Choosing the right size excavator is very important to the success of your project. Every piece of heavy machinery is important and performs a different job. So before choosing an excavator, you need to know how to choose the right excavator size and each attachment and function.

Excavator Size

Any excavator size comparison needs to cover three sizes of machinery: small, medium and large. Choosing the right size excavator starts with understanding the differences between the different sizes. Learn more about excavator sizes below:

Small Excavator

Small excavators, often called compact or mini excavators, mini excavators generally weigh 6 tons or less, are excavators designed for hard-to-reach areas and jobs that don't require much power.

Due to their small size, they are one of the most versatile types of excavators. Companies use these models for subdivision sewer repairs, foundation repairs, interior work, and water line installation.

Unlike other heavier excavators, they have the advantage that they can sometimes be pulled behind a Class 1 or 2 truck for easy mobility. Ideal for projects where you don't need a full size excavator but want a machine that will help you get the job done faster than you can do it by hand.

Medium Excavator

Medium or midi excavators make up a large portion of excavators used in various industries, a midi can weigh anywhere from 6 to 10 tons. Typically, they are used in utilities, landscaping, road and bridge construction, and building construction. There are several different types of excavators of this size, with either a standard tail design or a minimal or zero radius construction.

These excavators offer many of the mobility advantages of a compact excavator while also providing similar power to a larger excavator.

Large Excavator

Large excavators are considered the industry standard. Therefore, they are called full-size or standard-only models. A typical standard excavator will weigh 19-24 tons, but they can range from 10 to 45 tons.

Among the lighter weight excavators, you can find machines with zero or close to zero turning radius. However, most excavators are full-featured and full-sized. These are the least mobile excavators, and the heavier they are, the harder it is to drive over rough terrain. However, they make up for this lack of mobility with top-tier power.