A narrow aisle forklift is a specialized material handling truck designed to operate in warehouse aisles as tight as 5 to 11 feet wide. These machines maximize storage density by utilizing vertical space, with some models reaching heights over 40 feet.
Main Types & Applications
Narrow aisle forklifts fall into several categories:
Reach Trucks – The most common type, operating in 9–10 ft aisles with lift heights up to 30+ ft. Ideal for standard pallet storage.
Deep Reach (Double Reach) Trucks – Access two pallets deep in racking, improving storage density.
Turret Trucks (VNA – Very Narrow Aisle) – The most specialized type, operating in aisles as narrow as 5–6 ft with heights up to 40 ft. Feature a rotating mast that picks loads from either side without turning the truck.
Order Pickers – Designed for piece picking; the operator platform rises with the forks to manually select individual items at height.
Articulated Forklifts – Feature pivoting front-end design for extreme maneuverability in very narrow aisles.
Major Brands
Leading manufacturers include Toyota, Jungheinrich, Linde, Crown, Hyster-Yale, Yale, Landoll (Bendi/Drexel), Flexi Narrow Aisle, Combilift, Mitsubishi, Clark, and Anhui Heli.
How Much Does a Narrow Aisle Forklift Cost?
Prices vary widely by type and condition:
Articulated forklift (Aisle-Master 44WE, used): $36,900
Articulated forklift (Landoll Bendi B40E180D, new): $80,000
VNA turret truck (new): ~$80,000+
Very narrow aisle 1.5-ton forklift: $20,000–$22,000
Used Bendi B40AC (Europe): €25,769–€73,551
Combilift AISLE MASTER (used): €21,900
Small stacker (1–1.5 ton): $1,100–$1,250
Swing-reach models are generally cheaper than turret trucks—around $45,000 vs. $80,000—but offer lower lift heights.
How Much Does a Narrow Aisle Forklift Weigh?
Weight depends on model and capacity:
Small electric narrow aisle forklift (1-ton class): ~2,150 kg (4,740 lb) with battery
Reach truck (1.25–1.5 ton capacity): ~6,674 kg (14,714 lb)
Drexel SL30 (3,000 lb capacity): 12,600 lb (5,715 kg)
Drexel SL40 (4,000 lb capacity): 13,800 lb (6,260 kg)
Landoll Bendi B40E180D (4,000 lb capacity): ~13,340 lb (6,051 kg)
Order picker (1,000 kg capacity): ~2,600 kg (5,732 lb) with battery
In short, narrow aisle forklifts are essential for high-density warehousing, with types ranging from reach trucks to turret trucks, prices from roughly $1,100 for small stackers to $80,000+ for new VNA models, and weights typically between 2,000 kg and 6,700 kg depending on capacity and configuration.