How Much Does Excavator Hire Cost in Australia?

Excavator Hire Pricing: What You Should Know Before You Book

Hiring an excavator is a smart move — but only if you understand how pricing works. Whether you’re planning a short-term project or long-term site operations, knowing the real cost drivers behind excavator hire helps you stay on budget and avoid surprises.

This guide covers typical excavator hire rates in Australia, key factors that affect pricing, and practical tips to reduce your total cost of hire.

Average Excavator Hire Rates (Dry vs Wet Hire)

Daily rates vary depending on excavator size, hire model (wet or dry), and your site’s conditions.

Excavator Type: Mini Excavator (1–3T)

Dry Hire (per day): $250 – $400

Wet Hire (per day): $500 – $650

Excavator Type: Mid-size Excavator (5–15T)

Dry Hire (per day): $400 – $700

Wet Hire (per day): $700 – $1,000

Excavator Type: Large Excavator (20T+)

Dry Hire (per day): $800 – $1,200

Wet Hire (per day): $1,200 – $1,800

Excavator Type: Ultra-Class (30T+ / EX3600)

Dry Hire (per day): POA

Wet Hire (per day): POA

Note: Rates are indicative and vary depending on duration, location, attachments, and fuel policy.

For major projects or ongoing contracts, Comiskey offers discounted weekly and monthly hire rates, plus bundled transport and attachment packages.

What Affects Excavator Hire Costs?

1. Wet vs Dry Hire

  • Wet hire includes a qualified operator and often servicing, support, and compliance paperwork.
  • Dry hire is machine-only and best suited to teams with in-house operators.

Dry hire is usually cheaper — but wet hire may save money overall by reducing downtime, paperwork, and compliance risk.

2. Duration of Hire

  • Short-term hire (under 3 days) generally comes at a premium.
  • Long-term contracts (weeks or months) attract better daily rates and flexibility

Comiskey supports both — and can advise the best structure based on your timeline.

3. Machine Size & Capabilities

Larger machines = higher cost.

  • Mini excavators are ideal for tight access or light civil work
  • Mid-sized units suit bulk earthworks and general civil
  • Large-scale units (e.g. Hitachi EX3600, CAT 6040) are purpose-built for mining production

Don’t over-hire. We’ll recommend the right size to match your scope.

4. Attachments Required

Specialist attachments add functionality — and cost. Most commonly requested:

  • Hydraulic thumbs (for material handling)
  • Rippers (for hard soil or rock)
  • Augers (for post holes or boring)
  • Tilting or trenching buckets (for finishing and drainage)

If you need multiple attachments, ask us about a package deal to reduce total cost.

5. Mobilisation & Site Access

Transporting machines to regional or remote locations (e.g. Bowen Basin, Toowoomba, Western QLD) adds float and logistics fees.

Hiring from a local provider like Comiskey Mining Services reduces these costs — our depots in Brisbane, Mackay, and NSW offer fast, affordable mobilisation.

6. Fuel Costs & Refuelling

Some providers include a full tank with hire. Others charge for refuelling or deduct from your deposit if returned empty or damaged.

At Comiskey, we’re clear from the start — all inclusions and exclusions are outlined in your quote.

Tips to Reduce Excavator Hire Costs

Here’s how to get the most value out of your hire:

  • ✅ Plan ahead – booking early avoids peak surcharges and guarantees availability
  • ✅ Choose dry hire – if your team includes licensed operators
  • ✅ Bundle attachments – to avoid extra mobilisation or multiple deliveries
  • ✅ Hire local – reduce float costs and improve delivery times
  • ✅ Request long-term rates – especially if you’re running recurring works

What About After-Hours or Weekend Hire?

If your project runs over weekends, public holidays, or outside standard hours (7am–3pm), your rate may include:

  • Operator overtime (wet hire only)
  • On-call breakdown support
  • Additional site supervision or induction requirements

Comiskey offers flexible hire models to keep your job running — even if the schedule’s outside 9–5.

Should You Hire or Buy an Excavator?

If you’re considering buying instead of hiring, here’s what to weigh up:

Consideration: Upfront cost
Hire: Low (OPEX)
Buy: High (CAPEX)

Consideration: Flexibility
Hire: High
Buy: Low (locked into model)

Consideration: Maintenance & servicing
Hire: Included (wet hire)
Buy: Your responsibility

Consideration: Downtime cost
Hire: None (swap fleet)
Buy: High (no replacement)

Consideration: Tax treatment
Hire: Deductible expense
Buy: Capital asset depreciation

Unless you have ongoing use and storage capacity, hire usually wins — especially when you need access to newer models, different sizes, or projects change often.

Comiskey’s Pricing: What You Can Expect

With Comiskey Mining Services, you’ll receive:

  • Fully itemised quotes (no hidden fees)
  • Options for wet or dry hire
  • Fast response to RFQs
  • Tailored packages for bulk hire or long-term jobs
  • On-site compliance support (induction, SWMS, operator tickets)

Let’s Quote Your Job

Ready to find out what excavator hire will cost for your next project?

Whether it’s a mini for drainage work or a 200-tonne production unit for coal, we’ll provide a quote that’s transparent, competitive, and aligned with your scope.

Contact Comiskey Mining Services today for fast pricing and expert advice on dry or wet hire equipment across QLD, NSW, and beyond.