If you’re asking “how deep can a 1.7T mini excavator dig?”, a Kubota U17-3 has a manufacturer-rated maximum digging depth of 2,310 mm. That’s just over 2.3 metres, but the maximum number doesn’t tell you whether a 1.7T machine is the right choice for every excavation approaching that depth.
Quick answer
The Kubota U17-3 can dig to a maximum depth of 2,310 mm. Kubota also specifies a maximum digging radius of 3,900 mm.
Those are maximum working-range figures. In the real world, the depth you can sensibly work at also depends on where the excavator can sit, trench width, ground conditions, required reach, spoil placement and the shape of the excavation.
If your job needs the machine to work at or near its maximum digging depth for a substantial amount of excavation, a larger excavator may be a better choice.
Kubota U17-3 digging depth and reach
Digger2Hire’s Kubota U17-3 1.7T mini excavator is a compact machine designed to provide useful digging capability while still fitting into restricted-access sites.
| Kubota U17-3 working range | Manufacturer figure |
|---|---|
| Maximum digging depth | 2,310 mm |
| Maximum digging radius | 3,900 mm |
| Operating weight | 1,675 kg |
| Minimum machine width | 990 mm |
| Maximum machine width | 1,240 mm |
These figures describe the U17-3 specifically. Another excavator in roughly the same weight class may have a different working range, so don’t assume every 1.7T machine digs to exactly the same depth.
Maximum digging depth is not the same as ideal working depth
This is the part that’s easy to miss when comparing excavator specifications.
A maximum digging depth tells you the deepest point the bucket can reach within the manufacturer’s specified working range. It doesn’t mean every job slightly shallower than that figure is automatically a good match for the machine.
If you need to scratch the bottom of one small section near maximum depth, that’s very different from excavating a long trench while working close to the machine’s limit for hours.
The closer your job gets to the limit of a small excavator’s working range, the more important it becomes to look at the entire excavation rather than one number on a specification sheet.
Where can the excavator actually sit?
An excavator doesn’t dig straight down underneath itself. The boom, arm and bucket work through an arc in front of the machine.
That means the machine needs to be positioned where it can reach the required depth from a suitable working position.
A trench beside an open yard may give you plenty of room to position the excavator. A hole beside a house, retaining wall, fence or other obstacle can be very different.
If the machine has to sit farther away from the excavation, horizontal reach becomes increasingly important.
The U17-3’s manufacturer-rated maximum digging radius is 3,900 mm. That figure helps explain why reach needs to be considered alongside the 2,310 mm maximum digging depth.
Trench width changes the job
Digging a narrow service trench is not the same job as excavating a wide hole to the same depth.
A narrow trench removes less material. A wider excavation requires more bucket cycles, creates more spoil and may require the excavator to reposition as the hole develops.
Bucket choice matters too. The U17-3 is supplied with multiple buckets at both Digger2Hire locations, allowing the bucket to be matched more closely to the type of excavation. You can see more information about our equipment and attachments.
Using a much wider bucket than the job requires means digging out material you didn’t need to remove in the first place.
Ground conditions can make the same depth very different
Two trenches with exactly the same dimensions can be completely different jobs.
Previously disturbed soil may dig relatively easily. Compacted clay can take considerably more work. Roots, buried material, hard layers or rocky ground can slow the excavation further.
A ripper can help loosen some compacted ground before switching back to a bucket. A ripper is included with the U17-3 at both Digger2Hire locations.
There are limits, though. A ripper doesn’t turn a 1.7T mini excavator into a rock-breaking machine. Hard rock or demanding ground may need different equipment.
You need somewhere to put the spoil
The hole is only half the job. Everything you dig out has to go somewhere.
As a trench gets deeper, the amount of spoil beside it can build quickly. You need enough room to place excavated material without blocking the machine’s working area or creating another problem around the excavation.
If the material needs to be loaded into a trailer or moved elsewhere on the property, think about that before you start digging.
A 1.7T excavator may be perfectly capable of digging the hole while another part of the job, such as moving a large amount of spoil over distance, would be more efficient with different equipment.
Access can still decide which machine you use
You might look at a larger excavator and decide its extra digging depth would make the job easier. That only helps if you can actually get the larger machine to the excavation.
The U17-3 can retract to 990 mm wide, which is one reason this class is useful for residential work. A larger excavator generally needs more access.
If you’re dealing with restricted side access, see our guide to checking whether a mini excavator will fit through your side gate.
If the access is too narrow for a 1.7T machine, our micro vs mini excavator guide explains the practical difference when you step down to a smaller micro excavator.
If access isn’t a problem, don’t choose the smallest machine simply because it will technically reach the required depth.
What sort of digging suits a 1.7T mini excavator?
A 1.7T machine can be a practical choice for many residential and light excavation jobs where access matters.
Depending on the site, ground conditions and required dimensions, that can include:
- drainage trenches
- stormwater trenches
- irrigation trenches
- electrical conduit trenches
- smaller footing excavations
- retaining-wall preparation
- landscaping excavation
- general backyard digging
Our guide to what a 1.7T mini excavator can do covers the broader range of jobs this machine class can handle.
When should you choose a larger excavator?
If the required excavation is close to the U17-3’s maximum digging depth, particularly over a substantial area or along a long trench, it’s worth considering a larger machine.
A larger excavator can offer greater digging depth, reach, digging force and productivity. If you’ve got unrestricted access, those advantages may outweigh the higher daily hire cost. Depending on location and availability, Digger2Hire also offers a Kubota U25-3 2.5T excavator and a Yanmar ViO55-6B 5.5T excavator for jobs where a larger machine makes more sense.
The point isn’t that a larger excavator is always better. The machine should suit the job. If you need more working range and have enough access, going bigger can make sense.
How deep can a 1.7T mini excavator dig?
If you’re asking how deep can a 1.7T mini excavator dig, the Kubota U17-3 gives us a clear manufacturer figure: 2,310 mm maximum digging depth.
Use that number as a working-range specification, not as a promise that every excavation up to 2.31 metres is an ideal job for the machine.
Look at the required depth, horizontal reach, trench width, ground conditions, spoil placement and access together. If the job requires substantial excavation near the machine’s maximum range, a larger excavator may be the smarter choice.
If you’re still deciding which machine class suits the job, start with our mini excavator size guide.
About this guide
This guide combines Kubota manufacturer specifications with practical considerations that affect digging depth on a real job. The hard machine figures come from Kubota Australia. The guide also explains why maximum digging depth should not be considered in isolation.
Sources and machine specifications
Not sure whether 1.7T is enough for your job?
Digger2Hire offers the Kubota U17-3 1.7T mini excavator for dry hire across our current service locations. The U17-3 includes multiple buckets and a ripper at both locations, with the complete attachment package confirmed for your selected location.
If you’re unsure whether the U17-3 has enough digging depth for your job, have your job type, location, required depth, access width and a few photos if useful ready. Your local Digger2Hire operator can help you work out whether the 1.7T is a sensible fit. If the job really needs a larger machine, we’d rather tell you before you hire the wrong one.
Need help choosing?
Choose your hire location
Select your location to speak directly with your local Digger2Hire operator about the job, access, machine and attachments.
Hire availability and next steps
For machine specifications and inclusions, see the Kubota U17-3 1.7T excavator. It is available through Digger2Hire in Brisbane and Northern Rivers hire options, with local delivery and collection arrangements confirmed for each region.