“Types of forklift” can mean two things: the different designs of truck, such as the counterbalance, reach truck and pallet stacker, and the way each is powered, whether electric, diesel or LPG. Both matter when you choose a machine. This guide covers the main forklift types by design, then compares the three power sources in detail so you can match the right truck to your warehouse and workload.
Quick answer: the most common forklift is the counterbalance truck, but the family also includes reach trucks, pallet stackers, pallet jacks, order pickers and telehandlers. Each design is offered in different power types, the three main ones being electric (clean, quiet, best indoors), diesel (powerful, for heavy outdoor work) and LPG or gas (a flexible middle option).
The main types of forklift by design
Before you settle on a power source, it helps to know the main forklift types and what each is built for. Most sit within our range of material handling equipment:
- Counterbalance forklift: the classic forklift, with forks at the front and a counterweight at the rear. Versatile and easy to position, it is the default for general warehouse and yard work.
- Reach truck: designed for narrow warehouse aisles, its forks extend forward to reach into racking, storing more pallets in less floor space, and it lifts to greater heights than a counterbalance truck.
- Pallet stacker: a walk-behind or stand-on machine that lifts and stacks pallets to modest heights. A compact, lower-cost step up from a pallet jack.
- Pallet jack (pallet truck): the simplest mover, manual or electric, for shifting pallets along the floor rather than stacking them high.
- Order picker: raises the operator along with the load so they can pick individual items from height, common in distribution centres.
- Telehandler and rough-terrain forklift: for outdoor, uneven and construction sites, with a telescopic boom or heavy-duty tyres for tough ground.
Whichever design you choose, the next decision is how it is powered.
Forklift types by power source
Most warehouse forklifts, especially counterbalance and reach trucks, are offered as electric, diesel or LPG. This is where running cost, emissions and where the truck can safely work really diverge.
Electric forklifts
Electric forklifts run on a rechargeable battery, either traditional lead-acid or, increasingly, lithium-ion. Their big advantages are that they produce no exhaust emissions, run quietly and cost the least per hour to operate, because electricity is cheaper than fuel and there is less to service.
That makes them the natural choice for indoor work: warehouses, cold stores, food and pharmaceutical environments, and any enclosed space where fumes are a problem. The trade-offs are charging time and, on older lead-acid models, the space and effort of battery changes. Lithium forklifts have largely solved this with fast opportunity charging and no battery swapping.
Diesel forklifts
Diesel forklifts are the workhorses for heavy, outdoor lifting. A diesel engine delivers high torque, so these machines handle the heaviest loads and cope well on rough or sloping ground at ports, yards and construction sites.
The downsides are emissions, noise and vibration, which rule diesel out for indoor use, plus higher fuel and maintenance costs. Where you need raw power outdoors, though, diesel is hard to beat.
LPG forklifts
LPG, or gas, forklifts run on liquefied petroleum gas from a swappable cylinder. They offer close to diesel-level power with lower emissions, and because a spent cylinder is replaced in minutes they can keep working across long shifts without downtime for charging. LPG forklifts can be used both outdoors and, with good ventilation, in some indoor settings. Making them a flexible middle option.
In Singapore they are less common than electric and diesel, but they still suit operations that want power and quick refuelling without diesel’s fumes.
Electric vs diesel vs LPG: at a glance
- Best indoors: electric. No emissions, quiet, low running cost.
- Best for heavy outdoor work: diesel. Most power, best on rough terrain.
- Best all-rounder: LPG. Good power, quick cylinder swaps, cleaner than diesel.
- Lowest running cost: electric, especially lithium models.
- Lowest upfront cost: diesel and LPG are often cheaper to buy; electric costs more upfront but less to run.
Operator licensing and safety in Singapore
Whatever type you run, a forklift is a powered industrial truck and must be operated safely. Under Singapore’s Workplace Safety and Health framework, forklift operators should be properly trained and authorised, and employers are responsible for maintaining the equipment and managing pedestrians, traffic and loads on site.
Matching the right forklift type to the job is itself a safety decision. Using an electric truck in the indoor environment it is built for, and keeping diesel machines outdoors, removes many everyday risks before they arise.
Which forklift is right for you?
Start with where the machine will work and what it will lift. Indoor, mixed-use and emissions-sensitive operations point to electric, and for most Singapore warehouses a lithium-powered electric forklift is now the default. Heavy outdoor lifting points to diesel. If you want one machine that can move between yard and shed with minimal downtime, LPG is worth considering.
Fleet size and how often you lift also matter. For steady daily use, owning a machine or taking a long-term lease is usually most economical. For short projects, seasonal peaks or trialling a model, forklift rental avoids the maintenance and ownership burden. As a battery manufacturer that assembles lead-acid and lithium packs for electric forklifts, and the PBM battery-charger distributor for Singapore, Asia Green can advise on the electric option in particular, and supply, rent, refurbish and maintain machines across all three fuel types.
Not sure which forklift fits your operation? Tell us your loads, hours and environment, and we will recommend the right machine, whether that means renting a forklift or buying a refurbished unit.
Frequently asked questions about forklift types
What is the most common type of forklift?
The counterbalance forklift is the most common type. It carries the load on forks at the front, balanced by a counterweight at the rear, which makes it versatile and easy to manoeuvre for general warehouse and yard work. Other types, such as reach trucks and pallet stackers, are built for more specific tasks like narrow-aisle racking.
What are the main types of forklift?
By design, the main types are the counterbalance forklift, reach truck, pallet stacker, pallet jack, order picker and telehandler. By power source, forklifts are grouped into electric, diesel and LPG (gas). Most warehouse trucks are counterbalance or reach trucks offered in one of those three power types.
Is an electric or diesel forklift better?
It depends on the job. Electric forklifts are cleaner, quieter and cheaper to run, which makes them ideal for indoor and mixed-use work. Diesel forklifts deliver more power and are built for heavy loads and rough outdoor terrain. Many Singapore warehouses now choose electric for indoor operations and keep diesel for the heaviest outdoor lifting.
Are electric forklifts good enough for heavy work?
Modern electric forklifts, especially lithium-powered models, handle far heavier loads and longer shifts than older lead-acid machines. For most warehouse and light industrial work they are more than capable. For very heavy loads on rough ground, diesel still has the edge.
Which forklift is best for indoor use?
Electric forklifts are best indoors because they produce no exhaust fumes and run quietly. Diesel forklifts should not be used in enclosed spaces due to their emissions, and while LPG is cleaner than diesel, electric remains the preferred choice for warehouses, cold stores and food-grade environments.
Should I buy or rent a forklift?
Renting suits short projects, seasonal peaks and businesses that want to avoid maintenance and ownership costs, while buying can make sense for steady, long-term use. Many operators run a mixed fleet, owning their core machines and renting to cover demand spikes.
