plant hire - head to head
JCB vs Yanmar
Both makes turn up on the same shortlists, and the honest answer is that they are built for different buyers rather than one being better than the other. Here is what actually separates them - from a directory that sells neither.
| JCB | Yanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | England (Rocester, Staffordshire) | Japan |
| UK availability | Widely available - large UK network | Available, smaller network |
| Range covers | Backhoe loaders, Micro, mini and midi excavators, Telescopic handlers, Site dumpers | mini excavators, compact wheel loaders, track carriers, backhoe loaders |
| Best known for | 3CX and 4CX | ViO17 |
Choose JCB if...
The default British plant make and the one hire customers ask for by name. Fleets buy JCB because operators already know the controls, parts turn up quickly and residual values hold, which matters more to a hire business than any single spec on the sheet.
Look at: 3CX and 4CX, Loadall, Hydradig
Full JCB profile →Choose Yanmar if...
Yanmar is a Japanese engine and machinery manufacturer whose Compact Equipment division builds mini excavators, compact wheel loaders and track carriers. Its true zero tail swing mini excavators, including the ViO17 and ViO20-6, are specified by groundworks and landscaping contractors who need to work tight to walls and boundaries. It competes directly with Kubota, Takeuchi and Bobcat in the sub-3 tonne excavator hire fleet, though it is less widely stocked across UK hire depots than those brands.
Look at: ViO17, ViO20-6
Full Yanmar profile →Where to hire or buy either
Most UK plant hire companies carry several makes and advertise none of them, so the practical move is to find the firms covering your area and ask what is on the yard.
JCB vs Yanmar - common questions
Is JCB better than Yanmar?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. The default British plant make and the one hire customers ask for by name. Fleets buy JCB because operators already know the controls, parts turn up quickly and residual values hold, which matters more to a hire business than any single spec on the sheet. Yanmar is a Japanese engine and machinery manufacturer whose Compact Equipment division builds mini excavators, compact wheel loaders and track carriers. Its true zero tail swing mini excavators, including the ViO17 and ViO20-6, are specified by groundworks and landscaping contractors who need to work tight to walls and boundaries. It competes directly with Kubota, Takeuchi and Bobcat in the sub-3 tonne excavator hire fleet, though it is less widely stocked across UK hire depots than those brands.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, JCB or Yanmar?
JCB: The most widely stocked plant brand in British hire fleets, with dealer and parts coverage nationwide. Yanmar: UK sales and hire fleet supply go through dealers such as Field and Forest Machinery rather than a large multi-branch network.
Can I hire rather than buy?
Yes. Most UK plant hire companies hire as well as sell, and many carry several makes without listing them. Search by your area and ask what they have on the yard.
Other comparisons
GetBrent is an independent directory and is not a dealer for, nor affiliated with, either manufacturer. Brand and model names are the trademarks of their owners, used here only to identify the products they refer to. Specifications vary by model year and market - confirm weights, dimensions and towing limits with the supplier before hiring or buying.