Water tanker lorry hire in Malaysia (sewa lori tangki air): sizes, prices and uses
In October 2026, no private water tanker supplier publishes a per-trip price; the public benchmark is Air Selangor's tanker at RM200 per trip plus RM2.94 per m³ of water (April 2024), about RM216 for a full 5,600 L tanker. Private suppliers quote by tank size (2,000–40,000 L), distance and urgency.
What a water tanker lorry (lori tangki air) costs to hire in Malaysia, how many litres each lorry size carries, drinking water or not, and how to get one fast during a water cut or for a construction site.
Water tanker prices
No private tanker supplier publishes a per-trip price (checked October 2026): they quote by tank size, distance from their filling point, how fast you need it and whether the water must be drinkable. The one public rate is Air Selangor's own tanker service for customers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (official form, April 2024):
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Water delivered by an Air Selangor tanker | RM200 per trip plus RM2.94 per m³ (1,000 L) of water |
| Filling your own lorry at an Air Selangor point | RM100 per trip for supervision, plus the water |
| Static tank (500 gallons, about 2,270 L) | RM150 per tank, plus RM50 a day after the third day |
A full 5,600-litre Air Selangor tanker therefore works out at about RM216 for the trip and the water. Apply 3 working days ahead; delivery is Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm; the hose reaches about 30 ft (9 m); the water meets the Ministry of Health standard for 24 hours; cancelling with less than 24 hours' notice costs 25%. Private suppliers deliver the same day, at night and on weekends, and price that in.
How many litres does each lorry carry?
Water weighs 1 kg a litre, so the lorry's payload sets the tank. Private fleets run from about 2,000 to 40,000 litres, and Air Selangor's standard tanker holds 5,600 L:
| Lorry | Tank | Typical jobs |
|---|---|---|
| 1-ton lorry or pickup bowser | about 1,000–2,000 L | landscaping, small events, topping up a tank |
| 3-ton lorry | about 2,000–3,000 L | shop lots, small sites, pool top-ups |
| 5-ton lorry | about 4,000–5,600 L | condos and factories during water cuts, construction |
| 10-ton lorry | about 8,000–10,000 L | big sites, factories, hydrostatic tank tests |
| Tanker trailer | about 20,000–40,000 L | plantations, large projects, bulk supply |
Tank sizes are a rule of thumb from the lorry's payload: ask the supplier for the exact litres and count the trips you need (a 30,000 L swimming pool is 5–6 trips of a 5,600 L tanker).
Drinking water or industrial water?
- Potable (drinking) water comes from the public supply (Air Selangor, SAINS and the other state operators) and must travel in a clean tank: ask where the water is drawn from and when the tank was last cleaned. Air Selangor's water is certified for 24 hours after loading.
- Industrial or non-potable water (from rivers, ponds or treated process water) is fine for curing concrete, dust control, washing and landscaping, and usually costs less.
- Swimming pools and household tanks need clean, treated water: say so, and ask for a tanker that carries potable water only.
What changes the price
- Distance from the filling point: tankers fill at a hydrant, a treatment plant or the supplier's own source, so a site far from the source pays for the drive.
- Tank size and trips: one 10,000 L trip is usually cheaper than two 5,000 L trips.
- Urgency: same-day, night and weekend deliveries during a water cut (gangguan bekalan air) cost more, when every tanker in the area is booked.
- Water included or not: Air Selangor charges the water per m³ on top of the trip; private suppliers may price the water in or charge it separately.
- Access and pumping: a tank on a roof or far from the road needs a pump and a longer hose, and waiting time at the site is often charged by the hour.
Water cut? How to get a tanker fast
- Condos, apartments and factories in Selangor and KL: the management office (JMB or MC) can apply to Air Selangor for a tanker or a static tank; during a declared disruption Air Selangor also sends its own tankers to affected areas, and the paid service is for extra supply.
- Other states: contact your water operator first (for example SAINS in Sarawak, the Sabah Water Department, PBAPP in Penang or Ranhill SAJ in Johor), then private suppliers for same-day top-ups.
- Be ready: know where the tanker can park, how to reach your tank and how many litres it holds, so the driver is not kept waiting.
What to tell suppliers
- Litres needed, and whether it is one trip or a daily supply
- What the water is for: drinking, a pool, construction, testing or landscaping
- The site address, where the tanker can park and how far the hose must reach
- Whether you have a tank or need a static tank, and whether you need a pump
- The date and time, and whether it is urgent
Find a water tanker on CariLori
Post a request under Lorry transport and choose Water tanker / bowser as the vehicle, or browse water tanker suppliers by state. Suppliers who cover your area contact you with their price. Not sure which lorry size you need? See the lorry size guide.
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Questions
How much does it cost to hire a water tanker lorry in Malaysia?
Private suppliers quote per trip by tank size, distance and urgency and publish no fixed price. The public benchmark is Air Selangor's tanker service: RM200 per trip plus RM2.94 per m³ of water (April 2024), so a full 5,600 L tanker is about RM216 before any urgency or distance factor.
How many litres does a 3-ton or 10-ton water tanker lorry carry?
About 2,000–3,000 L on a 3-ton lorry and 8,000–10,000 L on a 10-ton lorry, because water weighs 1 kg per litre. Air Selangor's standard tankers carry 5,600 L and the biggest trailers 40,000 L.
Is the water in a tanker lorry safe to drink?
Only if it comes from the treated public supply and the tank is clean. Ask the supplier for the source; Air Selangor's water is certified for 24 hours after loading. For construction and washing, non-potable water is fine and cheaper.
Can a tanker fill a swimming pool?
Yes. Ask for treated water and a clean tank, and count the trips: a 30,000 L pool needs 5–6 trips of a 5,600 L tanker or 3 trips of a 10,000 L one.
How fast can I get a water tanker during a water cut?
Private suppliers often deliver the same day, including nights and weekends, at a higher price. Air Selangor's paid service needs 3 working days' notice and delivers on weekdays, 9 am to 5 pm.
Post a water tanker request Lorry transport suppliers in Malaysia