You will not find a price list on our website, and this article will not give you a made-up figure. The honest answer is that mini digger hire cost depends on a handful of factors: the size of machine, how long you need it, how far it travels from our Okehampton depot, insurance, fuel and any attachments. Understanding those factors lets you compare quotes fairly and avoid surprises. When you are ready, a WhatsApp message with your job details gets you a current price, usually within the hour during business hours.
In this guide
What goes into mini digger hire cost
| Factor | How it affects the quote | How to keep it down |
|---|---|---|
| Machine size | Larger machines cost more to hire and transport | Choose the smallest machine that does the job well |
| Hire length | Weekly and monthly rates work out cheaper per day than daily hire | Plan the job so the machine is busy every day it is on site |
| Delivery and collection | Quoted separately, based on distance from Okehampton | Combine all your kit on one delivery |
| Insurance | Not automatically included | Arrange cover before delivery so there is no delay |
| Fuel | Diesel use depends on hours and how hard the machine works | Check the fuel arrangement on your quote |
| Attachments | Extra buckets or tools may change the price | Ask what comes with the machine as standard |
Machine size: do not overbuy
Our Sunward range runs from the 0.8-tonne SWE 08B micro digger, through the SWE 18UF (1.8t zero tail), SWE 20F, SWE 25UF and SWE 35UF, up to the 6-tonne and 9-tonne machines. A bigger machine digs faster, but it also costs more to hire and deliver, needs more access and does more damage to lawns and drives.
For most domestic jobs, such as a garden drainage run, a small extension footing or a shed base, a micro or 1.5–2 tonne machine is the sweet spot. Larger groundworks, farm drainage and bulk excavation justify the 3.5-tonne class or above. If you are unsure, tell us the job and we will suggest the size. Our construction equipment page lists every model, and the Sunward SWE 18UF guide covers one of our most popular minis.
Which size for which job
| Machine | Typical jobs | Cost note |
|---|---|---|
| Sunward SWE 08B (0.8t) | Garden trenches, small drainage runs, tight side-gate access | Lowest hire and transport cost, but slow on big digs |
| SWE 18UF, SWE 20F, SWE 25UF (1.8 to 2.5t) | Footings, drainage, landscaping, service trenches | The usual best balance of speed and cost for domestic and small commercial work |
| SWE 35UF (3.5t) | Larger groundworks, longer drainage runs, heavier ground | Higher hire cost, quicker on volume |
| SWE 60UF and SWE 90UF (6 to 9t) | Farm drainage, ditching, bulk excavation | Needs good access and firm ground; cost per cubic metre dug can be lower on big jobs |
The cheapest machine to hire is not always the cheapest way to finish the job. On a large dig, a bigger excavator that finishes in three days can beat a micro digger that takes two weeks.
Hire length: daily, weekly, monthly or Flex
The minimum hire is usually one day, and we do not offer hourly hire unless agreed in writing. Weekly hire is the most popular option because jobs rarely go exactly to plan; rain stops play, the concrete is late, or you find an old drain. A week gives breathing room and normally better value per day.
For longer projects, monthly and long-term rates apply. Contractors who use several machines through the year can look at Flex Hire, which is the one place we publish prices: a flat monthly fee from £795 +VAT and delivery for Tier 1 compact kit, £895 for Tier 2 with excavators and crushers, £995 for Tier 3 and £1,495 for Tier 4 including 9-tonne excavators and tractors. Swaps, servicing and collect-and-redeliver are included, with a 10% rebate and no long-term contract.
Delivery: why your postcode matters
Transport is quoted separately from the hire rate and is based on distance from our depot near Okehampton. A job in Okehampton, Tavistock or Launceston is a short trip; Taunton, Dorchester or west Cornwall are much further. Access also matters. If our delivery vehicle cannot get close because of a narrow lane or a weak bridge, it can affect how the machine gets to you.
You can collect from the depot yourself if you have a suitable vehicle and trailer, which removes the delivery charge. Check your towing limit and licence first.
Insurance and damage cover
Some hire companies add a damage waiver to every hire. With us, insurance is not automatically included, so you need cover in place for the machine while it is in your care. Many contractors already have hired-in plant cover. If you do not, we refer customers to our partner insurance4plant. Factor this into your budget, and compare like with like when you look at other quotes.
