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  1. Compact Equipment Magazine
  2. Mini Excavators

Mini Excavators

These Popular Mini Diggers Are Also Awesome Tool Carriers

The mini or compact excavator segment stands as one of the hottest machine markets in U.S. construction equipment. Its popularity stems from its versatility and size. Operators can easily transport mini excavators, and these machines handle a variety of onsite applications. These include digging basements, burying downspouts, compacting soil, trenching service lines or grappling obscenely big, decorative rocks. Manufacturers define these units as excavators under 8 metric tons. Designers equip them with an undercarriage and tracks, a long digging arm, and a cab or ROPS enclosure. With dig depths ranging between 5 and 15 ft+ and operating weights between 2,000 and 20,000 lbs, compact excavators maneuver into cramped worksites while delivering impressive digging power.

The 3.5- to 4-metric-ton class continues to drive growth in the compact hydraulic excavator market, especially in rental, while the 5- to 6-metric-ton size class gains momentum. Conventional-style compact excavators share the spotlight with minimum and zero tail swing designs. Zero tail swing (ZTS), which ensures the cab stays within the width of the tracks, remains a popular choice. Beyond their many features — such as enclosed cabs, backfill blades, extendable sticks and retractable undercarriages — mini excavators can equip a wide range of attachments to tackle tasks beyond digging, including hydraulic thumbs, breakers, specialty buckets, augers, grapples and mowers. Recent trends in the category include commercially available electric and hybrid variants as well as machine control systems for grading and digging. Examples of mini excavators include:

Takeuchi’s TB Mini Excavators | Caterpillar’s Next Gen Mini Excavators | Kubota’s K, KX and U Compact Excavators

New Holland E42D mini excavator with hammer attachment near rocks New Holland’s New E42D and E50D Mini Excavators Are the Brand’s First Fully Engineered In-House
Keith Gribbins
August 19, 2025
Read Article
Compact Track Loaders Yanmar CE's full line of compact equipment wheel loader excavator track loader and compact crawler
A Deep Dive into Yanmar’s Recently Completed Compact Equipment Lineup
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Mini Excavators CASE-CX12D-Mini-Excavator-Hero-Photo
Case Adds Four New Mini Excavators to Its D Series, Including the Electric CX25EV
June 26, 2025
Mini Excavators Caterpillar National Hockey League video thumbnail operators on ice
Video: Caterpillar Mini Excavators Play Hockey in Latest Marketing Move
June 24, 2025
Mini Excavators Case CX85E midi excavator
Case CE Adds the CX85E and CX90E to its Midi Excavator Lineup
June 3, 2025
Attachments Develon mini excavator
Keep Your Compact Track Loader and Mini Excavator Attachments in Top Shape with These Maintenance Tips

You are tackling a critical construction project with your mini excavator paired with a hydraulic breaker. Because you make it a habit to fo...

June 2, 2025
Mini Excavators
12 Manufacturers Highlight Their Mini Excavators

Mini excavators are great machines for a wide variety of tasks, everything from excavating for underground utility installations to moving d...

May 9, 2025
Mini Excavators Sany SY16C -2 mini excavator with a retractable undercarriage in the dirt
A Buyer’s Guide to Mini Excavators with Retractable/Expandable Undercarriages

Mini excavators with retractable undercarriages are purpose-built for jobs where space is limited. Whether you’re moving through backy...

April 28, 2025
Mini Excavators Cat Mini Hex Trio
Compact Excavator Terminology Explained: Your Essential Guide to Mini Digger Lingo

Decoding Key Terms Every Contractor Should Know Compact excavators have become indispensable on jobsites — from residential landscapin...

April 25, 2025
Mini Excavators Yanmar excavator milestone
Yanmar CE Marks Mini Excavator Milestone with Its 300,000th Machine

Yanmar Compact Equipment Co. has celebrated a major production milestone. The company recently announced the manufacture of its 300,000th mi...

April 17, 2025
Mini Excavators Takeuchi compact excavator focus on tracks
Tread Wisely: A Guide to Mini Excavator Tracks

It’s hard to drive past a construction, demolition, landscaping or utility jobsite these days without spotting a mini excavator at wor...

April 17, 2025
Mini Excavators JCB mini excavator being worked on, track maintenance mechanic
How Protecting a Mini Excavator’s Residual Value Enhances Profitability When Reselling

Making Money with Mini Excavator Upkeep Residual value can be overlooked when calculating life-cycle owning and operating costs for compact ...

April 16, 2025
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