How Wide Are Micro Diggers? A Width Chart by Size Class
How wide are micro diggers? Most machines in the micro and 1 tonne class measure between 700 mm and 1,100 mm across the undercarriage — narrow enough to pass through a standard single garden gate and, in the smallest cases, a domestic doorway.
That figure is the whole reason the category exists. But "width" on a spec sheet can mean three different things, and the difference between them decides whether the machine gets through your access on the day.
The Three Widths on a Spec Sheet
- Transport width (overall width). The widest point of the undercarriage with the tracks retracted. This is the number that matters for gate access.
- Expanded width. Some models have a variable-gauge undercarriage that widens for stability when working. A machine that transports at 750 mm may work at 1,100 mm.
- Upperstructure width. The width of the body and cab above the tracks. On machines with a full cab or a wide counterweight, this can be well under the track width and is rarely the constraint — but on some models with wide upper frames it is the thing that catches on a gate post.
Always ask for transport width and working width separately. A dealer quoting a single number is usually quoting the more flattering one.
Micro Digger Width Chart by Size Class
| Size class | Operating weight | Typical transport width | Fits through |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micro | 600–900 kg | 700–780 mm | Single garden gate, most internal doorways |
| 0.8–1 t | 800–1,100 kg | 720–900 mm | Standard 900 mm gate, double doors |
| 1 t class | 1,000–1,300 kg | 900–1,100 mm | Double gates, wide side access |
| 1.5–1.8 t | 1,500–1,900 kg | 990–1,300 mm | Wide double gates, site access only |
| 2 t and above | 2,000 kg+ | 1,300–1,550 mm | Open site access; check trailer width |
Note the overlap: a well-designed 1 tonne machine can be narrower than a poorly designed 0.8 tonne one. Width is an engineering choice, not purely a consequence of weight.
Measuring Your Access Properly
Before ordering anything, take four measurements and photograph each one:
- The narrowest point on the route — gate opening, passage, or between walls. Measure the clear opening between the posts, not the gate leaf.
- The height limit — a machine with a canopy may be taller than one with a folding ROPS bar.
- The turning point — the tightest corner. A machine that fits down a straight passage may not get around a 90° turn.
- The ground on the route — soft lawn, gravel or a narrow bridge all decide whether you can drive the machine in or need to track it in on plates.
Leave at least 50 mm of clearance either side. Fifty millimetres sounds generous until you are steering a 1 tonne machine through a painted gate frame with 20 mm to spare and a client watching.
Other Dimensions That Catch People Out
Width gets the attention, but these are the ones that actually stop jobs:
- Track length on the ground. Short tracks turn more easily in tight spaces but ride worse over rough ground.
- Tail swing radius. Conventional machines sweep the counterweight past the track width when slewing. Zero or short tail-swing models keep it inside — essential when working against a wall.
- Boom swing offset. Offset booms let you dig parallel to a wall without repositioning, which partly compensates for a wider machine.
- Transport height and weight. The machine must also fit your trailer and stay within your vehicle's towing capacity.
Choosing the Narrowest Machine That Still Does the Job
Buying the narrowest machine available is rarely right either. Very narrow machines are lighter, and lighter machines have less breakout force, less reach and less stability — particularly when the boom is offset or you are lifting at reach.
A sensible process:
- Fix your access limit first (the narrowest gap on the route).
- Fix your performance floor second (deepest dig, heaviest lift, hardest material).
- Buy the heaviest machine that satisfies both.
If the gap between those two constraints is very tight, a variable-gauge undercarriage is usually the answer: retract to squeeze through the gate, extend for stability once inside.
Our mini excavator range includes micro models from 0.8 t through to 2.9 t, with transport width published on every model — including the SDLE08 micro and the 1 m wide SDLE12 for standard gate access.
