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Earthmoving is a subcontracted service conducted by earthmoving equipment and generally completed by operators (not dry hire). At iseekplant, we have a large number of suppliers with diverse fleets of earthmoving equipment. You can run a search, specify your location, and refine that search using the filters to find the perfect supplier for your earthmoving project.
You can also use our Get a Quote tool to request earthmoving services and get responses from suppliers near you.
The content below covers a general guide of hire rates for earthmoving services and machines as well as types of earthmoving equipment available to hire and their attachments.
Earthmoving Rates Guide
Earthmoving Subcontractor Rates
It's not really possible for us to include rates for all different types of commercial or civil subcontracted earthmoving tasks because these are usually comprehensively quoted either on a time basis, or cubic meter basis.
We have included a table of common residential earthmoving tasks and their average subcontractor rates for a completed job. All prices are our best guesses.
All rates are in AUD and exclude GST.
| Earthmoving Task | Rate Range (AUD) |
|---|---|
| House Foundation Excavation | $2,500 - $5,000 |
| Pool Excavation | $2,000 - $3,500 |
| Under House Excavations | $1,500 - $3,000 |
| Driveway Excavation | $1,000 - $2,500 |
| Digging a Basement | $3,000 - $7,000 |
| Hardscaping | $5,000 - $15,000 |
| Landscaping | $5,000 - $20,000 |
| Water Trenches | $500 - $1,500 |
Earthmoving Equipment Hire Rates
Here is a table of rates of the most common earthmoving machines, so you can get an understanding. These rates can vary greatly depending on the supplier, location, availability, and specific project requirements. All rates are in AUD and exclude GST.
| Equipment Type | Size/Capacity | Dry Hire Rate (Per Hour) | Min. Dry Hire Duration | Wet Hire Rate (Per Hour) | Min. Wet Hire Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excavator | Small (up to 5 tonnes) | $40 - $60 | 1 Day | $80 - $100 | 4 Hours |
| Excavator | Medium (6 - 14 tonnes) | $60 - $80 | 1 Day | $100 - $120 | 4 Hours |
| Excavator | Large (15+ tonnes) | $80 - $120 | 1 Day | $130 - $160 | 4 Hours |
| Bulldozer | Small (up to 150 hp) | $70 - $90 | 1 Day | $100 - $120 | 4 Hours |
| Bulldozer | Medium (151 - 250 hp) | $90 - $110 | 1 Day | $120 - $140 | 4 Hours |
| Bulldozer | Large (251+ hp) | $110 - $130 | 1 Day | $140 - $160 | 4 Hours |
| Loader | Compact | $40 - $60 | 1 Day | $80 - $100 | 4 Hours |
| Loader | Small (up to 3.0 cubic meter bucket) | $60 - $80 | 1 Day | $100 - $120 | 4 Hours |
| Loader | Medium (3.1 - 4.5 cubic meter bucket) | $80 - $100 | 1 Day | $120 - $140 | 4 Hours |
| Loader | Large (4.6+ cubic meter bucket) | $100 - $120 | 1 Day | $140 - $160 | 4 Hours |
Earthmoving Attachment Hire Rates
Attachments can significantly enhance the functionality and versatility of earthmoving equipment. Always confirm with your supplier what attachments are available and suitable for your specific job.
| Attachment | Compatible Machine | Application | Hire Rate Range (per day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buckets (General Purpose, Heavy Duty, Rock, etc.) | Excavators, Backhoes, Loaders | Digging, trenching, back-filling, and material handling | $35 - $80 |
| Hydraulic Hammers/Breakers | Excavators, Skid Steers | Breaking rock, concrete, or other hard materials | $100 - $200 |
| Augers | Excavators, Skid Steers | Drilling holes for posts, footings, trees | $75 - $150 |
| Rippers | Dozers, Graders, Tractors | Breaking up hard ground or rock for easier excavation | $50 - $100 |
| Grapples | Excavators, Skid Steers | Handling bulky material, waste, or brush | $50 - $100 |
| Trenchers | Skid Steers, Mini Loaders | Digging trenches for pipes or cables | $80 - $150 |
| Compaction Wheels | Excavators | Compacting soil in trenches or other confined spaces | $40 - $80 |
| Mulchers | Skid Steers, Excavators | Clearing vegetation and undergrowth | $100 - $200 |
Types of Earthmoving Equipment for Hire
At iseekplant, you’ll find a wide range of earthmoving equipment for hire, including Excavators, Loaders, Dozers, and Scrapers. We also have other subcategories relating to earthmoving-type services - including bulk earthworks, earthworks and Heavy Haulage.
Each type of earthmoving equipment has its specific applications and is suitable for different types of jobs.
| Earthmoving Task | Most Appropriate Equipment |
|---|---|
| Soil excavation | Excavator |
| Heavy lifting and loading | Loader |
| Rough grading | Bulldozer |
| Fine grading and soil compaction | Smooth Drum Roller |
| Compaction of soil with high moisture content | Padfoot Roller |
| Compaction of wide, open areas | Multi-Tyred Roller |
| Moving large quantities of earth | Scraper |
| Earthmoving in tight spaces | Mini Excavator or Compact Loader |
| Digging trenches | Backhoe Loader |
| High precision digging | GPS-equipped Excavator |
| Demolition tasks | Excavator with hydraulic hammer attachment |
| Digging holes | Excavator or Skid-Steer Loader with auger attachment |
| Removal and relocation of soil | Articulated Dump Truck |
Below is how we’ve categorised our database of earthmoving equipment on iseekplant and the way in which we consider sizing, applications and the common types of jobs.
| Earthmoving Equipment | Size Ranges | Applications | Types of Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excavators | Mini (1-10 Tonnes), Midi (10-20 Tonnes), Large (20+ Tonnes) | Digging, grading, lifting | Construction, mining, landscaping |
| Backhoes | Standard (14-16 Tonnes), Large (Over 16 Tonnes) | Digging, lifting, loading | Construction, utility work |
| Dozers | Small (80-150 HP), Medium (150-300 HP), Large (300+ HP) | Grading, pushing, ripping | Construction, mining, roadwork |
| Loaders | Compact (0.5-2 Tonnes), Small (2-6 Tonnes), Medium (6-10 Tonnes), Large (10+ Tonnes) | Loading, lifting, grading | Construction, agricultural, landscaping |
| Skid Steer Loaders | Compact (1-2 Tonnes), Medium (2-3 Tonnes), Large (3+ Tonnes) | Loading, grading, lifting | Construction, landscaping |
| Graders | Small (130-180 HP), Medium (180-250 HP), Large (250+ HP) | Grading, finishing | Road construction, site preparation |
| Articulated Trucks | Small (25-30 Tonnes), Medium (30-40 Tonnes), Large (40+ Tonnes) | Transporting, hauling | Construction, mining |
| Scrapers | Single engine (10-50 Cubic Yards), Twin engine (50-100 Cubic Yards) | Cutting, loading, dumping, leveling | Construction, mining |
| Compactors (Rollers) | Small (1-7 Tonnes), Medium (7-14 Tonnes), Large (14+ Tonnes) | Compacting | Road construction, site preparation |
Connect with Verified Earthmoving Specialists Across Australia
We have curated, verified, and categorized more than 5,000 earthmoving equipment choices, allowing you to effortlessly explore and choose the ideal partner for your construction project. To connect with reliable local earthmoving equipment suppliers, you can utilise our Get a Quote tool to receive customised quotes quickly based on your specific requirements.
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