Capacity
Capacity is the main thing that will affect the price of a forklift, The greater capacity the bigger the price.
Power Type
The power type of your forklift is a factor so have a good think about how you will be using your forklift eg: outdoors only, indoors. Electric forklifts cost more than combustion engines however due to lower maintenance costs they often end up paying for themselves.
The long term cost is more important than the purchase price.
We think it is always worth paying that little bit more for a forklift as you get what you pay for. Cutting costs could lead to productivity issues in the future if your forklift is out of action, costing you way more than the initial difference in cost.
Always make sure when costing a forklift up that you take into account any extras/accessories like carton clamps or side shifters. Also, be sure that the capacity suits the work to be carried out by your forklift.