Compact & Mini Excavators for Sale

Learn More About Mini Excavators

Mini excavators are a standard piece of equipment on many job sites because they are versatile and highly productive machines. They can be used for digging material, plowing, landscaping work, demolishing small structures and much more.

These compact machines run on diesel and have a range of attachment available depending on your job. They differ from standard excavators mostly due to size, but also because they reduce track marks and top ground damage.

Mini excavators are also favored machines in smaller work sites because of their maneuverability - you can move them forward & backwards similar to a skid steer - and the fact that you can more easily transport them between sites.

What are the types of mini excavators?

Tail Swing

The conventional mini excavator is what's called a Tail Swing because it houses a counterweight on the back of the unit to stabilize against the excavator's heavy bucket and arm.

The counterweight allows for greater lifting capabilities, which means greater bucket and arm breakout force. These machines also tend to have roomier cabs, giving the operator added space and comfort while he/she maneuvers the machine.

The downside to tail swing mini excavators is due to the counterweight, the overall size of the unit is greater, thus they can stick out and make operation more difficult in tighter spaces

Zero Tail Swing

Zero Tail Swing mini excavators are popular for their ability to navigate tighter workspaces, such as residential or urban job sites. The machines work in a similar way to Tail Swing, using a counterweight to offset the bucket and arm's reach. But the main difference is the counterweight system doesn't stick out beyond the width of the excavators' tracks. The counterweight rotates within the width of the tracks, giving it easier access alongside walls, for example.

What are the best brands for mini excavators?

At Ritchie Bros., you'll find a wide selection from over 15 manufacturers of mini excavators, including CAT, Bobcat, John Deere, Yamar, Kubota & many more.

Choosing which brand to go with can be a challenge, as each offers their own unique features and technology. For example, John Deere specializes in compact and reduced tail swing designs, while CAT provides some of the slimmest profile mini excavators designs in the market. Bobcat boasts its M Series mini excavators as smaller, more lightweight machines.

When it comes time to choose which mini excavator you want, consider factors like digging depth, dump height and operating weight. This will guide you in deciding how big an excavator you need in relation to your work and level of productivity.

Different ways to buy Mini excavators at Ritchie Bros.

Ritchie Bros offers multiple ways to buy equipment such as auctions, Marketplace-E with instant offers and our new private buying experience at Ritchie List. Expand your search for Mini excavators for sale today with our storefronts:

• Mini excavators for sale on IronPlanet and Marketplace-E
• Mini excavators for sale on Ritchie List
• View detailed mini excavator specs on RitchieSpecs

Want to sell your Mini excavator?

Rbauction offers robust options to sell your equipment. Get in touch with our seller team today.

Sell Now