Excavator rental cost in 2026
Excavator rental costs $150 to $700 per day in 2026, and most people pay about $400.
What moves the price
- Machine size in tons is the biggest factor.
- Longer rentals have a lower cost per day.
- Delivery and pickup distance changes the total.
- Attachments such as breakers and augers cost extra.
- City and local demand change the rate.
What is included
The range is per day, mini to small excavator. The base rate is for the machine only. Fuel, delivery and pickup, attachments, damage waiver or insurance, taxes and an operator are usually extra. Delivery for a mini often runs $200 to $400 round trip.
Excavator rental cost by size (DOZR, March 2026)
| Size | Per day | Per week | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini, 1.5 to 4 ton | $150 to $400 | $450 to $1,200 | $1,200 to $3,200 |
| Small, 5 to 10 ton | $400 to $700 | $1,200 to $2,100 | $3,200 to $5,500 |
| Mid-size, 13 to 25 ton | $700 to $1,500 | $2,100 to $4,500 | $5,500 to $12,000 |
| Large, 30 to 50 ton | $1,500 to $3,000+ | $4,500 to $9,000+ | $12,000 to $25,000+ |
Average prices in US dollars. Source: DOZR.
Ways to pay less
- Rent by the week for multi day jobs, since weekly rates are far lower than seven daily rentals.
- Rent the smallest machine that can do the job.
- Skip the damage waiver only if existing insurance covers rentals, and ask the rental company to confirm.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages. They do not all measure the same thing, so the ranges on this page come from putting them side by side.
Common questions
How much does this cost in 2026?
Excavator rental costs $150 to $700 per day in 2026, and most people pay about $400. Most people pay about $400 per day. The low end is $150 and the high end is $700.
What changes the price the most?
The biggest factors are: Machine size in tons is the biggest factor; Longer rentals have a lower cost per day; Delivery and pickup distance changes the total.
How can I pay less?
Rent by the week for multi day jobs, since weekly rates are far lower than seven daily rentals. Rent the smallest machine that can do the job. Skip the damage waiver only if existing insurance covers rentals, and ask the rental company to confirm.
Where do these numbers come from?
From 3 named price guides: DOZR, BigRentz, ThePricer. Each one is linked on this page with the date we read it.
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