What size digger do I need?
5 min read
Hiring the wrong size machine is the most common — and most expensive — mistake on a small site. Too big and it won't get through the gate; too small and you'll be on hire twice as long. Here's how we size machines for customers every day.
Start with access, not the dig
Measure the narrowest point the machine has to pass through: a side gate, an alleyway, a doorway, or a gap between the house and a fence. Write that number down before anything else.
Our JCB 8008 CTS retracts to 700 mm, which is narrow enough for a standard doorway or a typical Victorian side passage. If your tightest point is under about 750 mm, the 8008 is the only realistic option.
If you have driveway or field access wider than about 2 m, the 5-tonne JCB 48Z-1 becomes viable and will move a lot more material per hour.
Then match the depth and volume
The 1-tonne 8008 CTS digs to 1.73 m with a 3.16 m reach. That covers patio lifts, garden ponds, shallow drainage runs, footings for garden rooms and stump removal.
The 5-tonne 48Z-1 is the machine for house extensions, deeper drainage, driveways, larger footings and any job where you're loading a grab lorry or moving many tonnes of spoil.
Rule of thumb: under about 20 tonnes of muck to move, the micro digger is fine. Above that, a 5-tonne machine usually saves you a day or more of hire.
Don't forget spoil and surfaces
Where is the dug material going? A 1-tonne machine paired with a barrow works for small volumes; anything larger needs a dumper or a skip within easy reach.
Both our machines are rubber tracked, which is far kinder to block paving, patios and lawns than a steel-tracked machine. Ply or track mats are still worth using on finished surfaces.
Still unsure? Send us the photo
Send a photo of your access point and a rough description of the dig, and we'll tell you which machine fits — including if the honest answer is that you don't need one.
Both machines can be booked online with live availability, and delivery is charged at a flat £1 per mile from your nearest depot.
Ready to book?
Live availability, £1 per mile delivery from Norwich or Peterborough, operator optional.