Mini excavators are great when you need to do small-scale construction work in your yard. A mini-excavator is excellent for backyard work or if you’re looking into starting construction projects around your property because they have plenty of power to handle even large tasks easily.

As the name implies, a mini excavator is a scaled-down version of a regular excavator. With their compact size, they can easily navigate tight spaces and get into hard-to-reach places that larger machines cannot go.

Their primary function is earth moving, but their attachments can make them highly versatile so mini excavators can perform many tasks around the home and garden from tearing down an old shed to putting in a pool or water feature.

Thankfully, finding a rental mini excavator is very easy and you don’t need a special license to use them — which is why they are so popular among homeowners. But there are many brands, makes, and models out there to choose from. So how do you choose the best mini excavator for your DIY project? 

Before deciding on which mini excavator to use for your DIY project, you have to consider these three essential factors: 

• Project Requirements
• Rental Costs
• Condition of the Machine

The most important thing is to figure out your project requirements. The choice of the excavator depends on whether you need the excavator for minor landscaping work or some heavy trench work. 

Bobcat mini excavators are very popular in the construction industry. A Bobcat mini excavator is available in many different models. An E10 Bobcat excavator is the lightest and is suitable for landscaping works. With an operating weight of 2593 lbs, it produces 10.2 horsepower. The max digging depth is 6 feet. If you want an economical option for doing minor landscaping work in your garden, go for E10 Bobcat. It can easily access tight spaces owing to its ultra-compact design.  

If the project requires extensive excavation work, the E35 Bobcat mini excavator is the best mini excavator for the job. It produces 33 horsepower and weighs 8824 lbs which makes it perfect for heavy-duty works like heavy excavation or demolishing concrete. It also has an extendable arm and can dig up to 12.1 ft, this is ideal when you need to do deep excavation to get down to the sewer line. 

A John Deere mini excavator offers a wide range of customization options. Models such as the John Deere 35G mini excavator will have multiple attachments that can be used for different tasks.

The cheapest mini excavator is not always the best option. You’re going to need a machine that is economical and fulfills the project’s needs. 

Rental Period

You can rent mini excavators on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis from places like Rent1 equipment rentals. How long you’ll need to rent the machine will depend on how big your project is or how much work there is to do.

The most common mistake first-timers make is thinking they can get everything done in a day. You may think you’re saving money when renting out heavy equipment for a single day, but if the weather is unpredictable and you need to rent it again the following day, and then the day after that, those costs really start adding up. 

What’s more, most companies offer discounts on longer rentals which means your expenses will actually decrease if you rent for a week instead of a few days.

Machine Model & Attachments

The cost of mini excavator rentals often varies from model to model depending on the weight of the machine (which increases transport costs or the attachments included).

If you do need special attachments like a hammer for breaking the concrete or an auger for making holes, it’s better to get them included in the mini excavator rental cost from the get-go. Should you avoid getting it as part of the initial rental and then discover you needed it, you’ll likely be paying extra to have that delivered to you.

Hiring An Operator

Although a tempting way to cut costs, it’s a bad idea to rent an excavator without an operator. Mini excavators are a little harder to operate than most people think. If you decide to operate the machine yourself, you’ll be liable for any damages or injuries caused. 

Hiring a heavy equipment operator will protect you from potential lawsuits, reduce how long it takes to complete the project and can help you avoid unscheduled downtimes. Not to mention a lot of rental companies will offer discounts if you hire a heavy equipment operator for your machine. 

Like any rental, always check its physical condition before you sign anything. Ask the rental company for the model year and the fitness certificate for the machine. If the machine is not fit, any breakdown will cause delays and increase the overall project cost.

Choose a reputable brand-name machine like a CAT mini excavator to ensure reliability. 

Make sure there is a clause about downtime in your rental contract. Usually, you can get a cost reduction if their machine breaks down on you. You may ask for an alternative machine if the problem persists for an extended period.

Overall, renting a mini excavator is a perfect choice for DIY projects as they can save you time and a lot of intensive labor. Now that you have this handy guide to reference, you can also avoid extra costs by following the tips mentioned above.