How Long Can You Hire A Mini Digger For?
Considering hiring a mini digger for your DIY home renovation project, but confused about hire durations and how they work? You’re not alone—many first-time hirers have the same concerns.
Understanding how digger hire durations work can really help you stay within budget and keep your project on track.
To make things easier, we’ve put together this quick guide to explain how long you can hire a mini digger for, common restrictions to be aware of, what’s included in a typical hire period, and tips on choosing the right hire length for your project.
Let’s dig in.
Common Mini Digger Hire Durations
When it comes to hiring a mini digger for your home project, flexibility is key. While rental suppliers may offer different hire terms, there are some common options you’ll find across the board. Whether you’re looking to hire for just one day or a full week, most plant hire companies can cater to the needs of your DIY project.
Here are some of the most common mini digger hire durations you’ll come across:
Same-Day Hire
Ideal for short, focused tasks that can be completed within a few working hours. Best suited for:
- Digging shallow trenches
- Minor groundwork
- Levelling soil
Same-day or 24-hour hire can be extremely cost-effective for smaller-scale DIY tasks, especially when the job is well-prepared in advance.
Weekend Hire
The most popular hire option for DIYers, giving extra time to complete projects around a busy weekday schedule. Ideal for:
- Landscaping a small garden
- Digging a shed base
- Removing soil
- Creating small foundations
Most weekend hires start on a Friday afternoon, with the equipment returned or collected on Monday morning. This usually offers better value than booking two separate single-day hires.
Week-Long Hire
If you’re tackling a larger job or want the flexibility to work at your own pace, week-long hire is often the most cost-effective option—especially for first-time users. Best suited for:
- Full garden redesign
- Installing a new driveway
- Patio construction
- Large-scale landscaping projects
Hiring a mini digger by the week gives you more time, flexibility, and better overall value, helping you complete the project without the pressure of a tight schedule.
What Can You Expect To Be Included In Each Hire Period
Knowing what’s included in your hire period is essential in getting your project off the ground. You don’t want to get caught out with any nasty surprises when it comes to settling up your bill.
Don’t be one of those!
When hiring a mini digger, you can expect the following to be included in each hire period:
Mini Digger
A well-maintained excavator in perfect working condition, ready to go straight to work on your project.
Fuel
Mini diggers come as standard with a full tank of fuel that requires replenishing before return.
Buckets
A range of different digging buckets to support your efforts. For example, you’ll often be supplied with a digging, trenching and grading bucket to cover most excavator activities.
Support & Assistance
Hiring from a reputable supplier means you’ll have access to helpful support, including on-site assistance and breakdown cover—giving you peace of mind if anything goes wrong mid-project.
The Bits That Aren’t Included
If it’s your first time hiring a mini digger, it’s just as important to understand what’s not included. These are often optional extras, but in many cases, they’re essential for a smooth experience.
Delivery/ Collection Options
Need the mini digger transported to your home? A delivery and collection charge can be applied should you opt for this service. This is usually calculated per mile from your nearest depot. Always speak to your local depot for an accurate delivery charge.
Insurance Cover
You’ll be fully responsible for the mini digger while in your possession. That’s why covering yourself in the event of damaging or losing the equipment is essential. If you’re not sure where to start, check our article for some recommendations, “Plant Hire Explained.”
Need To Extend Your Mini Digger Hire?
No matter how many times you’ve hired a mini digger, sometimes delays happen. Which begs the question… can you extend your mini digger hire?
The good news is—yes, you usually can. Whatever obstacles may delay your project, extending your rental period is rarely a problem. DIY jobs often run over (even if just by a day or two), so extension requests are very common.
Here’s what to do:
Contact Your Supplier
Get in touch as early as possible. As long as the equipment hasn’t already been reserved for someone else after your original hire period, most suppliers will be happy to extend your hire.
Additional Charges
As you’d expect, extra hire time will incur additional charges. You may also be asked to increase your security deposit, depending on the length of your extension. It’s worth discussing your options with the hire company when arranging the extra time.
Rearrange Collection
If a collection has already been booked for the end of your hire, make sure you notify your supplier of the change. Or, if you’re off-hiring the equipment yourself, ensure you follow the correct process to avoid being charged for unused days.
How To Choose The Right Hire Duration
Choosing the right hire duration for your mini digger is essential towards your budgeting and planning of your project. But if you’ve never used machinery like this before, how are you supposed to know how long you’ll need it for?
Here are some pointers to consider:
Size Of Your Project
As a general rule, the larger the task, the longer you are likely to need a mini digger for. Single and weekend hires are ideal for digging small trenches, levelling soil and digging shed bases. Whereas, large landscaping or redesign tasks may require longer hire periods.
Your Availability
With juggling work and other family commitments, knowing your availability to operate the machinery is essential. Therefore, you won’t want your funds being swallowed up by idle rental equipment. Weekend hires are often the most favourable for DIYers.
Experience
Limited experience with mini diggers? Maybe you need to give yourself a bit more time to finish the job. Getting familiar with a machine’s controls can take some time; therefore, it’s best to cater for it.
The Unexpected
In true UK fashion, the weather, among other factors, can lead to unexpected delays and slow your progress. If your project is weather-dependent, try to stick to the warmer months of the year and be prepared to extend your hire just in case you fall behind.
Need Help Choosing The Right Hire Period?
Still not confident? Then speak to one of WHC Hire’s team who can help you select the right hire period for you, your budget and project requirements. We’ve been supplying flexible mini digger hire for over 25 years, so why not jog our brains? We’d be happy to get you up and running!
Get in touch with your local WHC Hire depot today or browse our stocklist of mini diggers we have available.