Choosing the right excavatorsize for your Brisbane, Gold Coast or Southeast Queensland project does not mean simply selecting the biggest machine available.
The correct size depends on the task, available space and required digging depth. These are also the main factors APU recommends considering when selecting an excavator.
APU Excavations & Rentals provides excavators from 1 tonne to 8.5 tonne, with wet hire and dry hire options across Southeast Queensland.
This excavator size guide explains:
- How excavator size is measured
- What each excavator size can handle
- How to choose according to your site requirements
- When vacuum excavation may be more appropriate
Quick Reference: Excavator Sizes at a Glance
If you already know the general scope of your project, this quick comparison can help narrow down the available options.
- 1 tonne: Tight access, landscaping, drainage and light residential excavation. Minimum width starts from approximately 700 mm depending on the model.
- 1.7 tonne: Narrow trenching, drainage systems, landscaping, retaining walls and small footings.
- 2.6 tonne: Foundation work, underground services, ground preparation and retaining walls.
- 3.5 tonne: Trenching, drainage, underground services, landscaping, levelling and light demolition.
- 5 tonne: Medium to large construction work, trenching, drainage, utility installations, landscaping and demolition.
- 6.5 tonne: Utilities, pipe laying, foundation excavation, trenching, roadside works, demolition and rock breaking.
- 8.5 tonne: Deep trenching, utility installation, site preparation, foundation excavation, demolition and rock breaking, with a published maximum digging depth of approximately 4.6 metres.
APU’s complete excavator hire range includes all seven size categories.
How Is Excavator Size Measured?
Excavators are commonly grouped according to their tonnage or operating weight class.
For contractors comparing equipment, that tonnage provides a useful starting point. The machine specifications then help determine whether a particular excavator suits the access and digging requirements of the site.
APU currently lists excavator hire categories from 1 tonne through to 8.5 tonne.
The right choice should therefore consider the size category alongside the actual specifications of the machine being supplied.
Check More Than the Tonnage
Two machines from different size categories can have very different access requirements and digging capabilities.
Before booking, check details such as machine width, digging depth, swing configuration and required attachments.
APU notes that specifications can vary between individual machine models, so model specific details should be confirmed when arranging hire.
Excavator Size Chart by Tonnage
The table is a starting point. Available space and required digging depth should still be checked before selecting the machine.
1 Tonne Excavator for Tight Access Projects
A 1 tonne excavator is the smallest excavator category currently available through APU.
APU lists the Kubota K008 5 and U10 5 within this category. These compact machines are intended for tight access work, landscaping, light excavation and residential projects.
The K008 5 has a published minimum width of approximately 700 mm, while the U10 5 starts at approximately 750 mm.
That makes the 1 tonne category worth considering where gates, walkways or other restricted access points limit the size of equipment that can reach the work area.
What Can a 1 Tonne Excavator Be Used For?
APU lists applications including:
- Residential work with limited access
- Drainage
- Fencing and footings
- Landscaping ground preparation
- Indoor excavation and shed works
- Small scale demolition
The exact machine supplied should always be checked against the narrowest access point on the site.
1.7 Tonne Excavator for Trenching and Drainage
The 1.7 tonne excavator offers another compact option for residential, landscaping and construction projects.
APU’s Kubota U17 3HG has a variable track width that reduces to approximately 990 mm and uses a zero tail swing design.
Its published applications include trench digging in narrow areas, drainage systems, retaining walls, landscaping, site levelling and small footings.
This makes the 1.7 tonne category particularly relevant when a project requires compact access while handling a broader excavation scope than light residential digging.
2.6 Tonne Excavator for Foundations and Services
The 2.6 tonne excavator provides additional digging capability while retaining compact dimensions.
APU lists the Kubota U25 3S in this category with a published machine width of approximately 1.5 metres and digging depth of up to 2.82 metres.
Its published applications include:
- Trenching and foundation work
- Underground service installation
- Ground preparation for slabs or structures
- Landscaping
- Retaining wall construction
For projects where the smaller excavator categories do not provide the required digging depth, the 2.6 tonne category provides a useful next option.
3.5 Tonne Excavator for Versatile Site Work
The 3.5 tonne excavator sits between APU’s smaller mini excavators and its larger construction equipment.
The Kubota U35 4 listed by APU has a published machine width of approximately 1.7 metres and a maximum digging depth of approximately 3.05 metres.
Common applications published by APU include trenching, underground services, landscaping, levelling, drainage, piping installations and light demolition.
Its zero tail swing configuration also makes the machine relevant for projects where operating space remains an important consideration.
5 Tonne Excavator for Construction Projects
The 5 tonne excavator category is positioned by APU for medium to larger construction work in urban and rural areas.
APU’s Hitachi ZX48U 5A has a published digging depth of approximately 3.38 metres and a zero tail swing configuration.
