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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

CASE-CX12D-Mini-Excavator-Hero-Photo Case Adds Four New Mini Excavators to Its D Series, Including the Electric CX25EV
Keith Gribbins
June 26, 2025
Read Article
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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
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Keep Your Compact Track Loader and Mini Excavator Attachments in Top Shape with These Maintenance Tips
June 2, 2025
Mini Excavators
12 Manufacturers Highlight Their Mini Excavators
May 9, 2025
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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
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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
Electric Equipment Hyundai HX19e
Hyundai Announces the HX19e — Its First Battery Electric Mini Excavator

Hyundai Construction Equipment Europe is entering the electric mini excavator market. The company just announced the launch of its first bat...

April 8, 2025
Electric Equipment Takeuchi-TB20e
Takeuchi Will Debut New Electric Excavator Prototypes at bauma Next Week

This is Takeuchi’s previously released TB20e in a ROPS configuration. We don’t have images of these new electric machines yet. C...

April 4, 2025
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