Plant hire rates
Last updated
Prices updated: November 2026. All prices exclude VAT. Machines come with an operator or driver unless the table says “machine only”. Transport both ways is quoted separately. Your final price is confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before the machine moves.
Earthmoving machines
TLB
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard 4x4 TLB (about 8 t) | Per day, with operator | R3,900–R5,150 |
| Standard 4x4 TLB (about 8 t) | Per hour, dry (operator included, you pay the diesel) | R320–R410 * |
| Standard 4x4 TLB (about 8 t) | Per hour, wet (operator and diesel included) | R580–R720 * |
| Standard 4x4 TLB (about 8 t) | Per hour, with operator | R320–R580 |
| Standard 4x4 TLB (about 8 t) | Per 200-hour month, dry (operator included, you pay the diesel) | about R68,000 * |
| TLB with hydraulic breaker | Per day, with operator | R5,000–R6,550 |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
More: TLB hire rates and what changes the price.
Excavators
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 20–25 t excavator | Per day, with operator | R3,500–R5,600 |
| 20–25 t excavator | Per hour, with operator | R340–R690 |
| 20–25 t excavator | Per hour, dry (operator included, you pay the diesel) | R340–R680 |
| 30 t excavator | Per day, with operator | about R4,500 * |
| 30 t excavator | Per hour, dry (operator included, you pay the diesel) | about R370 * |
| 30 t excavator | Per month, with operator | about R65,000 * |
| 36–55 t excavator | Per day, with operator | R6,500–R8,100 |
| 70 t+ excavator | Per day, with operator | about R11,000 * |
| 70 t+ excavator | Per hour, dry (operator included, you pay the diesel) | about R1,500 * |
| 70 t+ excavator | Per 200-hour month, dry (operator included, you pay the diesel) | about R189,000 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
More: excavator hire rates by size.
Mini excavator
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5–6 t mini excavator | Per day, with operator | R1,700–R3,000 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
Bobcat (skid steer)
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard skid steer | Per day, with operator | R2,400–R3,700 |
| Standard skid steer | Per hour, with operator | R190–R370 |
| Skid steer with attachment (breaker, auger, broom) | Per day, with operator | R3,000–R3,600 |
More: bobcat hire cost.
Bulldozers
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| D6 class bulldozer (18–25 t) | Per day, with operator | R5,000–R7,750 * |
| D8 class bulldozer (35–40 t) | Per day, with operator | about R8,200 * |
| D9 class bulldozer (45–50 t) | Per day, with operator | R9,800–R11,000 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
Front end loaders
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5–3.5 m³ bucket (950 class) | Per day, with operator | R3,400–R3,800 * |
| 3.5–4.5 m³ bucket (966 class) | Per day, with operator | about R6,200 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
Graders
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 120-class grader (about 14 t) | Per day, with operator | R3,900–R4,400 * |
| 140-class grader (about 18 t) | Per day, with operator | R4,500–R6,000 |
| 140-class grader (about 18 t) | Per 200-hour month, dry (operator included, you pay the diesel) | about R136,000 * |
| Large grader (14H / 16 class) | Per day, with operator | about R6,600 * |
| Grader, any size (hourly) | Per hour, with operator | R490–R610 |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
Rollers and compactors
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Small roller (1.5–3 t) | Per day, with operator | R1,050–R1,800 |
| 10–12 t roller | Per day, with operator | R2,150–R5,600 |
| 10–12 t roller | Per hour, dry (operator included, you pay the diesel) | R260–R620 |
| 15–18 t roller | Per day, with operator | R2,600–R2,850 |
| Plate compactor (forward only) | Per day, machine only | R270–R370 |
| Reversible plate compactor | Per day, machine only | R400–R630 |
| Rammer (trench compactor) | Per day, machine only | R350–R470 |
| Tow-behind grid roller | Per day, machine only | about R1,800 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
Trucks and transport
Tipper trucks
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 6 cube tipper | Per load, with operator · per load (Gauteng) | R1,250–R1,900 |
| 6 cube tipper | Per day, dry (operator included, you pay the diesel) | about R3,050 * |
| 10 cube tipper | Per day, with operator | R3,700–R5,250 |
| 10 cube tipper | Per load, with operator · per load (Gauteng) | about R2,300 * |
| 10 cube tipper | Per hour, dry (operator included, you pay the diesel) | about R270 * |
| 14–18 cube tipper | Per day, with operator | R3,300–R4,000 |
| 14–18 cube tipper | Per month, with operator | about R42,000 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
34 t side tippers
