Mini Excavator vs Skid Steer: Which Do You Need?
Updated October 9, 2026
Rent a mini excavator when the job is digging down: trenches, footings, pools, drainage. Rent a skid steer when the job is moving material across the site: grading, loading, hauling dirt or debris. If you need both, put them on 1 delivery.
Side by side
| Mini excavator (Bobcat E35R2) | Skid steer (Kubota SSV75) | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Digging below grade | Moving and leveling material |
| Reach | 10.1 ft dig depth | 2,690 lb rated operating capacity |
| Operating weight | 7,699 lbs | 8,157 lbs |
| Ground | Rubber tracks, sits still while digging | Wheels, best on firm ground and pavement |
| Tight spaces | Reduced tail swing, works next to walls | Needs room to turn |
| Price | $450/day, $1,800/week | $400/day, $1,600/week |
Pick by job
| Job | Best machine |
|---|---|
| Trench for drainage, irrigation main or utilities | Mini excavator |
| Footings and foundations | Mini excavator |
| Pool demolition or fill | Both: excavator to break and dig, skid steer to move fill |
| Spreading fill, grading a yard | Skid steer (or track loader on sand) |
| Loading a dumpster or truck | Skid steer |
| Clearing brush and storm debris | Skid steer |
| Stump and root removal | Mini excavator, or a stump grinder if you only need it below grade |
| Septic tank or drain field work | Mini excavator |
The South Florida factor: sand
Most yards here are sand over a high water table. A wheeled skid steer spins and digs ruts in loose sand and wet ground. If your site is soft, rent the compact track loader instead. It does the same work as the skid steer on rubber tracks, at the same $400 a day. Read more in skid steer vs track loader on sand.
When you need both
A lot of jobs do. The excavator digs, the loader moves the spoil. One delivery fee covers both machines going to the same address. A 3 day job with both in Broward costs $3,000 including delivery and damage protection.
Questions, answered
Can a skid steer dig a trench?
Not well. A skid steer bucket scrapes and scoops near the surface. For a trench deeper than a foot or two, use a mini excavator.
Can a mini excavator grade a yard?
It can do rough grading with its blade, but it is slow. A skid steer or track loader grades much faster.
Which is easier for a first time operator?
Most people find a skid steer quicker to learn for basic moving and loading. A mini excavator takes more practice to dig clean.
How much is it to rent both?
$850 a day for the pair, plus 1 delivery fee and $50 a day damage protection per machine.