Mini excavator vs skid steer: which do I need?
Rent a mini excavator to dig down: trenches, footings, stumps and drainage. A 3.5-ton class machine like the Bobcat E35 digs about 10 feet deep. Rent a skid steer to move, spread and grade material across the surface. Our mini excavator is $275/day ($291.50 with tax), and our skid steer is $325/day ($344.50 with tax).
Key takeaways
- Digging below grade means a mini excavator; the Bobcat E35 base model reaches 121.2 in (~10 ft) deep.
- Moving and grading material means a skid steer; the Bobcat S650 lifts 2,690 lb (rated operating capacity).
- Mini ex: $275/day ($291.50); skid steer: $325/day ($344.50).
- Both weigh around 4 tons, so each needs a tilt trailer and a heavy-duty truck.
- Call Miss Utility 3-12 business days before digging with either one.
What is each machine built to do?
A mini excavator digs. A skid steer carries and pushes.
| Task | Mini excavator | Skid steer / track loader |
|---|---|---|
| Drainage or utility trench | Best | Poor |
| Footings, post holes, pond or pit | Best | Only with an auger |
| Stump removal | Good | Fair, with a grapple or root rake |
| Spreading gravel, topsoil or mulch | Poor | Best |
| Grading a patio or shed pad | Fair, with a blade | Best |
| Moving pallets of pavers or block | Poor | Best, with forks |
| Loading a dump trailer from a pile | Good | Best |
| Brush and storm cleanup | Fair, with a thumb | Best, with a grapple |
Rule of thumb: if the hole is deeper than a bucket is tall, you want the excavator.
Either machine can do some of the other's work with the right attachment, but slowly. A skid steer with a bucket can scrape a shallow patio base. A mini excavator with a blade can backfill and rough-grade. When most of the job is one kind of work, rent the machine built for it.
How deep can a mini excavator dig, and how much can a skid steer lift?
A 3.5-ton mini excavator digs about 10 feet. A mid-size skid steer lifts about 2,700 lb.
As reference points, Bobcat lists these specs:
| Spec | Bobcat E35 mini excavator (base) | Bobcat S650 skid steer |
|---|---|---|
| Operating weight | 7,659 lb | 8,061 lb |
| Max dig depth | 121.2 in (~10 ft) | — |
| Rated operating capacity | — | 2,690 lb |
| Width | 69.7 in | Ask us |
| Horsepower | 24.8 hp | 74 hp |
| Tail swing | Zero tail swing | — |
These are examples of common models, not necessarily the machines in our fleet. Width matters when the only way into a backyard is a gate. The E35's 69.7 inches won't fit a 5-foot gate, so measure before you book.
Machines are coming
Join the founders' waitlist for first pick of dates and a free weekend day on your first machine rental.
Join the waitlistWhat do they cost to rent?
The mini excavator is $50 a day less than the skid steer at our rates.
| Period | Mini excavator | Skid steer / track loader |
|---|---|---|
| Day | $275 ($291.50 with tax) | $325 ($344.50 with tax) |
| Weekend (any 2–3 days) | $449 ($475.94) | $529 ($560.74) |
| Week | $875 ($927.50) | $1,050 ($1,113.00) |
Each machine carries a $500 card hold, released within 24 hours after check-in, and goes out with a full tank; return it full or we refuel at $8 a gallon. Both are on a waitlist right now. Join on the mini excavator page or the skid steer page. For the full cost picture, see skid steer rental cost.
When should I rent both?
Rent both when the job digs a lot of material and moves it a long way, like a drainage run, a patio base or a foundation backfill.
Example: a French drain across a backyard. The mini excavator cuts the trench. The skid steer carries stone in and moves spoils to a dump trailer. One machine can do both jobs, but slowly. Two machines for a weekend often beat one machine for a week. A 7x14 dump trailer carries about 3.6 cubic yards of stone or 4.7 of topsoil per load, within its 9,820 lb payload. The load calculator sizes the spoils.
If you'll only rent one, rent the machine for the hardest part of the job, and handle the easy part with a wheelbarrow and a dump trailer.
Which machine fits common Central Maryland jobs?
Most homeowner jobs here fall into a handful of types, and each one has a clear first pick.
| Job | First pick | Add-on worth considering |
|---|---|---|
| French drain or downspout line | Mini excavator | 7x14 dump for spoils and stone |
| Shed or playset pad | Skid steer | 6x12 dump for base stone |
| Patio base (excavate and compact) | Both, or a skid steer for a shallow dig | 7x14 dump for spoils |
| Gravel driveway refresh | Skid steer | 7x14 dump for stone |
| Stump and root removal | Mini excavator | 6x12 dump for debris |
| Storm limb cleanup | Skid steer with a grapple | 6x12 dump for brush |
A weekend with a mini excavator, the tilt and a 7x14 dump costs $1,027 before tax, or $1,088.62 with tax, plus disposal. Brush is light (about 127 lb per cubic yard) and fills a dump bed long before it reaches the weight limit. Soil and stone are the opposite.
How do I get either machine to the job?
On a 24-foot tilt trailer behind a 3/4-ton or larger truck.
Both machines weigh around 4 tons before attachments. Our tilt carries about 9,700 lb (dealer figure) and is rated 14,000 lb GVWR. It costs $175/day ($185.50 with tax). A loaded rig like that is beyond a half-ton truck; a 2026 Silverado 2500HD is rated 14,500 lb (gas) to 18,500 lb (diesel). Your vehicle's manufacturer ratings and manual always win. Our guide on tilt trailer loading covers chaining down.
Plan the route into the yard as well. A 4-ton machine can crack a thin driveway apron or sink into a soft lawn after rain. Lay plywood on soft ground, and stay off septic fields, which are common on larger lots in western Howard and Carroll County.
What do I need to do before I dig?
Contact Miss Utility at least 3 business days, and no more than 12 business days, before you dig, whichever machine you rent.
The request is free. Wait until every utility on the ticket has responded. Within 18 inches of a marked line, hand dig only. In Ellicott City's historic district, exterior changes need a Certificate of Approval, so check before you regrade a front yard there.
Confirm every utility has responded through Miss Utility's Ticket Check before you start. A contractor digging on your property needs its own ticket. Your homeowner ticket doesn't cover them.
Questions
Which is easier for a first-timer?
Either one takes practice. Pick the machine that fits the task, take the walk-through at pickup and work slowly on slopes.
Can a skid steer dig a trench?
Only a shallow one, and roughly. For a drain or a utility line, use a mini excavator or a trencher attachment.
Will either machine damage my lawn?
Any 4-ton machine leaves marks. Tracks spread the weight more than tires, and plywood paths help on soft ground.