What size mini excavator do I need?
1, 1.9 or 2.7 tonnes? Digging depth, space and transport decide. Here is the choice, job by job.
Most jobs around a house or cabin can be done with a mini excavator of 1 to 2.7 tonnes. The choice comes down to three things: how deep you need to dig, how tight the space is, and how the machine will get to the job.
Short answer
| Cable trenches, gardens and back yards, through a gate | 1 tonne |
| Indoors, or where there must be no exhaust or noise | 1 tonne electric |
| Drainage, trenches, levelling a plot | 1.9 tonnes |
| Groundwork for garages, extensions and cabins | 2.7 tonnes |
| Levelling and slopes that need a good finish | 2.7 tonnes with tiltrotator |
Digging depth: how far down do you need to go?
Digging depth increases with size. If you need to get down to the drain pipe by the foundation, it is often deeper than people think, so measure before you order.
| Machine | Digging depth | Width | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bobcat E10E, 1 t electric | 1.82 m | 71–110 cm | approx. 1.2 t |
| Kobelco SK10SR-2E, 1 t | – | 71–110 cm | 1,140 kg |
| Kubota KX019-4, 1.9 t | 2.58 m | 99–130 cm | 1,855 kg |
| Kubota U27-4, 2.7 t | 2.82 m | 150 cm | 2,665 kg |
Space: can it get there?
The 1-tonne class has an adjustable undercarriage. With the tracks in it is 71 cm wide and fits through an ordinary gate or doorway, and with the tracks out it is more stable when you dig. The 1.9-tonne machine can also be adjusted, from 99 to 130 cm.
Remember the lawn too. A small machine leaves fewer marks, and that can save you a lot of work afterwards.
Bigger is faster
A 2.7-tonne machine digs deeper, reaches further and is more stable than a 1-tonne machine. On a big job you finish sooner, and then the bigger machine can end up cheapest. Rule of thumb: choose the largest machine that can get there.
If the job is bigger than this, see the excavators from 5 tonnes.
Collecting it yourself?
The machine sits on a trailer, and it is the weight of the trailer that decides whether your car and driving licence are enough. A 1.9-tonne machine comes to around 2.7 tonnes with the trailer, and a 2.7-tonne machine around 3.5 tonnes. Read Can your car tow a trailer lift or mini excavator? If it can't, we'll deliver it.
Questions and answers
Which mini excavator suits drainage work?
Usually 1.9 or 2.7 tonnes. They dig 2.6–2.8 metres down, which is often needed by a foundation wall.
Will the mini excavator fit through a gate?
The 1-tonne class is 71 cm wide with the tracks in and fits through an ordinary gate. The 1.9-tonne machine is 99 cm at its narrowest.
Can I use a mini excavator indoors?
Yes, with the electric Bobcat E10E. It has no exhaust and runs quietly.
What is a tiltrotator?
A coupling that lets the bucket tilt and rotate. It makes levelling and slopes much easier and more precise.
Equipment in this guide
Kobelco SK10SR-2E
See product →
Bobcat E10E
See product →
Kubota KX019-4
See product →
Kubota U27-4
See product →Any questions?
Call +47 948 87 000 and you'll talk to the people who rent out the equipment every day. See the mini excavators →
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