What size excavator do I need? Matching the machine to the job

For house footings, service trenches and small stumps, a 1.8 t to 2.6 t mini excavator is usually the right size: it digs 2.4 to 2.6 m deep, fits most side access and comes on its own plant trailer. Step up to 3.5 t or 6 t for site cuts and drainage, and 10 t and up for dams and bulk earthworks.

The rest of this guide works through our excavator fleet job by job, with the numbers that actually decide it: dig depth, width through the gate, how it gets to site and what it costs per day. Bigger is not automatically faster: a machine that can't get in, or bogs on wet clay, costs you more time than a smaller one that keeps working.

Which excavator suits which job?

Match the dig depth and the access first, then the work rate. The table below covers all eight excavators we run, from the 1.2 t to the 21 t.

Widths come from the manufacturers: Sany lists the SY35U at 1,720 mm and the SY155U at about 2.6 m, and Yanmar lists the SV100 at 2,320 mm. The SY155U dig depth is Sany's published figure and varies with arm length. Weekly and monthly rates apply on longer hires.

What size excavator do you need for footings, trenches and stumps?

For residential footings and service trenches, a 1.8 t is enough most of the time. Your engineer's drawings set the footing depth, and most house and shed footings sit well inside the 2.4 m the Sany 1.8 t reaches, so don't pay for a 6 t you can't get through the gate.

• Footings: 1.8 t or 2.6 t. The 1.8 t's tilt hitch helps trim trench walls and batter edges. The 2.6 t gives you more lift for long strip footings and spoil handling.
• Service trenches: 1.2 t for shallow irrigation and cable runs in tight yards, 1.8 t to 3.5 t for stormwater and sewer. Once a trench goes past 1.5 m deep it is high risk construction work in Victoria, which needs a safe work method statement and, unless it's part of permitted building work, notice to WorkSafe at least three days before you dig.
• Stumps: small garden stumps come out with a 1.8 t. Big, established stumps want a 3.5 t or 6 t with a ripper tyne. If the stump only needs to go below ground level, a stump grinder is often quicker; see stump grinder hire or a contractor.
• Site cuts: 3.5 t for a small slab or shed pad, 6 t for a house slab or a cut into a slope. Pair it with a tracked loader to spread and level the spoil.
• Dams and bulk earthworks: 10 t and up. The 14 t and 21 t are civil machines: long trench runs, deep services and moving volume quickly.

Will the excavator fit through your gate?

Measure the narrowest point between the road and the dig, not just the gate. Downpipes, fence posts and tree trunks often pinch tighter than the gate itself.

The Sany 1.8 t has a retractable undercarriage that narrows to about 980 mm for access, then widens to about 1,350 mm for stability once it's in (dealer spec for the SY18U). The Case 2.6 t is about 1.5 m wide and the Sany 3.5 t is 1.72 m. If your access is tighter than about a metre, ask about the 1.2 t. Tell us the measurement when you book and we'll tell you honestly which machine gets in.

Which excavators come on their own trailer?

The 1.2 t, 1.8 t and 2.6 t each come on their own plant trailer, so you can tow them yourself or have them delivered. Everything from the 3.5 t up needs transport, which we arrange from the Sale yard on our float: a UD prime mover and a 45 ft StoneStar drop deck widener.

If you're towing, check your vehicle's towing rating against the loaded trailer. A Victorian car licence lets you tow a single trailer up to 9 tonnes GVM or the vehicle maker's towing limit, whichever is less, and for most utes the towing limit is the one that bites. Our guide to getting hire gear delivered covers what to tell us for a float delivery.

How does Gippsland ground change the choice?

Wet clay changes everything. Agriculture Victoria notes that heavy cracking clays are common on the Latrobe Valley floodplains and can disperse badly when worked wet, and much of the country around Sale, Maffra and the valley holds water through winter and spring.

• A heavier machine on saturated clay sinks, tears up the surface and can get stuck. A lighter machine working off firmer ground is often faster in practice.
• On rural blocks around Maffra, soft ground and narrow farm gates are the usual limits. Walk the route from the gate to the dig before you pick a size.
• If the site has a finished lawn, driveway or paving, plan ground protection or a lighter machine. Rubber tracks help, but weight still matters.

Which attachments and auger sizes can you add?

Every excavator comes with its buckets and hitch. On top of that we carry ripper tynes, jackhammers, mechanical and hydraulic grabs (not on the 1.2 t), and an auger drive with drill bits in 50, 300, 350, 400, 450, 600 and 700 mm.

For bored piers, the pier diameter comes off your engineer's drawings, so match the auger to the drawing rather than guessing. For fence and post holes, size the auger to the post plus room for concrete. Tell us the hole size and depth when you book and we'll pair the auger with a machine that can drive it.

Do you need a ticket to operate an excavator in Victoria?

No high risk work licence is needed. WorkSafe Victoria states that you don't need a high risk work licence to operate earthmoving equipment such as an excavator. You still need to be competent, and many builders and civil sites ask for evidence of training before you start.

Depending on the machine and the site, we may ask for your driver's licence or the relevant machine ticket before gear leaves the yard. Every hire also comes with a risk assessment and the operator's manual. Our post on what comes with a dry hire covers the rest.

Common questions

Is a 1.8 tonne excavator big enough for house footings?

Usually, yes. The Sany 1.8 t digs to about 2.4 m, which covers most residential strip and pad footings, and it comes with four buckets and a 180 degree tilt hitch. Check the depth on your engineer's drawings. If the footings are long and the spoil has to move far, the 2.6 t saves time.

How deep can a 3.5 tonne excavator dig?

Our Sany SY35U digs to about 3.1 m. Sany's spec sheet lists a maximum digging depth of 3,105 mm. It needs transport, which we arrange from the Sale yard, and hires for $350 + GST a day.

Can I tow a mini excavator myself?

Yes, for the 1.2 t, 1.8 t and 2.6 t, which each come on their own plant trailer. Your vehicle must be rated to tow the loaded trailer. A Victorian car licence covers a single trailer up to 9 t GVM or the vehicle's towing limit, whichever is lower. Pick up is from 8 Dawson St, Sale.

Do I need to lodge a Before You Dig enquiry?

Yes, before any digging. Lodging with Before You Dig Australia is free, and asset owners are asked to respond within 2 business days, so lodge before the machine arrives. The plans are indicative only, so expose services by hand where the asset owner tells you to.

When do I need something bigger than a 6 tonne?

When you're digging deeper than about 3.8 m, moving serious volume, or digging dams. The 10 t reaches about 4.5 m, the 14 t about 5.5 m and the 21 t about 6.6 m. All three need transport, so allow for delivery when you plan the job.

What does excavator hire cost in Sale?

Our daily rates run from $220 + GST for the 1.2 t to $490 + GST for the 14 t, with the 21 t on request. Every hire goes out with a full tank and the buckets listed for that machine. Weekly and monthly rates apply on longer hires.

Tell us the job, the narrowest access point and the date you need the machine on the ground, and we'll match the right size. Booked out on the one you wanted? Ask anyway, the fleet moves daily. Check availability