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 34 t side tipper (truck and trailer) with driver | Per month, with operator | R75,500–R92,000 |
| Truck tractor (horse) only | Per month, with operator | R42,000–R63,000 |
| Truck tractor (horse) only | Per day, with operator | about R6,300 * |
| Side tipper trailer only | Per month, machine only | R25,000–R29,500 |
| Side tipper trailer only | Per day, machine only | about R2,100 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
ADTs (articulated dump trucks)
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 20–25 t ADT | Per day, with operator | R4,000–R5,000 * |
| 20–25 t ADT | Per hour, dry (operator included, you pay the diesel) | R370–R420 |
| 30 t ADT | Per day, with operator | R5,650–R5,900 * |
| 30 t ADT | Per hour, wet (operator and diesel included) | R600–R840 * |
| 30 t ADT | Per 200-hour month, dry (operator included, you pay the diesel) | about R158,000 * |
| 40–45 t ADT | Per day, with operator | R6,200–R7,100 |
| 40–45 t ADT | Per hour, wet (operator and diesel included) | about R1,000 * |
| 50–60 t ADT | Per day, with operator | about R9,000 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
Water trucks
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 8,000–12,000 litre water truck | Per day, with operator | R2,000–R2,300 |
| 8,000–12,000 litre water truck | Per hour, dry (operator included, you pay the diesel) | R230–R360 * |
| 14,000–18,000 litre water truck | Per day, with operator | R2,400–R2,800 |
| 14,000–18,000 litre water truck | Per hour, dry (operator included, you pay the diesel) | about R270 * |
| 23,000–25,000 litre water truck | Per day, with operator | R4,000–R5,800 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
Lowbed and machine delivery
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| 30 t lowbed, per km | R23–R90 |
| 30 t lowbed, per day (dry) | about R2,500 |
| Plant delivery, per km | R43–R52 |
| Plant delivery inside a main centre, one way | R650–R4,750 |
Flatbed trucks are priced per job: flatbed truck hire.
Lifting and work at height
Mobile cranes
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 20–25 t mobile crane | Per day, with operator | about R4,500 * |
| 40 t mobile crane | Per day, with operator | about R7,600 * |
| 80 t mobile crane | Per day, with operator | about R22,000 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
More: mobile crane hire cost.
Crane trucks
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 8–10 t crane truck | Per day, with operator | R2,500–R5,200 |
| 8–10 t crane truck | Per hour, with operator | about R1,000 * |
| 12–15 t crane truck | Per day, with operator | R3,200–R5,200 |
| 20–34 t crane truck | Per hour, with operator | about R1,900 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
Cherry pickers
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 12–15 m cherry picker | Per day, with operator | R2,400–R4,000 |
| 12–15 m cherry picker | Per week, with operator | R11,500–R12,500 |
| 12–15 m cherry picker | Per month, with operator | R32,500–R37,000 |
| 16–17 m cherry picker | Per day, with operator | R4,150–R7,900 |
| 20–25 m cherry picker | Per day, with operator | about R8,200 * |
| 50 m+ cherry picker | Per day, with operator | about R16,500 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
More: cherry picker hire cost by day, week and month.
Boom lifts
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 12–16 m boom lift (articulating) | Per day, machine only | R2,600–R3,450 * |
| 12–16 m boom lift (articulating) | Per month, machine only | R32,500–R37,000 * |
| 16–22 m boom lift (diesel articulating) | Per day, machine only | R4,000–R5,450 * |
| 16–22 m boom lift (diesel articulating) | Per month, machine only | R29,500–R58,000 * |
| 20–30 m boom lift (telescopic) | Per day, machine only | R6,300–R7,650 * |
| 20–30 m boom lift (telescopic) | Per month, machine only | R47,000–R84,000 * |
| 30 m+ boom lift (telescopic) | Per day, machine only | R8,500–R14,000 * |
| 30 m+ boom lift (telescopic) | Per month, machine only | R73,500–R136,000 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
Scissor lifts
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Electric scissor lift (6–12 m) | Per day, machine only | R1,000–R1,500 * |
| Rough-terrain diesel scissor lift (8–10 m) | Per day, machine only | R3,350–R3,700 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
Forklifts
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 t forklift | Per day, machine only | R940–R1,600 * |
| 1–2 t forklift | Per week, machine only | about R5,650 * |
| 2.5–3 t forklift | Per day, machine only | R1,150–R1,600 * |
| 3.5–5 t forklift | Per day, machine only | R1,600–R1,900 * |
| 3.5–5 t forklift | Per week, machine only | about R8,500 * |
| 3.5–5 t forklift | Per month, machine only | about R30,000 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
More: forklift hire prices. Telehandlers are priced per job: telehandler hire.
