Heavy Equipment
Skid Steer Rental Near You
A skid steer is the machine that replaces a crew of people with shovels and wheelbarrows. It turns tight circles, lifts more than it looks like it should, and swaps attachments so one machine can move gravel, grade a driveway, clear brush or drill post holes.
Because it is a compact loader, it fits through gates and works close to buildings, which is exactly where full-size equipment cannot go. Renting one for a landscaping weekend is far more practical than owning one.
Available skid steer rentals
Browse Heavy EquipmentNo skid steer rentals listed near you yet
New items are listed by neighbors all the time. Browse the full category to see what else is available nearby, or list your own to earn from it.
Browse all Heavy EquipmentWhat you can do with a skid steer
With a bucket it moves and spreads soil, gravel, mulch and demolition debris. With forks it becomes a material handler for pallets, pavers and timber. Add an auger, trencher, breaker or grapple and the same machine handles fence posts, small trenches, concrete removal and brush clearing. That flexibility is why it is the usual first machine on a landscaping job, and why asking the owner which attachments are available matters as much as asking about the machine itself.
Wheeled or tracked, and how much lift
Wheeled skid steers travel faster and turn sharply, which suits paved surfaces and work where you need speed. Tracked units float better on soft ground and turf, dig in less on slopes and leave a lighter footprint, at the cost of slower travel. Rated operating capacity tells you what the machine can safely lift; stay within it, because the bucket on the ground is the only thing keeping a loader stable when the load is high.
What to check at pick-up
Look at tires or tracks for damage, check the bucket edge and cutting edge, and walk the machine looking for hydraulic leaks around cylinders and hoses. Confirm engine oil, hydraulic fluid and coolant are at level, and have the owner show you the control pattern, since some machines run ISO and others run H-pattern. Ask about the door height and the machine's width so you know whether it fits your gate, and check the attachments come with the correct pins and hoses.
Transporting and setting up
A skid steer needs a trailer and a tow vehicle rated for its weight plus the trailer itself, with proper tie-down points and chains. Many owners offer delivery, which is often the simpler route if you do not already have the setup. On site, keep the bucket low while travelling, work on stable ground, and plan where spoil and materials will go before you start moving anything.
Safety basics
Always wear the seat belt with the restraint bar down; the loader's protection is only effective if you are inside it. Keep the load low and the bucket tilted back when moving, and never lift a load with the machine on a side slope. No riders, ever. Keep people well clear of the working area, watch for overhead lines when lifting, and shut the machine down before anyone approaches the front to load or adjust an attachment.
How renting on Rent my Tools works
Find it nearby
Browse by equipment type or search the full catalog. Listings show the owner's city and the daily rate they have set.
Request your dates
Pick your dates and send a request to the owner. You will see the rental price, any delivery fee and the refundable deposit before you confirm.
Pick up or get it delivered
Once the owner accepts, agree the handover details in Messages. Some owners deliver for a fee; others arrange a pick-up time.
Use it and return it
Return the item by the end date and confirm the return in your booking. Your deposit is released once the item comes back as agreed.
- Daily rate
- Set by each owner, so it varies by item and condition. There is no platform-wide rate.
- Refundable deposit
- Held for the rental and returned after the item comes back, less any agreed damage.
- Cancellations
- Full refund 48+ hours before the start date, half refund between 24 and 48 hours, no refund under 24 hours.
Questions before you book? Message the owner directly from the listing. Read the rental terms for the full agreement.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need my own trailer to rent a skid steer?
- You need either a suitable trailer and tow vehicle or an owner who delivers. Ask before you book, and confirm the combined weight your vehicle is rated to tow.
- Do attachments come included?
- It varies by listing. Some owners include a bucket and forks, others rent attachments separately. Check the listing and message the owner about what you need.
- Can a skid steer dig a foundation?
- It can scrape, grade and move soil, but it is not an excavator. For deeper digging or trenching, a mini excavator or trencher is the better tool.
- Wheeled or tracked for my yard?
- Tracked units are kinder to turf and better on soft ground and slopes. Wheeled units are faster on pavement and easier to turn in tight spots. Tell the owner your surface.
- Do I need experience to operate one?
- Yes, some. A skid steer is simple to understand and unforgiving of careless handling. Ask the owner for a walkthrough, and work slowly until you know how it feels loaded.
Own a skid steer? List it and earn
If you own skid steer gear that sits unused most of the year, neighbors nearby may be looking for exactly that. You set the daily rate and the deposit, choose the dates you are happy to rent, and can deliver or arrange pick-up.
List your skid steer