New LocationWe've moved from Mooresville to Denver, NC · Same owner, same fleet
Excavator Rental Denver NC
Kubota and SANY mini excavators with hydraulic thumbs, from $300/day. Pick up in Denver or have one delivered across Lake Norman.
Excavator Rentals
Mini Excavator Rental in Denver, NC
Elite Rentals of Denver rents mini excavators by the day, week or month from its lot in Denver, NC, serving homeowners and contractors across Lincoln County, Iredell County and the Lake Norman region. The fleet includes the zero-tail-swing SANY SY35U, the Kubota U35-4 and the enclosed-cab Kubota U48-5, every one fitted with a hydraulic thumb.
Denver has grown from farmland into one of the busiest communities on the west side of Lake Norman, and the work here shows it: footings for additions and garages, drainage fixes on sloped lots, utility trenches and land clearing on newer homesites. Owner Ryan Huemmer will help you match the machine and bucket to the job before you rent.
What It's For
What You Can Do With a Rental Excavator
Mini excavators handle most residential and light commercial digging. These are the jobs our Denver customers rent them for most.
Footings & Site Prep
Dig footings for additions, garages, sheds and retaining walls, and cut pads level before you pour.
Trenching
Run water, sewer, electrical and drainage lines with a 12-inch bucket for a clean, narrow trench.
Land & Brush Clearing
Every machine has a hydraulic thumb, so you can grab stumps, roots, rock and brush instead of just pushing them.
Grading & Backfill
Use the blade to backfill trenches and footings, push spoil and rough-grade a yard.
Drainage & Erosion Fixes
Cut swales, dig French drains and regrade low spots that hold water after a storm.
Demo & Cleanup
Break out old concrete pads, pull fence posts and load debris onto a dump trailer.
Our Excavators
Kubota & SANY Mini Excavators for Rent
Three well-maintained machines, inspected and cleaned after every rental. Pick the one that fits your job and your access.
-
Canopy · Zero Tail SwingSANY SY35U
Best for tight backyards and working along fences and foundations
- Operating weight
- 8,367 lb
- Max dig depth
- 10' 2"
- Engine
- 24.4 hp Yanmar diesel
- Tracks
- 12" rubber
- Buckets
- 12", 18" & 24"
- Thumb
- Hydraulic
$300Day$990Week$2,699MonthReserve the SY35U -
Canopy · Angle BladeKubota U35-4
Best all-rounder for trenching, footings and backfill
- Operating weight
- 8,478 lb
- Max dig depth
- 9' 8.9"
- Bucket breakout force
- 7,924 lb
- Blade
- Hydraulic angle blade
- Buckets
- 12" or 24"
- Thumb
- Hydraulic
$300Day$990Week$2,699MonthReserve the U35-4 -
Enclosed Cab · Heat & A/CKubota U48-5
Best for bigger digs and long days in summer heat or winter cold
- Operating weight
- 11,531 lb
- Max dig depth
- 10' 8"
- Engine
- 39 hp turbo diesel
- Bucket breakout force
- 9,304 lb
- Buckets
- 12", 18" & 30" tooth · 36" smooth
- Thumb
- Hydraulic
$400Day$1,299Week$3,299MonthReserve the U48-5
Pricing
Excavator Rental Rates in Denver, NC
Mini excavator rentals at Elite Rentals of Denver start at $300 a day. A week costs about what three days would, so if your job might run past a long weekend, the weekly rate usually comes out ahead.
- Hydraulic thumb included on every machine
- Delivery available for an additional fee, quoted by address
- Return clean and full of diesel to avoid fees
Mini Excavators
Daily, weekly & monthly rates
| Equipment | Day | Week | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| SANY SY35UCanopy · Zero Tail Swing | $300 | $990 | $2,699 |
| Kubota U35-4Canopy · Angle Blade | $300 | $990 | $2,699 |
| Kubota U48-5Enclosed Cab · Heat & A/C | $400 | $1,299 | $3,299 |
| Add-ons | |||
| 20' Equipment Trailer15,000 lb GVWR · with our equipment | $100 | $315 | $950 |
| 14' Dump Trailer14,000 lb GVWR · haul spoil and debris | $150 | $525 | $1,550 |
Local Know-How
Digging in Denver & Lincoln County: What to Know
Denver is an unincorporated community of about 2,700 people (2020 Census) on the west shore of Lake Norman in eastern Lincoln County, roughly 25 miles north of uptown Charlotte along NC 16. Most of the land here was farmland until Cowans Ford Dam created Lake Norman in 1962. Today it's lake homes, new subdivisions and acreage lots, and each brings its own digging rules.
Lincoln County Permits
Lincoln County Planning & Inspections requires an approved erosion control plan when you disturb more than one acre. Jobs over 1,000 sq. ft. that also need a building permit require a Single Lot Disturbance Form. Check with the county before a large grading job.
Call NC 811 First
North Carolina asks you to contact 811 at least three working days before you dig. Locating public utility lines is free, and it's the single best way to avoid hitting a water, gas or fiber line.
Lake Norman Shoreline
Denver sits on the west shore of Lake Norman. Shoreline stabilization and dock work inside the FERC project boundary may need Duke Energy approval, so check with Duke Energy Lake Services before digging at the water's edge.
Red Clay & Slopes
Like most of the Piedmont, eastern Lincoln County has dense red clay that gets hard when dry and slick when wet. A tooth bucket and the hydraulic thumb make faster work of it, and the blade helps keep the machine stable on a slope.
