Excavator Hire Cost in Perth (2026)
Perth's sandy, free-draining soil makes excavation quick and cheap, with isolation the quiet factor.
Your excavator hire details
Your estimate sits within the typical range.
💰 Ways to save
- Always confirm whether the float (delivery) fee is round-trip; at around $250–$270 for a mini it can equal a full day's dry-hire rate and is often quoted separately.
- Dry hire only saves money if you already have a competent, insured operator; otherwise wet hire avoids damage liability and the cost of an idle machine while you work it out.
- Before you dig, lodge a free Dial Before You Dig (1100) enquiry; striking a service is far more expensive than the hire itself.
How we estimate this
Excavator hire pricing turns first on machine size and whether you operate it yourself (dry hire) or pay for an operator (wet hire). Dry hire of a 1.7t mini is commonly $175–$250 a day, a 3–5t midi $300–$450 a day, and an 8t-plus machine $500–$800 a day. Wet hire is charged hourly, with a mini-plus-operator running roughly $99–$155 an hour ex GST and a machine-operator-truck combination from about $110 an hour.
Pricing reviewed: June 2026.
What a excavator hire costs in Perth
The sandy soils that cover most of Perth are the easiest digging of any capital: free-draining and loose, they come out fast and clean without the rock-breaking or heavy clay that slow jobs elsewhere, so an excavator gets through the work in fewer hours and the dig component of a job stays cheap. The predominantly flat, single-storey blocks also keep access and machine size simple on most sites.
Labour sits near the national average, so the hourly rate is not the issue; the easy ground is the saving. Isolation is the quiet factor, as parts, attachments and specialist machines can carry freight and lead time from the eastern states, which matters more for an unusual attachment than a standard digger. Coastal sand can need shoring in deeper trenches, but overall Perth is among the cheaper capitals to get a machine in and the ground out.
Compare against the national picture: Excavator Hire Cost in Australia →
Excavator Hire Cost in other cities
Frequently asked questions
How much does excavator hire cost in Australia?
Dry hire is roughly $175–$250 a day for a 1.7t mini, $300–$450 for a 3–5t midi and $500–$800 for an 8t-plus machine in 2026. Wet hire runs about $99–$155 an hour ex GST for a mini plus operator.
What is the difference between dry and wet hire?
Dry hire is the machine only and you operate it; wet hire includes a licensed operator and is charged hourly, shifting liability and compliance to the hire company.
Are float and delivery fees included?
Usually not. A mini float is commonly $250–$270 round-trip and is charged separately, which matters most on one-day jobs.