Skid Steer Cost Per Hour Calculator
Build a skid steer ownership, operating, operator, overhead, and recommended billing rate per hour. Results update automatically as inputs change.
How this calculator works
Fixed cost per hour = monthly ownership / billable hours. Variable cost includes fuel, maintenance, wear, operator, and overhead.
Separate skid steer cost from the selling rate
Spread monthly ownership and insurance/storage cost over billable hours, then add fuel, tracks or tires, maintenance, operator pay, and overhead. Total Cost / Hr is the internal cost; Recommended Rate / Hr adds your selected profit margin.
Worked example
With the illustrative defaults, monthly ownership is $1,800 and insurance/storage is $450. At 80 billable hours, $2,250 ÷ 80 = $28.125/hour fixed cost. Variable cost is 3.2 gal/hour × $4 + $6 tracks/tires/wear + $18 maintenance + $35 operator + $12 overhead = $83.80/hour.
Total Cost / Hr is $28.125 + $83.80 = $111.925 before display rounding. At 25% margin, $111.925 ÷ 0.75 = $149.23/hour selling rate. If billable use falls to 40 hours with all other inputs unchanged, the same monthly fixed cost becomes $56.25/hour:
| Billable hours / month | Internal cost / hr | Rate at 25% margin |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | $111.93 | $149.23 |
| 40 | $140.05 | $186.73 |
For a job quote in the skid steer rate calculator, carry the internal Total Cost / Hr into Base Machine + Operator Cost, then add the job costs and margin there. Do not carry the already margined Recommended Rate / Hr into a cost field and apply the same margin again.
Match the cost inputs to this machine
- Use billable hours, not hour-meter or available hours.
- Price specialty attachment wear separately.
- Keep mobilization and job minimums visible.
Optional project software
Use your hourly cost across active projects
Once you have a supported internal rate, apply it consistently to the machine hours on each job. Keep that cost separate from your customer billing rate, then compare the completed job with the estimate.
Contractor Foreman lets you enter an equipment hourly rate in its Cost Items Database and record usage in Daily Logs for project job costing. That workflow may be useful when several people need to keep the same job records. You enter the rate yourself; this calculator does not sync with Contractor Foreman.
Equipment Rate Calc is a Contractor Foreman affiliate. We may earn a commission if you purchase through this link.
Explore Contractor Foreman (opens in a new tab)Compare its current plans and equipment-cost workflow with your existing records.
Common questions
Why does lower utilization increase skid steer cost per hour?
The same monthly ownership and insurance/storage total is spread over fewer billable hours. Fuel, maintenance, wear, operator, and overhead inputs remain hourly amounts in this model. Test a slower month before committing to a selling rate.
Is Total Cost / Hr the rate I should quote customers?
It is the internal cost produced by the entered assumptions. Recommended Rate / Hr includes the target margin. A job quote may also need attachment cost, mobilization, materials, disposal, and a minimum charge. Keep those job costs visible and apply margin once.
Should specialty attachment wear go in tracks/tires/wear?
Keep ordinary carrier wear and maintenance in their intended cost fields. Price attachment-specific wear separately for the jobs that use it, unless it is already deliberately included in this internal rate. Do not recover the same wear in both the carrier cost and a job attachment allowance.
Test skid-steer production after cost
After calculating the skid steer cost floor, use the production and unit-cost calculator to estimate output, schedule fit, and internal cost per task unit from documented field cycles.
Important disclaimerPlanning estimate only. Verify current costs, measurements, production, scope, access, customer requirements, contracts, permits, insurance, taxes, and local rules before quoting or committing money.