What Size Mini Excavator Do I Need?

If you’ve started shopping for a mini excavator, you’ve probably realized pretty quickly that there are a lot of options.

Different sizes. Different engines. Different digging depths. Different attachments. And, of course, very different price points.

So how do you know which one you actually need?

The answer really comes down to what you plan to do with it. You don’t necessarily need the biggest machine you can afford. You need a machine that fits your property, your projects, and the way you plan to use it.

Here are a few things we recommend thinking about before you buy.

First, What Are You Actually Going to Do With It?

This sounds obvious, but it’s the best place to start.

Are you buying a mini excavator to maintain your own property? Are you a landscaper who needs something you can move from job to job? Are you planning to use it every day for construction work?

Mini excavators can handle a surprisingly long list of jobs, including:

• Digging trenches

• Drainage work

• Removing stumps

• Landscaping

• Digging footings

• Fence installation

• Farm and property maintenance

• Clearing brush

• Small demolition projects

• Utility work

• Site preparation

  
  

Think about the jobs you'll do most often, but also think about the jobs you might want to take on later.

Buying a machine that gives you a little room to grow can make a lot more sense than realizing six months from now that you need something bigger.

How Deep Do You Really Need to Dig?

Digging depth is one of the first specs people compare, and for good reason.

But don't get caught up in buying the machine with the biggest number.

If you're mainly digging shallow trenches, working around your property, installing drainage, or doing landscaping, you may never need a machine that digs 10+ feet deep.

On the other hand, if you're working on foundations, utilities, septic systems, or larger construction projects, that extra depth and reach can be worth it.

A good rule of thumb is to think about the deepest job you expect to do regularly, not the deepest hole you could possibly imagine digging.

Where Will You Be Using It?

A machine can have all the power in the world, but it doesn't do you much good if you can't get it where you need it.

If you're working around homes, fences, barns, landscaping, or other structures, a smaller excavator may actually be the better machine for the job.

That's also where features like retractable tracks and side swing become useful. You can get into tighter areas while still having a capable machine once you're in position.

If most of your work is happening in wide-open areas, you have a little more freedom to move up in size.

How Are You Going to Haul It?

This is probably one of the most overlooked questions when people start shopping.

The excavator itself is only part of the equation.

You also have to think about your trailer, attachments, truck, hitch, and the total weight you're going to be pulling. A larger excavator gives you more capability, but it may also mean changing the way you transport your equipment.

Before you buy, make sure the machine makes sense for your entire setup, not just the work you're doing once it gets off the trailer.

Don't Forget About Attachments

One reason we like mini excavators so much is that they aren't limited to digging. The right attachments can make one machine useful for all kinds of projects.

Depending on the machine, you may be able to use different buckets, augers, grapples, breakers, hydraulic thumbs, and other attachments.

So instead of only asking:

"What can I do with this machine today?"

Ask:

"What else could I do with this machine next year?"

For a contractor or small business owner, that can be especially important. The right machine and attachments may allow you to take on jobs you couldn't offer before.

When Does a Smaller Mini Excavator Make Sense?

Smaller machines are a great fit for homeowners, farms, landscaping companies, and anyone regularly working in tighter spaces. For example, the HISCKENO HK14N and HK15N are compact enough for smaller jobs while still giving you the digging power that makes owning an excavator worthwhile. The HK15N features a Kubota D722 diesel engine, retractable tracks, and approximately 6 feet of digging depth.

Machines in this size range can be a great choice for:

• Landscaping

• Drainage

• Residential trenching

• Fence work

• Smaller farms

• Property maintenance

• Backyard projects

If you're tired of doing these jobs by hand or constantly renting equipment, owning a smaller machine can make a lot of sense.

What If You Need Something in the Middle?

Not everyone needs the smallest machine, and not everyone needs an 8,000-pound excavator.

That's where machines like the HISCKENO HK20N and HK22N come in. These give you more capability while still keeping the size manageable for the kinds of jobs where a mini excavator shines. For someone doing a mix of landscaping, property maintenance, farm work, residential construction, and light commercial work, this can be a really practical size range. You get more machine without jumping all the way into something much larger.

When Is It Worth Stepping Up to a Larger Machine?

If you're regularly tackling deeper excavation, larger demolition projects, site preparation, or heavier construction work, stepping up in size can make your day a whole lot easier.

The HISCKENO HK42N, for example, has a 36 HP Kubota diesel engine, approximately 8,400-pound operating weight, 10'8" digging depth, up to 18 feet of reach, two-speed travel, and a cab with heat and A/C.

That's a very different machine than one of our smaller excavators, and it's meant for a different type of buyer. If you're putting your excavator to work regularly and productivity matters, the extra size and capability can be well worth it.

So...Which Mini Excavator Should You Buy?

If you're still not sure, start with these five questions:

What jobs will I use it for most?

How deep do I actually need to dig?

How much room will I have to work?

How am I going to transport it?

What attachments do I want to use?

Once you answer those, narrowing down your options becomes a whole lot easier.

And don't automatically assume that spending more or buying bigger means you're getting the "better" machine. The best mini excavator is the one that fits the work you actually need to do.

There's More to Buying a Machine Than the Machine

We also think there's another part of this conversation that doesn't get talked about enough.

What happens after you buy it?

A cheap machine isn't much of a deal if you can't find parts or don't know who to call when you need help. HISCKENO equipment is Chinese-built, but we're a real U.S.-based team, in Paducah, KY to be exact.

We keep equipment in stock that you can actually see before you buy, provide parts and support after the sale, and back our machines with a 2-year parts-and-labor warranty. We know we're not always going to be the cheapest mini excavator you find online. That's okay.

Our goal is to offer affordable equipment while also giving you something that's hard to put a price on: someone to call after the sale.

Not Sure Which HISCKENO Is Right for You?

Give us a call and tell us what you're trying to do. Seriously.

Tell us what you're digging, where you're working, how you're hauling it, and what kind of budget you're trying to stay within.

We'd rather help you choose the machine that actually fits your needs than simply point you toward the biggest one on the lot.

Because at the end of the day, you're not buying a list of specs.

You're buying a machine because you have work to get done.