Small plant rates: generators, jackhammers, mixers
Generators
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Portable generator (up to 10 kVA) | Per day, machine only | R320–R520 |
| 15–30 kVA generator | Per day, machine only | R680–R1,600 |
| 40–60 kVA generator | Per day, machine only | R2,300–R3,050 * |
| 80–150 kVA generator | Per day, machine only | R2,400–R4,600 * |
| 200–300 kVA generator | Per day, machine only | R8,500–R9,750 * |
| 500–750 kVA generator | Per day, machine only | R14,000–R18,000 * |
| 1,000 kVA+ generator | Per day, machine only | R24,000–R27,500 * |
* Few price points for this one, so treat it as a guide; the exact price comes back on WhatsApp.
More: generator hire price list.
Jackhammers, compressors and concrete mixers
| Size | Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy electric jackhammer (27–30 kg) | Per day, machine only | R380–R610 |
| Medium electric breaker (15–16 kg) | Per day, machine only | R270–R440 |
| Light electric breaker (up to 11 kg) | Per day, machine only | R230–R400 |
| Concrete mixer (300–500 litre) | Per day, machine only | R370–R470 |
| Diesel compressor with pneumatic breaker | Per day, machine only | R680–R890 |
More: jackhammer and mixer hire prices. Plate compactors and rammers are in the rollers and compactors table above.
What changes a plant hire rate
- Size. A 36–55 t excavator costs R6,500–R8,100 a day against R3,500–R5,600 for a 20–25 t machine.
- Wet, dry or machine only. Diesel can be a big share of a day's cost on a large machine, so check which rate you're comparing.
- How long. Hourly hire has minimum hours; day rates cover an 8–9 hour day; monthly hire on about 200 hours costs less per hour.
- Ground and attachments. Rock, a hydraulic breaker or an auger add cost: a TLB with breaker is R5,000–R6,550 a day with operator.
- Standing time. If the machine waits on site because the work isn't ready, that time is billable as agreed.
- Transport. Quoted separately, by road or lowbed, from the nearest main centre.
Worked example
A 3-day TLB hire in Kempton Park, with transport:
| Example quote (for illustration only) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard 4x4 TLB (about 8 t), 3 days at R3,900–R5,150 a day with operator | R11,700–R15,450 |
| Transport to Kempton Park | confirmed on WhatsApp |
And a week of a 20–25 t excavator in Midrand, delivered by lowbed:
| Example quote (for illustration only) | Amount |
|---|---|
| 20–25 t excavator, 5 days at R3,500–R5,600 a day with operator | R17,500–R28,000 |
| Transport both ways to Midrand | R6,000–R9,500 |
| Example total, excl. VAT | R23,500–R37,500 |
Questions people ask
What are plant hire rates per hour in South Africa?
By the hour: a TLB is R320–R410 dry, a 20–25 t excavator R340–R690, a bobcat R190–R370, a grader R490–R610 and a 10–12 t roller R260–R620 dry. Hourly hire usually has a minimum number of hours, so most jobs are booked by the day.
What is the difference between wet and dry plant hire rates?
In South Africa a dry rate normally means the operator is included and you pay for the diesel; a wet rate includes the diesel. A machine-only rate means no operator. Always check which one a price is. More in wet vs dry hire.
Are plant hire rates cheaper by the month?
Yes. Monthly hire is usually priced on a block of about 200 machine hours, which works out lower per hour than day hire. For example, a TLB month is about R68,000 dry, and a 34 t side tipper with driver is R75,500–R92,000 a month with operator.
Do plant hire rates include transport?
No. Transport to site and back is a separate line on every quote, because it depends on the machine and the distance. Out of town, delivery runs at R43–R52 a km each way from the nearest main centre.
Is there a plant hire rates PDF?
This page is our full rate list. Use the “Print or save as PDF” button to keep a copy; the prices update here when they change, so check the date at the top.
Related
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