by a worker standing in a sideways compartment.

The sideway operation makes it easy for a side loader forklift to drive up alongside racks to move items without having to turn.

These forklift types are great for crossing corridors and handling long loads such as pipes.

3. Counterbalance Forklift

This subtype of warehouse forklift is fitted with forks in the front and a weight in the rear of the vehicle to offset the weight of the load.

These forklifts do not have extending arms, which allows them to move directly to the load.

There are two main types of counterbalance forklifts: the 3-wheel type and the stand-up category.

The 3-wheel forklift is used for jobs that require turning in circles, while the stand-up forklift enables the operator to easily hop on and off between loads.

4. Telescopic Forklift

Also known as a telehandler or reach forklift, a telescopic forklift is fitted with a boom and an extendable arm that makes it operate like both a forklift and a crane.

It uses the twin forks attached to the extendable arm to move items off the ground. A standard telescopic forklift can lift 5,500 lbs of materials from up to 19 ft in the air.

Telehandlers are great for reaching narrow spaces and odd angles.

5. Rough Terrain Forklift

Also known as straight mast forklifts, these forklift types are fitted with large threaded pneumatic tires that give them the balance and stability to navigate uneven surfaces.

The forklifts are designed for outdoor applications, particularly in construction sites.

Rough terrain forklifts can lift 6,000 lbs to 8,000 lbs of material.

6. Industrial Forklift

Also known as large large-capacity forklift, the industrial forklift is designed to combine the functionalities of a warehouse forklift with that of a telescopic forklift.

Although it cannot reach odd angles like a telescopic forklift, it is capable of lifting heavier loads higher off the ground compared to a warehouse forklift.

Indeed, most industrial forklifts start with a 30,000 lbs maximum lift – a capacity that is only needed for very specialized tasks.

7. Pallet Jack

Also known as pump trucks, pallet jacks, are small-sized forklift types that are designed to lift small loads in very tight corners. They are capable of lifting 4,000 lbs of material.

They are capable of lifting 4,000 lbs of material.

8. Walkie Stacker

Unlike other forklifts, walkie stackers are not fitted with cabs. Instead, the operator walks behind the stacker and directs it using an attached handle.

Like pallet jacks, walkie stackers are lacking in terms of speed, power, and maneuverability – but are great for tasks that need a taller pallet jack as they can reach higher heights.

9. Order Picker

This is a subtype of a walkie-stacker. With reaching heights of up to 32ft, order pickers are used for picking and delivering materials from warehouses.

These machines are capable of picking one or two items rather than bringing down full pallets and loads – which makes them ideal for customer order warehouses and stores.