In short: The rental company RentaCentro last listed Q295 an hour for a backhoe (retroexcavadora) and Q390 an hour for a 20-tonne excavator in Guatemala, VAT included; those offers expired in August 2026 and the current rate is quoted on request. Municipal rentals published on Guatecompras in June-September 2026 work out at Q250-540 an hour for a backhoe, Q435-520 for a 20-tonne excavator and Q450 for a skid-steer loader. Fuel, delivery and the operator can be extra.
USD figures in the tables are approximate and use the day’s Banguat reference rate. See today’s exchange rate.
A rental company’s published rates
RentaCentro (Grupo ConstruMarket’s machinery rental business, which lists Mixco and Quetzaltenango as its Guatemala bases) says it publishes only rates that have appeared in one of its printed offers, with their validity. For Guatemala, its tariff page, read 26 September 2026, says the current rate is quoted at the moment of asking, and shows the last published rates, which expired in August 2026, as a reference:
| Equipment | Last published rate (Guatemala, VAT included) | USD (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Excavator Komatsu PC200 (20 t) | Q390 an hour | ~$51 USD an hour |
| Backhoe Komatsu WB93R | Q295 an hour | ~$39 USD an hour |
| Concrete mixer SIMAQ, 1 bag | Q990 a week | ~$130 USD a week |
| Floor saw SIMAQ | Q900 a week | ~$118 USD a week |
| Tamper (apisonador) SIMAQ SQ60 PRO | Q949 a week | ~$124 USD a week |
| Ride-on roller SIMAQ SQRD L51 (1.5 t) | Q3,500 a week | ~$458 USD a week |
| Light tower SIMAQ TLK6000 | Q2,500 a week | ~$327 USD a week |
The Guatemala entries do not say whether an operator is included. RentaCentro’s own conditions on the same page:
- The rate includes preventive and corrective maintenance.
- Billed separately: fuel, delivery and pick-up freight, the operator (unless the rate says it includes one) and damage beyond normal wear.
- A daily rate covers 8 machine hours; anything beyond is overtime, measured by the hour meter.
What municipalities paid: Guatecompras contracts, 2026
Municipalities publish their machinery rentals on Guatecompras, the state procurement system. The eight below were awarded as direct purchases with electronic offers and state the number of hours; the hourly figure is the awarded amount divided by those hours (our calculation).
| Municipality (publication date) | Machine | Hours | Awarded amount | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua Guatemala (27 Jul 2026) | Backhoe 4x4 | 325 | Q81,250 | Q250 |
| Ciudad Vieja, Sacatepéquez (17 Sep 2026) | Backhoe 4WD, 65 HP or more | 360 | Q90,000 | Q250 |
| Mazatenango, Suchitepéquez (27 Jul 2026) | Backhoe 4x4, 85-95 HP minimum | 225 | Q84,375 | Q375 |
| San Bernardino, Suchitepéquez (7 Sep 2026) | Backhoe | 140 | Q70,000 | Q500 |
| San Miguel Dueñas, Sacatepéquez (1 Sep 2026) | Backhoe | 166 | Q89,640 | Q540 |
| Antigua Guatemala (11 Jun 2026) | Tracked excavator, 20 t minimum | 180 | Q78,300 | Q435 |
| Ciudad Vieja, Sacatepéquez (4 Jun 2026) | Tracked excavator, 20 t minimum | 120 | Q62,400 | Q520 |
| San Miguel Dueñas, Sacatepéquez (1 Sep 2026) | Skid-steer loader (minicargador) | 200 | Q90,000 | Q450 |
The Guatecompras summaries do not say whether the operator and fuel are included; those terms are in each tender’s own documents. Each contract covers 120 to 360 hours of work, so ask for a quote for the hours your own job needs.
How to compare quotes
- Per hour, per day or per week? RentaCentro’s day is 8 machine hours, with extra hours measured by the hour meter; ask each supplier how it counts hours.
- Is the operator included? Ask for it in writing: it is billed separately at RentaCentro unless the rate says otherwise.
- Who pays the fuel? RentaCentro bills it separately.
- What does delivery and pick-up cost to your site? RentaCentro bills this freight separately.
- VAT (IVA): RentaCentro’s Guatemala rates were published with VAT included; check whether any other quote includes it.
Related pages
- Ready-mix concrete prices per cubic metre
- Mason (albañil) prices
- Civil engineer fees
- Construction cost per square metre
- Service prices hub
Sources
- RentaCentro, read 26 September 2026: published rental rates and earthmoving equipment in Guatemala
- Guatecompras contract records, read 26 September 2026 (NOG numbers): Antigua Guatemala backhoe 31381529 and excavator 30905427; Ciudad Vieja backhoe 31928188 and excavator 30795494; Mazatenango 31378471; San Bernardino 31865712; San Miguel Dueñas backhoe 31798691 and skid-steer 31798942
- USD conversion: Banguat reference exchange rate
Rates change without notice, and RentaCentro’s Guatemala rates shown here had expired; confirm the current rate and what it includes before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to rent a backhoe in Guatemala per hour?
RentaCentro’s last published Guatemala rate for its Komatsu WB93R backhoe was Q295 an hour, VAT included; the offer expired in August 2026 and the company quotes the current rate on request. Five municipalities that rented backhoes by the hour on Guatecompras between July and September 2026 paid between Q250 and Q540 an hour (the contract amount divided by the hours in the contract, our calculation).
How much does it cost to rent an excavator in Guatemala?
RentaCentro’s last published Guatemala rate for a 20-tonne Komatsu PC200 excavator was Q390 an hour, VAT included (expired August 2026). On Guatecompras, Antigua Guatemala rented 180 hours of a 20-tonne tracked excavator for Q78,300 in June 2026 (Q435 an hour), and Ciudad Vieja rented 120 hours of a 20-tonne tracked excavator for Q62,400 (Q520 an hour).
What is not included in an equipment rental rate in Guatemala?
RentaCentro says its rate includes preventive and corrective maintenance, while fuel, delivery and pick-up freight, the operator (unless the rate says it is included) and damage beyond normal wear are billed separately. Its daily rate covers 8 machine hours; more is billed as overtime by the hour meter.