Our hire terms also refer to an optional Damage Waiver. It reduces your liability for accidental damage, but it is not an insurance policy and does not cover theft, misuse or negligence. Ask us whether it is available for your hire and what it would and would not cover before you decide.
Costs people forget
- Spoil disposal: a skip, grab lorry or muck-away for what you dig out.
- Extra kit: a dumper, plate compactor or breaker for the rest of the job.
- Locating services: identifying buried cables and pipes before you dig.
- Ground protection: boards or mats if the machine has to cross a lawn or block paving.
- Running over time: hire charges continue until off-hire is confirmed with us and you have an off-hire reference, so ring or message us; telling a driver on site does not count.
- Late cancellation: cancelling with more than 72 hours’ notice is free; inside 72 hours a charge may apply. See our terms for details.
Comparing mini digger hire cost between quotes
A low headline day rate is not always the cheapest hire. When you line up quotes, check each one on the same basis:
- Is delivery and collection included, or extra each way?
- Is a damage waiver or insurance charge added, or do you need your own cover?
- Which buckets come with the machine?
- Is the machine the same size and type, for example zero tail swing for tight sites?
- Are prices shown with or without VAT?
Once those are equal, you can compare the real totals.
How to get an accurate quote
We do not use online booking, because a two-minute conversation gets you the right machine at the right price. Send us:
- The job: what you are digging, how deep and roughly how much.
- The site postcode.
- Your dates and how long you think you need.
- Access: narrowest gate or path width, and any slopes or soft ground.
- Whether you need delivery or will collect.
- Anything else you will need, such as a dumper, trailer or compactor.
What you pay, and when
Knowing how payment works avoids a last-minute scramble on delivery day. These points come from our standard hire terms; check your quote for anything specific to your booking.
| Item | How it works |
|---|---|
| Hire charges | Payable in full before delivery or collection, unless you have an approved credit account |
| Credit accounts | Invoices payable within 30 days; ask us about opening an account if you hire regularly |
| VAT | Quoted rates are exclusive of VAT, which is added at the prevailing rate (currently 20%), including on delivery |
| Security deposit | May be required for some equipment; refundable within 5 working days of undamaged return and settlement |
| Payment methods | Bank transfer, credit card or debit card; no cash on delivery |
| Fuel | Machines arrive full and should go back full; shortfalls are charged at our standard fuel rate |
Hire charges run continuously from the moment the machine leaves our depot until it is formally off-hired, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Weekly rates are based on a five-day working week, so if you plan to dig on Saturday, say so when you book and we will confirm the cost upfront.
Regular hirers and multi-machine jobs
If you hire several machines at once or book regularly through the year, the way you are charged can change. Fleet enquiries go through our contact form, and we put together a tailored proposal with a named account manager. A credit account removes the need to pay upfront for each hire, and a planned schedule of machines often keeps your overall mini digger hire cost lower than a string of separate bookings.
Worked examples: what drives the total
These scenarios are illustrative and give no prices. They show how the same factors push a mini digger hire cost up or down depending on the job.
A garden drainage run near the depot
A homeowner a few miles from Okehampton needs a 15m trench for a land drain across a lawn. A micro digger such as the Sunward SWE 08B fits through the side gate and does the job in a day or two. With a short delivery, a small machine and no extra kit beyond a plate for backfill, this sits at the lower end of what a hire costs. Booking a week instead of two days may cost little more and protects against a wet day.
Extension footings in Somerset
A builder in the Taunton area needs footings dug for a single-storey extension. A 1.8 tonne zero-tail machine suits the tight garden, a tracked dumper moves spoil to the skip, and the job takes a week. The total rises with the longer delivery distance, the second machine and the skip or muck-away, which is not part of our hire.
Farm ditching in Cornwall
A farmer needs to clear and re-cut ditches over several weeks. A larger machine digs faster and copes with heavier ground, so monthly hire of a 6 tonne excavator makes sense. On a job this long, the delivery charge is a small part of the total, and the daily equivalent of a monthly rate is far lower than daily hire. If the farm needs different machines through the year, Flex Hire or long-term rental may work out better; ask us which suits.
A new driveway dig-out
A homeowner in Exeter wants an old lawn dug out for a new gravel drive. The digging takes a 2.5 tonne machine a couple of days, but the volume of soil coming out is the real issue. Spoil disposal, whether by grab lorry or a run of skips, can rival or exceed the mini digger hire cost itself, and a dumper may be needed to get spoil to the road. Pricing the muck-away before committing gives a far more realistic budget than the hire quote alone.
