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4.5-5.5t · dry day rates · verified 2026

Mini Excavator 5t Hire Rates — What It Really Costs

Rates below cover the 5-tonne class (4.5-5.5t).

The published dry day rate for a mini excavator 5t is $382 in the one city live so far — every figure aggregated from independent sources and shown with its source count. Verified 5 July 2026.

Rates by City

Melbourne $382 /day dry 3 sources · verified 5 July 2026

Hiring every month? Run the numbers.

Past a certain usage, owning a mini excavator 5t 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 Kubota U55-4 — its price guide shows what buying really costs.

Buy vs hire calculator →

Mini Excavator 5t Hire FAQ

How much does it cost to hire a mini excavator 5t in Australia?
The published dry day rate is $382 in the one city live so far, verified 5 July 2026. Its rate card below shows the sources behind it — more cities publish as they clear the three-source gate.
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 5t, 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 5t?
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.

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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 →

1 City
5 JULY 2026 Verified