Looking to rent a digger for your next project? Our comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about excavator hire options, including available types, rates, additional costs and essential attachments. Explore related articles, find answers to frequently asked questions, and browse categories to help you choose the right equipment. Whether you’re working on a large earthmoving project or a small landscaping task, we provide all the information on hire solutions to suit your needs.
Compact excavators ideal for tight spaces, offering precise digging, trenching, and landscaping capabilities with low ground impact, easy transport, and versatile attachments for urban sites.
Small excavators balance power and mobility, suited to residential construction, services installation, and site preparation, delivering efficient digging performance with compact footprints and easy transport.
Medium excavators offer versatile performance for civil works, trenching, and lifting, providing strong hydraulics, stability, and productivity without the size of large machines on site.
Large excavators deliver high production digging and lifting for major earthworks, mining, and infrastructure projects, featuring powerful engines, heavy-duty structures, and large buckets for efficiency.
Extra-large excavators are ultra-heavy machines built for mining and major infrastructure, delivering extreme digging force, high production capacity, and durability for continuous large-scale operations.
Wheeled excavators combine excavator performance with road mobility, ideal for urban works, services installation, and jobs requiring frequent relocation between sites with minimal ground damage.
Long reach excavators provide extended boom and arm capability for dredging, slope work, demolition, and deep excavation where access and reach are critical on projects.
If you need a combination of excavator with a loader then a Backhoe will do its job. Those could be found in the Loaders section.
Explore various models of excavators from hire companies near you.
Excavator hire cost depend on the size, duration, and location. Below are hourly and weekly excavator rates for your reference. Attachments, gasoline, and the need for additional services may incur extra fees.
| Excavator Size | Dry | Wet |
| 1.7 Tonne | $45p/h +GST | $125p/h +GST |
| 3.5 Tonne | $55p/h +GST | $130p/h +GST |
| 5 Tonne | $60p/h +GST | $135p/h +GST |
| 8 Tonne | $65p/h +GST | $140p/h +GST |
| 13 Tonne | $75p/h +GST | $150p/h +GST |
| 15 Tonne | $80p/h +GST | $150p/h +GST |
| 25 Tonne | $95p/h +GST | $180p/h +GST |
| 30 Tonne | $110p/h +GST | $190p/h +GST |
| 35 Tonne | $125p/h +GST | $200p/h +GST |
| 50 Tonne | $185p/h +GST | $280p/h +GST |
Attachments: Specialized tools, such as compaction wheels, rock breakers, or augers, might cost extra and usually range from $20 to $50 per hour.
Travel and Mobilization: Some providers charge for the time it takes for the operator to travel. If you decide to upgrade later, there can be an additional cost involved.
Minimum Hire Durations: For machinery weighing up to eight tonnes, many companies impose minimum hire durations of three hours + one hour for travel.
Penalty Rates: There may be an additional fee, often around 30%, for work done on Sundays, public holidays, or beyond regular business hours.
Since pricing might vary depending on area demand and availability, it is best to request multiple quotes for the most accurate and current rates.
Tilt Buckets (Standard, Trenching, Mud, GP) — Used for digging, trenching, and material handling.
Auger Drills — Perfect for planting trees and drilling holes for foundations and fencing.
Rock Breakers — Also known as hydraulic hammers, used to shatter asphalt, rocks, and concrete.
Grapples & Grabs — Ideal for managing scrap, logs, and demolition waste.
Compaction Wheels & Plates — Useful for tamping trenches and dirt.
Rotating Tilt Hitches — Offers maximum versatility, allowing bucket swing and rotation for accurate digging.
Ripper Blades — Used to cut through compressed soil and hardened ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both local branches and national hire companies offer a wide variety of large and small excavators for rent. You can compare and request a quote from several vendors using online platforms such as Quotor. Some building supply vendors also provide equipment hire. Be sure to check terms, pricing, and availability based on your location.
For information on hiring an excavator, rates, attachment and selecting the best equipment for your job, refer to the list of articles below. Find more about hire alternatives, attachments, and other.
Browse other equipment for hire categories that might be related to your current earth moving project.
Wheel Loaders, Track Loaders, Backhoes, Mini Loaders, Posi-Tracks, Skid Steers
