1.5-2.0t · dry day rates · verified 2026

Mini Excavator Hire Rates — What It Really Costs

Rates below cover the 1.7-tonne class (1.5-2.0t).

Published dry day rates for a mini excavator 1.7t run $218–$300 across 4 cities — every figure aggregated from independent sources and shown with its source count. Verified 5 July 2026.

Rates by City

Brisbane $218 /day dry 4 sources · verified 5 July 2026 Melbourne $220 /day dry 5 sources · verified 5 July 2026 Perth $300 /day dry 3 sources · verified 5 July 2026 Sydney $227 /day dry 3 sources · verified 5 July 2026

What a Job Actually Costs

Machine hire only, at the Melbourne typical dry rate of $220/day shown above — each row states the days it assumes, so adjust for your site.

Trenching for services or stormwater1–2 days$220–$440

Backyard landscaping cut and level1–2 days$220–$440

Pool or spa dig on tight access2–3 days$440–$660

Footings for an extension or retaining wall1–2 days$220–$440

Stump-out and site clean-up1 day$220

Totals cover the machine at the day rate only — delivery/float, an operator, fuel, attachments and materials are extra, and week-plus hires usually negotiate below the day rate. Ground conditions and access change everything; treat these as a starting budget, not a quote.

Hiring every month? Run the numbers.

Past a certain usage, owning a mini excavator beats hiring one — the breakeven depends on the hire rate on this page and what the machine actually costs to buy. This class covers machines like the Bobcat E20z , the Hitachi ZX17U-5 , the John Deere E18ZS , the Kobelco SK17SR , the Kubota U17-3 , the SANY SY16C , the Takeuchi TB216 and the Wacker Neuson EZ17 — its price guide shows what buying really costs.

Buy vs hire calculator →

Mini Excavator Hire FAQ

How much does it cost to hire a mini excavator in Australia?

Published dry day rates run $218–$300 depending on city and hirer, verified 5 July 2026. Each city below shows its own rate card with the number of sources behind it.

What is the difference between dry hire and wet hire?

Dry hire is the machine only — you operate it yourself. Wet hire includes an operator, so it costs more but covers licensing, skill and liability. Where hirers publish wet rates for a mini excavator, we show them alongside the dry rate.

Where do these hire rates come from?

Independent hire operators' published rates and direct quotes, aggregated per city. A city only publishes once we hold at least three independent sources for it — the source count is shown on every rate.

How do I pay less to hire a mini excavator?

Weekly hire beats day-by-day if the job runs long, independents often undercut the national chains, and delivery fees change the real total — always compare the delivered price. If your usage is regular, run the buy-vs-hire numbers before signing another hire docket.

Compare & Related

How we rate. Hire figures are aggregated (median) from independent operators' published rates and direct quotes. A class and city publishes only with three or more independent sources, and every rate shows its source count. Rates are indicative — confirm the delivered price with the hirer. Full methodology →

4 Cities

5 JULY 2026 Verified