Mini digger hire costs from around £85 a day for a 1.5-tonne machine, with weekly rates cheaper per day than booking single days. Delivery starts from about £35 each way and there's no deposit. Operated hire with a driver starts from around £250 a day.
Key takeaways
- A 1.5 tonne mini digger costs from around £85/day (guide price).
- Weekly hire is cheaper per day than daily — ask for the rate.
- Delivery from around £35 each way.
- Operated hire (with a driver) from around £250/day.
- No deposit — see the full price guide.
Guide prices by size
These are typical starting prices to help you budget. Your exact quote, however, depends on machine size, location and duration — full detail is on the prices page.
| Digger size | Daily (guide) | Weekly |
|---|---|---|
| Micro (0.8t) | from ~£75 | best value |
| 1.5t mini | from ~£85 | best value |
| 3t midi | from ~£110 | best value |
| 5t | POA | POA |
| 8t | POA | POA |
Daily vs weekend vs weekly
Hire rates aren't linear, because the price per day drops the longer you keep the machine. A single day carries the full daily rate; a weekend, for example, is often charged as a cost-effective two-day deal, and a week works out far cheaper per day than booking individual days. Consequently, if your project will realistically take more than a couple of days, the weekly rate almost always wins and removes the pressure to rush.
Delivery and collection
Because mini diggers aren't road-going, you'll either tow one yourself or have it delivered. Delivery starts from around £35 each way depending on distance, and we collect it again when you're finished. For most people, therefore, that's far simpler than hiring a trailer — see why in our transport guide.
Operated hire (with a driver)
If you'd rather not operate the machine — or you need a carded operator for a commercial site — operated hire bundles the digger and an experienced driver from around £250 per day as a guide. It costs more than self-drive; however, it's quicker, safer and often gets more done in a day. See hire with a driver.
What affects the final price?
- Machine size: bigger diggers cost more per day — pick the right size with our size guide.
- Hire length: longer hires reduce the cost per day.
- Location: delivery distance from the depot affects transport charges.
- Attachments: extra buckets or a breaker may add to the cost.
- Operated vs self-drive: a driver adds to the rate but saves your time.
No deposit, no hidden extras. Get your exact figure below, or browse the full price guide.