Plant hire means renting construction machines such as mini diggers, 360 excavators, dumpers, rollers and telehandlers, either self-drive (you or your own operator drives it) or with an operator supplied by the hire firm. Published cost guides put a 1.5 tonne mini digger at about £80 to £240 a day, or about £300 to £650 a week, before VAT, fuel, delivery and damage waiver. An operator typically adds about £150 to £320 a day.
Self-drive or hire with an operator?
Hire with an operator
The hire firm sends the machine and a driver who knows it. Useful for footings, drainage runs and site clearance when nobody on the job is carded for that machine.
Under the CPA Model Conditions the operator still works under your direction, and you are responsible for claims arising from the operation.
Self-drive hire
You hire the machine only and run it yourself. Cheapest per day, but you take on fuel, daily checks, damage and safe operation.
On a construction site you'll normally need a CPCS or NPORS card for that machine.
Contract lift
For crane work, the CPA has separate conditions where the hire company plans and supervises the lift itself, rather than just supplying the crane.
Ask which terms your quote is under.
What plant hire costs
Rates below are before VAT and fuel, and come from published cost guides and hire firms' price lists. Local prices vary a lot, so treat them as a guide.
| Machine | Typical day rate | Typical week rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 tonne mini digger | about £80–£240 | about £300–£650 |
| 3 tonne mini excavator | about £100–£300 | about £350–£850 |
| 8 tonne (midi) excavator | about £300–£450 | about £900–£1,400 |
| 3 tonne site dumper | about £70–£125 | about £195–£350 |
| Telehandler | about £210–£500 in London | about £250–£500 for smaller machines outside London, according to some hire firms; £700–£1,800 in London |
- Machine sizeThe biggest factor. A bigger machine costs more per day but may finish the job in fewer days.
- Hire lengthWeekly rates are usually far cheaper per day than day rates. Some firms charge less for weekday hire than for weekends.
- Delivery and collectionCharged each way, and more for heavier machines and longer distances.
- FuelUsually the hirer's cost. A 1.5 tonne mini digger burns roughly 3 to 4 litres of diesel an hour.
- Damage waiver, insurance and depositWaivers limit what you pay if the machine is damaged. Non-account customers often pay a deposit.
- AttachmentsBreakers, augers and extra buckets are usually charged on top.
Check each quote for VAT, delivery and collection both ways, fuel, damage waiver, attachments and the operator. Ask what the damage waiver actually covers and what excess you still pay. A cheap day rate with high transport and waiver charges can cost more overall.
Who is responsible for what
Damage to the machine Hirer
Under the CPA Model Conditions, used for most business-to-business plant hire, the hirer is liable for loss of or damage to the plant for the whole hire period, including time it sits on site over holidays. The CPA has separate conditions for consumers hiring for their own home.
Operated plant Hirer
When the hire firm supplies a driver, the CPA conditions treat that driver as working for the hirer, and the hirer is responsible for claims arising from operating the machine. That's why site managers still need to plan and supervise the work.
Underground services Hirer
The CPA conditions make the hirer responsible for protecting, and liable for damage to, cables, ducts, water pipes and gas lines on or next to the site.
Safety law that applies
- PUWER 1998. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations require work equipment to be suitable, maintained in good repair, inspected where it can deteriorate, and used only by people with adequate training. HSE says hire firms should inspect and test machines before hire, but daily pre-use checks are the user's job.
- LOLER 1998 for lifting. Telehandlers are lifting equipment under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations. They need a thorough examination at least every 12 months, or every 6 months if used to lift people, and lifting accessories every 6 months. HSE advises users to check there is a current report of thorough examination before use.
- Excavators used for lifting. HSE says an excavator used only for digging falls under PUWER, but one used to lift loads also needs LOLER thorough examinations and extra safety devices such as check valves and an audible warning. Industry guidance also calls for a marked lifting point showing its safe working load.
- Daily checks. HSE recommends daily visual checks, regular inspections and servicing following the manufacturer's instructions, for excavators and dumpers alike.
Cards and operator competence
There is no government-issued licence to drive plant. The law requires operators to be adequately trained and competent. In practice, most construction sites require a card from one of the two main plant schemes, but a householder hiring a digger for their own garden isn't legally required to hold one, though they still need to know how to use it safely.
CPCS
Run by NOCN Job Cards and carries the CSCS mark. The red Trained Operator card lasts two years and can't be renewed. The blue Competent Operator card needs a relevant NVQ and lasts five years. Both need a health, safety and environment test: CPCS uses the NOCN operative test and also accepts the CITB test, and NPORS accepts its own test or the CITB test.
NPORS
Offers a traditional card, or CSCS-logo red (two years) and blue (five years, needs an NVQ or SVQ) cards for construction. CSCS says NPORS cards carrying its logo should be accepted at site gates.
Buried cables and pipes
Striking a cable can cause severe, potentially fatal burns. HSE's guidance HSG47, Avoiding danger from underground services, sets out three steps: plan the work, locate and identify services, then dig safely.
- Get the plansUtility plans only show roughly where services are, so never rely on them alone.
- Scan with a locatorUse a cable avoidance tool (CAT), ideally with a signal generator (Genny), which HSE says significantly improves accuracy. Scan repeatedly as the dig goes on. Users should be trained.
- Dig trial holes by handConfirm each service's position and depth, dig alongside rather than on top, and expose it by digging horizontally with insulated tools.
- Keep the bucket backHSG47 says not to use a mechanical excavator within 500 mm of a gas pipe.
- Use a permit on bigger sitesHSG47 describes a permit-to-work system to control digging near services, recording who authorises the work and the precautions.
On site: the big risks
- Dumpers overturning. HSE says over 60% of dumper deaths involve the driver being crushed in an overturn. Wear the seatbelt, keep the roll-over protection up and use wheel stops at excavation edges.
- Falling buckets. People have been killed by buckets falling off quick hitches. Check the hitch is locked every time.
- People near the machine. Keep pedestrians out with barriers, and keep at least 0.5 m between the slewing machine and any obstruction.
- Excavation edges. Don't park plant close to the sides of a trench, and have a competent person inspect excavations at the start of each shift.
What to check before you hire
- Is the price per day or per week, and does it include VAT, delivery, collection and fuel?
- What does the damage waiver cover, and what excess do I still pay?
- Can the machine get through my access and work on my ground?
- For operated hire, can I see the operator's CPCS or NPORS card for this machine?
- For a telehandler or lifting excavator, can I see the current report of thorough examination?
- Will you give a handover and show the daily checks for this model?
- Which hire terms apply, and is the firm's insurance in place for operated hire?
Prices in this guide are typical ranges from suppliers' published price lists and cost guides. They change and vary by area, so always confirm the price with the supplier before you book. Rules, fees and tax rates are checked against official sources.