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1.9-2.7t · dry day rates · verified 2026

Skid Steer (Bobcat) Hire Rates — What It Really Costs

The published dry day rate for a skid steer is $336 in the one city live so far — every figure aggregated from independent sources and shown with its source count. Verified 7 July 2026.

Rates by City

Melbourne $336 /day dry 3 sources · verified 7 July 2026

What a Job Actually Costs

Machine hire only, at the Melbourne typical dry rate of $336/day shown above — each row states the days it assumes, so adjust for your site.

Site clean-up and load-out1 day$336
Backfilling and spreading1–2 days$336–$672
Driveway boxing and gravel spreading1–2 days$336–$672
Bulk landscaping material moves1–2 days$336–$672

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 skid steer (bobcat) 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 ASV RT-50 , the Bobcat S450 , the Bobcat S70 , the Bobcat T590 , the Cat 262D3 , the Kubota SVL75-2 , the Takeuchi TL10V-2 and the Toyota Huski 5SDK8 — its price guide shows what buying really costs.

Buy vs hire calculator →

Skid Steer (Bobcat) Hire FAQ

How much does it cost to hire a skid steer (bobcat) in Australia?
The published dry day rate is $336 in the one city live so far, verified 7 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 skid steer (bobcat), 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 skid steer (bobcat)?
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

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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
7 JULY 2026 Verified