The applications published for this excavator include:
- Trenching and drainage
- Utility installations
- Landscaping and levelling
- Demolition and small structures
This size category is worth considering where the project requires greater excavation capability while site conditions still favour relatively compact equipment.
6.5 Tonne Excavator for Civil and Utility Work
The 6.5 tonne excavator moves into a more demanding range of civil and construction applications.
APU lists the Hitachi ZX65USB 5A, which uses a short tail swing design and supports multiple hydraulic attachments.
Its published applications include:
- Utilities and pipe laying
- Footings and foundation excavation
- Demolition and material clearance
- Roadside and urban works
- Rock breaking
- Trenching
The machine is also promoted by APU for civil construction and work where operating space remains restricted.
8.5 Tonne Excavator for Deeper Excavation
The 8.5 tonne excavator is the largest excavator size category currently listed on APU’s excavator hire page.
APU’s Kubota KX080 3 has a published operating weight of approximately 8,280 to 8,330 kg and a maximum digging depth of approximately 4.6 metres.
Published applications include:
- Deep trenching
- Utility installation
- Site preparation
- Foundation and footing excavation
- Demolition
- Rock breaking
- Rural fencing and drainage
For projects requiring greater digging depth or more substantial excavation work, this is the largest category in APU’s current excavator range.
How to Choose the Right Excavator Size
APU’s own guidance states that the right excavator size depends on the task, available space and required digging depth.
These three checks provide a practical way to narrow down the options before requesting equipment.
- Start WiththeType of Work
First identify what the excavator actually needs to do.
Trenching, drainage, foundations, landscaping, demolition and underground service work appear across different parts of APU’s excavator range.
Matching the project scope with the applications published for each machine can quickly narrow down the appropriate category.
- MeasureSite Access and Working Space
Access can determine whether an excavator is suitable before digging begins.
APU’s smaller machines include configurations designed specifically for confined areas. The 1 tonne K008 5, for example, has a published minimum width of approximately 700 mm.
The 1.7 tonne Kubota U17 3HG reduces to approximately 990 mm, while the 2.6 tonne U25 3S has a published width of approximately 1.5 metres.
Measure the route to the excavation area as well as the space available for the machine to operate once it reaches the work zone.
- ChecktheRequired Digging Depth
Required digging depth is another factor specifically identified by APU when choosing an excavator.
For example, the 2.6 tonne U25 3S has a published digging depth of approximately 2.82 metres, the 3.5 tonne U35 4 approximately 3.05 metres and the 8.5 tonne KX080 3 approximately 4.6 metres.
Check the required project depth against the specifications of the individual machine before booking.
- Considerthe Attachments Required
Attachments can expand the types of work an excavator can perform.
APU lists bucket options, rippers and hydraulic attachment capability across several machines in its excavator range.
Tell APU what work needs to be completed when requesting a quote so the machine and available attachments can be considered together.
What Size Excavator Is Best Around Underground Services?
Excavator size is not the only decision when work involves underground infrastructure.
Where underground services need to be identified or safely exposed before mechanical excavation, vacuum excavation and non destructive digging may be appropriate.
APU provides vacuum excavation services for controlled excavation around underground services. The service is designed to expose utilities while reducing the risk of damage to surrounding infrastructure.
This is particularly relevant for civil construction, utility work and early works where the position of existing services must be confirmed.
Service Locating Before Excavation
APU also provides service locating using electromagnetic locating and vacuum potholing to identify and verify underground utilities before excavation.
The service covers utilities including electrical, gas, water, sewer, stormwater and communications.
For a project involving existing underground assets, choosing the excavation method can be just as important as choosing the excavator size.
Wet Hire or Dry Hire Excavator?
APU offers both wet hire and dry hire across its excavator range.
Wet Hire
Wet hire includes the excavator with an APU operator.
This option provides the machine and operator together for the required excavation work.
Dry Hire
Dry hire provides the excavator without an operator for use by the client’s own suitably qualified personnel.
APU’s excavator hire page states that its fleet is available under both arrangements, allowing contractors to choose the hire format that best suits their project requirements.
Excavator Hire Across Southeast Queensland
APU Excavations & Rentals supplies excavators across Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and surrounding areas.
Delivery and collection are managed from APU’s Yatala base, with both wet hire and dry hire options available across the excavator fleet.
Whether the project requires a compact 1 tonne machine for restricted access or an 8.5 tonne excavator for deeper excavation, the first step is matching the machine to the task, available space and required depth.
Need Help Choosing the Right Excavator?
Choosing the right excavator starts with three practical questions: What work needs to be completed? How much space is available? How deep does the excavation need to go?
APU Excavations & Rentals provides 1 to 8.5 tonne excavator hire, with wet hire and dry hire options across Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and surrounding Southeast Queensland areas.
Explore the complete excavator hire fleet or contact APU Excavations & Rentals to discuss the requirements of your next project.