Rent skid steers, mini excavators, brush mowers, stump grinders, and more by the day or week from local providers near you.
Clearing a few acres of overgrown brush or prepping a lot for construction takes more than a chainsaw and a weekend of sweat. The right land clearing equipment turns a multi-week slog into a job you can finish in a few days. Rntr connects you with local rental providers offering everything from mini skid steer attachments to full-size excavators, so you rent exactly what the job needs and return it when you're done.
Common Questions About Renting Land Clearing Equipment
- How much does it cost to rent land clearing equipment per day?
- Daily rates vary by machine and attachment. Skid steer attachments like brush cutters typically run $150 to $300 per day, mini excavators run $250 to $450 per day, and smaller tools like chainsaws or brush mowers rent for $40 to $150 per day. Weekly rates usually offer a discount compared to renting day by day, which helps if your clearing project stretches past a few days.
- What size skid steer or mini excavator do I need for a few acres of overgrown brush?
- For half an acre to five acres of brush and small saplings, a compact skid steer with a brush cutter or rotary mower attachment is usually enough. If you're dealing with larger trees, stumps, rocks, or need to grade afterward, a mini excavator with an auger or hydraulic hammer attachment handles the heavier work. Local providers can help match machine size to your acreage and terrain.
- Do rental providers deliver land clearing equipment or do I need to pick it up?
- Both options are common. Smaller tools like chainsaws or handheld brush cutters are usually pickup only, while larger equipment such as skid steers and mini excavators often come with delivery options for an added fee based on distance. Check the listing details for each provider's pickup and delivery terms before booking.
- Is a deposit required to rent a stump grinder or wood chipper?
- Most providers require a deposit or credit hold for larger or higher-value equipment like stump grinders, wood chippers, mini excavators, and skid steer attachments. Deposit amounts vary by provider and equipment value, and they're typically refunded after the equipment is returned in good condition.
- How long can I rent land clearing equipment for?
- Rental durations range from a few hours to several weeks depending on the provider. Daily and weekly rates are standard, and some providers offer monthly pricing for larger property clearing jobs. If your acreage is heavily overgrown, budgeting for a full week rather than a single day gives you room to work without rushing.
- Do I need a special license to operate a skid steer or mini excavator rental?
- Most rental providers don't require a formal license for skid steers or mini excavators, but some may ask for proof of experience or offer a brief walkthrough before you take the equipment off the lot. If you've never operated heavy equipment before, ask the provider about training or consider hiring an operator for larger jobs.
- Can I rent attachments separately from the machine?
- It depends on the provider. Some rent skid steers and mini excavators as a package with a single attachment, while others let you rent the base machine and swap attachments like forks, buckets, augers, or brush cutters separately. This is worth asking about upfront if your project needs more than one attachment type.
Skid Steer Rentals: The Workhorse for Land Clearing
A skid steer rental with the right attachment handles most brush clearing and small tree removal jobs without needing a full excavator on site. For dense brush and saplings up to a few inches thick, a dedicated mower attachment like this skid steer brush mower and tree terminator attachment chews through overgrowth fast. If you're working smaller lots or tighter access points, a compact option such as this brush cutter skid steer attachment fits where full-size machinery can't. Providers also rent standard brush cutter attachments for skid steer loaders sized for mid-range clearing acreage. Most of these attach to skid steers you may already have access to, or you can rent the base machine and attachment together as a package.
Mini Excavator Rentals for Roots, Rocks, and Heavy Debris
Once brush and small trees are down, a mini excavator rental handles the parts of the job that a skid steer can't: pulling stumps, digging out root balls, and moving rocks or heavy debris. An excavator fitted with an auger, like this E35 mini excavator with a 12-inch auger attachment, is useful for setting fence posts or drilling out stubborn roots after clearing. For rocky ground or concrete debris left behind on the property, a hydraulic hammer attachment for excavators and skid steers breaks through material that a bucket alone can't move. Smaller properties often do fine with a mini skid steer fitted with its own auger attachment, which is easier to maneuver in tight yards and around existing landscaping.
Brush Mowers, Cutters, and Grapples for Vegetation Removal
Vegetation removal on overgrown land usually calls for more than one type of attachment. A brush rake and grapple attachment for mini skid steers is built for gathering cut brush, branches, and debris into piles for hauling or burning, which speeds up cleanup considerably compared to raking by hand. For open acreage with tall grass, weeds, and small saplings, a 72-inch rotary skid steer mower covers ground quickly and cuts material down to manageable size. Once material is cut and piled, a grapple bucket attachment makes loading debris into a truck or trailer far faster than pitchforks and manpower. For light limb work and felling smaller trees, a chainsaw rental rounds out the toolkit and handles the detail work the bigger machines can't reach.
Stump Grinders, Wood Chippers, and Finish Grading
Once trees are down, stumps are usually what's left standing between overgrown land and a usable yard or building site. A combo unit like this Toro Dingo mini skid steer with stump grinder attachment grinds stumps flush to the ground without needing to dig them out entirely. A wood chipper rental helps process leftover branches and brush into mulch instead of hauling it off-site, which cuts disposal costs on larger clearing jobs. After stumps and roots are handled, a harley rake attachment smooths and levels the soil, pulling out remaining rocks and roots in the process. For larger grading jobs before seeding or landscaping, a land leveler attachment for skid steers evens out the finished surface so the property is ready for its next use, whether that's a lawn, a driveway, or a building pad.
Land Clearing Equipment Comparison
Here's a quick breakdown of what each type of equipment is best suited for, along with typical rental pricing to help you budget your project.
| Equipment Type | Best Use Case | Typical Daily Rate | Typical Weekly Rate | Ideal Job Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skid steer with brush cutter | Clearing dense brush and saplings up to 6 inches thick | $150 to $300 | $600 to $1,100 | 0.5 to 5 acres |
| Mini excavator with attachments | Removing stumps, roots, rocks, and grading | $250 to $450 | $1,000 to $1,800 | Any size, especially heavy debris |
| Brush mower / rotary mower attachment | Mowing tall grass, weeds, and small saplings | $175 to $300 | $700 to $1,100 | 1 to 10 acres of open land |
| Stump grinder | Grinding stumps flush after tree removal | $150 to $250 | $500 to $700 | Per stump or small cluster |
| Wood chipper | Turning branches and brush into mulch | $150 to $275 | $550 to $900 | Ongoing brush disposal |
| Chainsaw | Felling trees and cutting limbs | $40 to $75 | $150 to $250 | Any size, tree-specific work |
Ready to Clear Your Property?
Browse land clearing equipment available near you, from skid steer attachments to mini excavators and stump grinders. Compare local pricing, check delivery options, and book what you need for the job.