Rules change, so confirm requirements with Lincoln County Planning & Inspections, NC 811 or Duke Energy for your specific job.
How It Works
How Our Equipment Rental Process Works
An easy rental process, because your time matters.
- 01.
Reach Out
Call or text us to reserve the equipment you need for your job.
- 02.
Pick Up or Delivery
Pick up from our Denver lot by appointment, or we'll deliver to your job site for an additional fee.
Lot location: [DENVER, NC LOT ADDRESS — confirm before launch]
- 03.
Sign & Go
At pickup we collect payment and need a valid driver's license and credit card. A liability waiver is signed before operating.
All major credit cards accepted.
- 04.
Get It Done
Put the machine to work. Return it clean and full of the right fuel to avoid extra fees.
Client Reviews
What Renters Say About Elite Rentals
Five-star rated across 100+ Google reviews.
- ★★★★★
"From the first call Ryan educated me and took the time to answer any questions I had. The machines were in great shape well taken care of (had no issues)."
Gino G.First-time rental · Verified Google Review
- ★★★★★
"Always on time and machines are always in amazing shape and clean. They go above and beyond to serve"
Justin J.Repeat customer · Verified Google Review
- ★★★★★
"Highly recommended, great customer service and great price. Also machine was clean and ran great. I will definitely rent from them again!!"
Jordan P.Equipment rental · Verified Google Review
Excavator Questions
Excavator Rental Denver NC — FAQ
Answers to the questions we hear most about renting a mini excavator in Denver and Lincoln County.
Who is the best excavator rental company in Denver, NC?
Elite Rentals of Denver is Denver's top-rated local excavator rental company — family-owned since 2024 and five-star rated across 100+ Google reviews. Founded by Ryan Huemmer, it rents SANY SY35U, Kubota U35-4 and enclosed-cab Kubota U48-5 mini excavators across Lincoln County and Lake Norman. Call (704) 770-6300.
What size mini excavator should I rent for my project in Denver?
At Elite Rentals of Denver, the SANY SY35U fits tight backyards thanks to its zero tail swing. The Kubota U35-4 is the best all-rounder for trenching and footings. The enclosed-cab Kubota U48-5 digs deepest, to 10 feet 8 inches, for bigger jobs.
How much does it cost to rent a mini excavator in Denver, NC?
Elite Rentals of Denver rents the SANY SY35U and Kubota U35-4 for $300 a day, $990 a week or $2,699 a month. The enclosed-cab Kubota U48-5 is $400 a day, $1,299 a week or $3,299 a month. Delivery is quoted separately.
Do I need a permit to dig or grade in Lincoln County?
It depends on the job. Lincoln County requires an approved erosion control plan to disturb more than one acre, and a Single Lot Disturbance Form for over 1,000 square feet when a building permit is involved. Elite Rentals of Denver recommends confirming with Lincoln County Planning & Inspections first.
Do I have to call 811 before digging in Denver, NC?
Yes. North Carolina asks anyone digging to contact 811 at least three working days ahead so public utility lines can be marked for free. Elite Rentals of Denver recommends calling 811 before every excavator rental that involves trenching or footings.
Can I use a rental excavator near the Lake Norman shoreline?
Often, but check first. Shoreline stabilization and dock work on Lake Norman inside the FERC project boundary may need Duke Energy approval. Elite Rentals of Denver suggests contacting Duke Energy Lake Services before digging at the water's edge in Denver.
Do you deliver excavators to job sites in Denver and Lake Norman?
Yes. Elite Rentals of Denver delivers mini excavators across Denver, Lincoln County and the Lake Norman region for an additional fee based on your address. You can also pick up from our Denver lot by appointment, and add a 20-foot equipment trailer for $100 a day.
Do I need experience to operate a mini excavator?
No special certification is required. Ryan Huemmer or a team member at Elite Rentals of Denver walks first-time renters through the controls before the machine leaves the lot, and customers regularly mention that walkthrough in their Google reviews.
Which buckets and attachments come with the excavators?
Every Elite Rentals of Denver mini excavator has a hydraulic thumb. Bucket options are 12, 18 and 24 inches for the SY35U, 12 or 24 inches for the U35-4, and 12, 18 and 30-inch tooth or a 36-inch smooth bucket for the U48-5.
Still deciding? Call or text Ryan at (704) 770-6300.
Service Areas
Excavator Rentals Across Lincoln County & Lake Norman
Elite Rentals of Denver delivers mini excavators from Denver across Lincoln County, Iredell County, Mecklenburg County and Catawba County, covering the towns around Lake Norman.
Home Base
Denver, NC
Lincoln County
- Also serving
- Westport
- Lowesville
- Stanley
Regional Hub
Mooresville, NC
Iredell County
- Troutman
- Statesville
- Mount Mourne
Regional Hub
Huntersville, NC
Mecklenburg County
- Cornelius
- Davidson
- Mountain Island
Regional Hub
Lincolnton, NC
Lincoln County
- Iron Station
- Vale
- Boger City
Regional Hub
Sherrills Ford, NC
Catawba County
- Terrell
- Catawba
- Maiden
Don't see your town? Reach out anyway. We regularly deliver beyond the areas listed here. Call (704) 770-6300.
Get In Touch
Check Equipment Availability in Denver, NC
Ryan Huemmer responds personally — no call center, no automated system. Tell us what you're working on and we'll confirm the right machine, the rate and pickup or delivery.
(704) 770-6300- Ryan@eliterentalsnc.com
- Pickups by appointment
- [DENVER, NC LOT ADDRESS — confirm before launch]
Reserve Your Equipment