Track hoe is the yard word for a tracked hydraulic excavator, and it is priced by operating weight. A 5-ton machine is commonly $400 to $600 a day, a 20-ton one $700 to $1,200, and the jump between them is mostly reach and dig depth. Choose on the depth you have to reach and the space you have to swing in.
What the tonnage actually buys
A 5-ton machine digs to around 12 feet and fits through a wide gate. A 12 to 15 ton machine reaches 15 to 18 feet and can load a tandem truck over the side. A 20-ton class digs past 20 feet and holds a trench box. Pick the smallest machine that reaches your depth, because everything above that is transport cost.
Rates by class
Expect roughly $250 to $400 a day for a 3-ton mini, $400 to $600 for a 5-ton, $600 to $900 for a 12 to 15 ton and $700 to $1,200 for a 20-ton. Weekly rates land near three days and monthly near three weeks. Rates run higher in metropolitan markets where yard land is expensive and float distances are short.
Transport is a separate machine
Anything above about 10 tons travels on a lowboy with its own permitting, and delivery is charged each way. That is why moving a 20-ton machine between two sites can cost more than a day of hire. Get the drop point right the first time: firm ground, clear overhead, and a gate wide enough for the tracks at their shipping width.
Attachments hired with the machine
A thumb for handling rock and stumps, a hydraulic breaker for concrete, and a grading bucket alongside the digging one are all separate day rates and all need the machine plumbed for them. Say what you are digging when you book, because a breaker fitted on delivery costs less than one collected two days into the job.
Questions people ask about track hoe rental
Is a track hoe the same as an excavator?
Yes. Track hoe, trackhoe and excavator all name a tracked machine with a boom, a stick and a bucket. Backhoe means something different: a wheeled tractor with a loader on the front and a smaller digging arm on the back.
What size track hoe do I need for a basement?
Usually 15 to 20 tons, because the dig depth is 8 to 10 feet before overdig and the machine has to load trucks from the edge. A 5-ton machine will do it eventually, but the extra days generally cost more than the larger hire.
Can I drive a track hoe on the road between sites?
No. Steel tracks damage the surface and the machine is far too slow, so it moves on a trailer. Rubber-tracked minis can cross a road under supervision but still travel between sites on a trailer.