Ways to cut the cost without cutting corners
- Prepare the site before the machine arrives. Clear the access route, move cars, mark out the dig and order the skip, so the digger works from the first hour.
- Locate buried services first. A damaged cable or water main costs far more than the hire. The HSE guidance Avoiding danger from underground services (HSG47) explains safe digging, and our terms make the hirer responsible for identifying services.
- Choose the right size. A machine that is too small makes the job drag; one that is too big costs more to hire, deliver and repair the lawn after.
- Combine everything on one delivery. Digger, dumper, compactor and trailer arriving together saves separate transport charges.
- Off-hire as soon as you finish. Charges run until you have an off-hire reference from our hire desk.
- Return it clean and full. Cleaning and fuel shortfalls are charged, and both are easy to avoid.
- Avoid late cancellations. Cancelling with more than 72 hours’ notice is free; from 48 to 72 hours, 25% of the first day’s rate applies, rising to 50% inside 48 hours and 100% inside 24 hours or for a no-show.
- Collect it yourself if you have a suitable vehicle and trailer, which removes the delivery charge. Our plant trailers page lists the trailers we hire.
Running costs during the hire
Beyond the hire itself, a few running costs sit with you, and they are worth knowing about before you budget.
- Fuel. How much a mini digger uses depends on hours worked and how hard it is working. Our terms require white diesel (DERV) only; red diesel is not permitted in hired equipment, and contaminated machines incur disposal and refuelling charges.
- Daily checks and consumables. Checking fuel, oil, water and hydraulic levels each day, and greasing as the manual requires, is the hirer’s responsibility.
- Breakdowns. Faults from fair wear and tear are repaired at no charge, and hire is suspended while the machine is genuinely out of use. Damage from misuse, overloading or neglected fluids is charged.
- Damage and loss. Report any damage within 24 hours. Missing buckets, keys or parts are charged at replacement cost.
Buckets and attachments
Ask what buckets come with the machine as standard, and whether a ditching or grading bucket is included if you need one. If your job calls for a breaker or other attachment, ask us; we will tell you what is available or point you in the right direction. Any extra attachment changes the weight a trailer must carry, so mention it if you are collecting.
Self-drive hire or a contractor?
Comparing mini digger hire cost with paying a groundworker is not just a question of rates. Our hire is self-drive unless otherwise agreed, so whoever operates the machine must be competent and suitably trained. That suits builders, landscapers, farmers and experienced DIYers.
If you have never used an excavator, the time you will spend learning, plus the risk of damage or a slow job, may make a contractor with their own machine better value. Many people get the best of both by hiring the digger for an experienced friend or tradesperson to operate. Either way, our hire FAQ page covers training, delivery and payment questions.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to hire a mini digger for a week than for three days?
Often the difference is small, and the week gives you a buffer for bad weather. Ask us to quote both and decide.
Does mini digger hire include an operator?
No, our hire is self-drive unless otherwise agreed, and the operator must be competent and suitably trained.
Is VAT included in hire quotes?
Our published Flex Hire prices are shown plus VAT. Check whether any quote you receive includes VAT before comparing.
Why don’t you publish mini digger hire prices online?
Because delivery distance, hire length and access change the total. A quote based on your actual job is more useful than a headline rate.
Do I need to pay a deposit for mini digger hire?
A refundable security deposit may be required for some equipment. We confirm this when you book, and it is returned within 5 working days of the machine coming back undamaged and all charges being settled.
What happens if rain stops me digging?
Hire charges run continuously, whatever the weather. That is why weekly hire is popular: it gives you room to lose a day. If you need longer, ask to extend before your original end date.
Is Flex Hire cheaper than hiring a mini digger by the week?
It depends on how often you need machines. For an occasional job, standard hire is usually better. If you have kit on hire most months and swap between machines, a flat Flex Hire fee with a 10% rebate can work out well. Ask us to compare.
Get your mini digger quote
WhatsApp or call 07841 036064 (Mon–Fri, 7:30am–5:30pm) with the job, your site postcode, dates and access details. For written quotes, fleet enquiries or account set-up, use our contact page or email info@conagri.co.uk.
