For many small projects, people assume manual digging is the cheapest option. But when it comes to installing irrigation pipework, drainage, cables, or utilities, manual trenching quickly becomes slow, exhausting, and expensive. In most cases, choosing trencher hire is far more efficient, more cost-effective, and produces a far better result.​

 

If you're comparing manual digging with trenching machine hire, here’s why a trencher should be your first choice.​

 

1. A Trencher Is Significantly Faster Than Hand Digging

Digging by hand is labour-intensive, especially on long or deep runs. Even a skilled operative can only dig so fast.

A dedicated trenching machine can:

• Cut metres of trench per minute.

• Produce uniform depth and width.

• Maintain speed in all soil types.

• Complete a day’s manual work in under an hour.

This speed makes trencher hire UK ideal for irrigation contractors, landscapers, builders, and anyone needing long, consistent trenches.​

 

2. Huge Savings on Labour Costs

Manual digging requires one or more operatives for hours, or even days, depending on the length of trench.

Choosing trench digger hire dramatically reduces:

• Labour hours.

• Fatigue-related slowdowns.

• The need for multiple workers.

• Overall project delays.

Even when you factor in the cost of trencher hire, the reduction in labour usually makes it far cheaper than manual digging.​

 

3. Cleaner, More Accurate Trenches

Hand-dug trenches are often uneven and wider than necessary. This leads to wasted time and more backfilling later.

A trencher for hire provides:

• Consistent trench depth.

• Precise, narrow cuts.

• Less soil disruption.

• A professional finish.

If you’re laying cable, pipe, or drainage, accuracy matters - and manual digging rarely delivers it.​

 

4. Far Less Physical Strain and Health Risk

Manual digging is one of the most physically demanding site tasks. It increases the risk of:

• Fatigue.

• Back strain.

• Muscle injuries.

• Slow recovery times.

Using a trenching machine removes the physical stress and keeps your team safer and more productive.​

 

5. Lower Backfilling and Reinstatement Work

Because hand digging is less precise, trenches often end up:

• Wider.

• Messier.

• With more soil spoil.

A trencher creates a narrow, clean slot that requires minimal reinstatement. This alone saves hours of extra labour and materials.​

 

6. Ideal for Long Linear Installations

If your project involves more than a few metres of trench, manual digging is rarely practical. A trencher is the perfect solution for:

• Irrigation pipe runs.

• Electric cable trenches.

• Soakaway and drainage lines.

• Water supply pipes.

• Landscaping projects.

For these jobs, trenching machine hire is not just faster, it delivers a better-quality trench every time.