Skip the six-figure equipment loan and rent what your crew actually needs, job by job.
Starting a landscaping business means saying yes to jobs you may not have the right machine for yet. Instead of buying a skid steer or mini excavator before you have steady revenue, most new landscaping companies rent commercial landscaping equipment as jobs come in. This guide breaks down the landscaping equipment list every startup should know about, from core machines to daily-use lawn equipment, along with typical rental pricing and how availability works in your area.
Common Questions From New Landscaping Businesses
- How much does it cost to rent landscaping equipment for a day?
- It depends heavily on the machine. Hand tools and small lawn equipment like pressure washers or plate compactors often run $50 to $120 per day. Skid steers and mini excavators typically range from $200 to $450 per day depending on size and attachments, with weekly rates usually working out to about 3 to 4 times the daily rate rather than 7. Always check the listing for the exact provider's pricing since it varies by region and machine age.
- Do I need a CDL or special license to rent a skid steer or mini excavator?
- No CDL is required to operate a skid steer or mini excavator on private property, but you'll usually need to be at least 18, show a valid driver's license, and in some cases complete a brief operator walkthrough with the provider. If you're renting a trailer to haul the machine and it puts your total weight over your state's threshold, you may need a proper towing license and vehicle rating, so confirm this with the rental provider before booking.
- Can I get landscaping equipment delivered to my job site?
- Many providers offer delivery for larger equipment like skid steers, mini excavators, and trailers, usually for an added fee based on distance from their yard. Smaller items such as augers, plate compactors, and pressure washers are typically picked up in person. If your crew doesn't have a truck rated for towing, delivery is often worth the extra cost, especially for one-off jobs.
- What deposit should I expect when renting a skid steer or mini excavator?
- Deposits for heavy equipment commonly range from a few hundred dollars up to the full rental value of the machine, held on a card and released after a damage-free return. Smaller attachments and hand tools usually carry lower deposits or none at all. The exact amount is set by the individual provider, so check the listing details before you commit a crew schedule around a piece of equipment.
- How far in advance should I book equipment for a landscaping job?
- For popular items like skid steers, mini excavators, and brush mowers, booking 3 to 7 days ahead gives you the best shot at local availability, especially during spring and fall when demand spikes. Smaller lawn care equipment can often be reserved a day or two out. If you're running recurring jobs, some providers will hold weekly or monthly rates for regulars.
- Do rental providers include attachments like augers or brush mowers with the machine rental?
- Usually not automatically. Skid steer and mini excavator attachments such as an auger, brush mower, or forks are listed and priced separately from the base machine. Always confirm which attachments come with the rental and which ones you need to add on before pricing out a job for a client.
- What's the difference between renting weekly versus daily for a new landscaping business?
- Daily rates make sense for one-off installs or quick cleanups, but weekly rates almost always save money once a job stretches past three or four days. If you're bidding a multi-day project like a hardscape install or a large mowing contract, ask the provider about their weekly rate before you quote the client, since it can shift your margin significantly.
Core Machines: Skid Steers, Mini Excavators, and Trailers
Every serious landscaping startup eventually needs access to at least one piece of heavy equipment. A skid steer is the workhorse for grading, moving material, and running attachments, and it's usually the first major machine new companies rent rather than buy.
A mini excavator earns its keep on trenching, tree removal, and drainage work, and pairing one with an auger attachment like this mini excavator with a 12-inch auger covers a huge range of hole-digging jobs without buying two separate machines.
Trailers matter just as much as the equipment itself. Without a trailer rated for your skid steer or mini excavator's weight, you can't get the machine to the job site at all, so factor trailer rental into your equipment plan from day one rather than as an afterthought.
A mini excavator earns its keep on trenching, tree removal, and drainage work, and pairing one with an auger attachment like this mini excavator with a 12-inch auger covers a huge range of hole-digging jobs without buying two separate machines.
Trailers matter just as much as the equipment itself. Without a trailer rated for your skid steer or mini excavator's weight, you can't get the machine to the job site at all, so factor trailer rental into your equipment plan from day one rather than as an afterthought.
Attachments and Ground Tools: Augers, Brush Mowers, and Plate Compactors
Attachments are where a rented skid steer or mini excavator earns its cost back fast. For fence post holes, tree planting, or deck footings, an auger attachment sized for 18, 24, or 30 inch holes covers most residential jobs, while a smaller 9 to 14 inch auger handles tighter post spacing.
Clearing overgrown lots or wooded lots calls for a heavier setup like this skid steer brush mower attachment, which chews through brush and small trees far faster than hand tools.
For hardscaping and paver work, a plate compactor is non-negotiable for base compaction, and it's one of the more affordable pieces of landscaping equipment to add to a job quote since daily rates stay reasonable even for extended use.
Clearing overgrown lots or wooded lots calls for a heavier setup like this skid steer brush mower attachment, which chews through brush and small trees far faster than hand tools.
For hardscaping and paver work, a plate compactor is non-negotiable for base compaction, and it's one of the more affordable pieces of landscaping equipment to add to a job quote since daily rates stay reasonable even for extended use.
Everyday Lawn Care and Cleanup Equipment
Beyond the heavy machines, most landscaping jobs still come down to lawn care equipment and cleanup gear. A pressure washer is essential for driveway, patio, and siding cleanup work that clients frequently bundle with a landscaping quote.
If your crew is clearing debris, root balls, or downed brush after a mower pass, a root grapple attachment or a brush rake grapple speeds up the cleanup phase considerably.
For larger commercial landscaping equipment jobs, a 72-inch rotary skid steer mower covers acreage far faster than a walk-behind, which matters if you're bidding contracts on larger properties or HOA lots.
If your crew is clearing debris, root balls, or downed brush after a mower pass, a root grapple attachment or a brush rake grapple speeds up the cleanup phase considerably.
For larger commercial landscaping equipment jobs, a 72-inch rotary skid steer mower covers acreage far faster than a walk-behind, which matters if you're bidding contracts on larger properties or HOA lots.
Landscaping Equipment Rental Costs at a Glance
Rates vary by provider and region, but here's a general sense of what to budget when pricing out a landscaping job.
| Equipment | Best For | Typical Daily Rate | Typical Weekly Rate | Rental Duration Norm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skid Steer | Grading, material handling, running attachments | $200 - $350 | $700 - $1,200 | 1-3 days per job, weekly for larger jobs |
| Mini Excavator | Trenching, drainage, tree/stump removal | $250 - $450 | $900 - $1,500 | 2-5 days |
| Auger Attachment | Fence posts, tree planting, footings | $60 - $150 | $200 - $450 | 1-2 days |
| Brush Mower Attachment | Overgrown lots, brush clearing | $150 - $300 | $500 - $900 | 1-3 days |
| Plate Compactor | Base compaction for pavers/hardscape | $50 - $100 | $150 - $300 | 1-3 days |
| Pressure Washer | Driveway, patio, siding cleanup | $40 - $90 | $120 - $250 | 1 day, occasionally 2 |
| Equipment Trailer | Hauling skid steers and mini excavators | $75 - $150 | $300 - $500 | 1-5 days depending on job |
Build Your Landscaping Business Without the Equipment Debt
Renting your landscaping equipment lets you take on bigger jobs without tying up cash in machines that sit idle half the year. Browse skid steers, mini excavators, augers, and everyday lawn equipment available near your job site right now.