Machine hire
rate calculator.
Work out hourly wet hire and dry hire rates for 93 common civil machines — excavators, trucks, rollers, dozers, scrapers, watercarts and more. Built by working estimators for real Australian conditions.
Indicative guide only. Figures are estimates for general guidance based on the values you enter and typical market costs — they are not a quote, offer, or formal estimate, and actual hire rates vary by supplier, location, availability, and project conditions. WSE Sydney accepts no liability for decisions made on these figures. For a project estimate you can rely on, request one.
Unlike flat rate cards, these figures are built from a base machine cost plus real fuel burn and the operator rate you control.
How the calculator works
An accurate hourly hire rate is built from three real cost components — the machine, the fuel it burns, and the operator running it. This tool combines them the same way we do when we build an estimate: the dry hire rate is the machine on its own, and the wet hire rate adds fuel and operator on top.
Fuel cost is the machine’s litres-per-hour consumption multiplied by the diesel price you enter, plus 12% for lubricants and filters, so larger machines carry more running cost. The operator rate is whatever you pay a qualified operator per hour — we show a typical metro range as a guide once you pick a size. The formula is simple: machine + fuel + operator = wet hire rate.
Wet hire vs dry hire
Wet hire is the all-inclusive arrangement — the machine arrives ready to work with operator, fuel and consumables bundled into one hourly rate, and the hire company handles maintenance. It suits short jobs and one-off tasks where you don’t want to source your own operator.
Dry hire is the machine only — you supply the operator, pay for fuel separately, and manage daily inspections. The hourly rate is lower, but you carry the responsibility, so it tends to make sense on longer projects where you already have qualified operators.
What this calculator covers
93 machines across 16 categories used on water, sewer, stormwater and civil jobs: excavators from 1.5 to 50 tonne, tipper trucks, smooth-drum and padfoot rollers, front-end loaders, graders, dozers (small to large civil), towed and motorised scrapers, watercarts from 5,000 to 20,000 litres, backhoes, and skid steers. If your machine isn’t listed, send us the details and we’ll price it. Pricing a bore rather than a machine? Try our HDD cost calculator. For written benchmarks by machine, see our rate guides for excavators, tipper trucks, water carts, rollers, loaders, graders, dozers, scrapers and backhoes & skid steers.
What it doesn’t include
This is the hourly running rate only. A full project rate also carries float and transport, mobilisation and demobilisation, standby and wet-weather allowances, and site-specific factors like access, traffic control, and spoil handling. Those are exactly the items we account for when we price a job — for a defensible number on a real project, see our services or request an estimate.
Frequently asked questions
What is a wet hire rate?
A wet hire rate is the all-inclusive hourly cost of a machine supplied with a qualified operator, fuel, and consumables. It’s the most common hire arrangement on Australian civil sites because everything is bundled into one hourly rate.
What is a dry hire rate?
A dry hire rate is the hourly cost of the machine only — without an operator and without fuel. You supply your own operator and pay for fuel separately. It’s usually cheaper per hour but only suits contractors with their own operators.
How is the wet hire rate calculated?
Wet hire = base machine rate + fuel cost + operator rate. Fuel cost is the machine’s litres-per-hour consumption multiplied by the diesel price you enter. Dry hire is the base machine rate on its own.
What should the operator rate include?
Wages, superannuation, leave loading, PPE, ticket allowances, and travel where applicable. Metro civil operators typically range from about $75 to $115 per hour; regional and remote rates can sit higher due to travel and accommodation.
Does this include transport or mobilisation?
No — the calculator gives the hourly running rate only. Float, transport, and mobilisation/demobilisation are separate costs that should be added to your overall project quote, especially on remote or interstate jobs. Our estimating service accounts for all of these.
Can WSE Sydney prepare a full project estimate?
Yes. We provide professional water, sewer, stormwater and pump station estimating across Australia — DTC compliant, Sydney Water fluent — with submissions acknowledged within two hours during AEST business. Get in touch or call 02 8111 6602.
Need a real project estimate?
Hire rates are one line in a full estimate. For water, sewer, stormwater or pump station work priced line by line — plant, labour, materials, the lot — send the drawings. Acknowledged within two hours during AEST business.