M Mini Digger Hire
Commercial groundwork

5 Tonne Digger Hire

A capable midi excavator for commercial groundwork and deeper digs where a mini won't reach. For example, deep drainage runs and strip foundations are well within its range. Hired with no deposit and delivered and collected to your site anywhere in the UK.

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The numbers

5 ton digger specifications

A true site machine at ~1.96 m wide, it digs to 3.8 m with ~6.0 m of reach — the point where you move from domestic work into proper commercial groundwork and deep drainage. As a result, it suits contractors more than homeowners.

Access and ground both need thought, because this machine wants open routes and a solid hardstanding to track and slew on. It will mark and compact lawns and soft verges, so it is built for working sites rather than finished gardens. For domestic jobs, a lighter machine on rubber tracks is the kinder choice.

Operating weight
5 tonne
Dig depth
up to ~3.8 m
Transport width
~1.96 m
Max reach
~6.0 m

Best for

  • Commercial groundwork
  • Deep drainage
  • Site clearance
  • Foundations

The workhorse for contractors: digging deep service and drainage trenches to invert, excavating raft and strip foundations on commercial plots, stripping and clearing sites ready for build, and shifting serious volumes of spoil. With the reach and breakout force a midi can't match, it keeps a busy site moving.

Guide price £140/day. Your exact quote is confirmed on enquiry with no deposit to pay, and delivery and collection across the UK are arranged on your chosen dates.

Sizing up the job?

For domestic extensions a 3 tonne is often enough; for the deepest, highest-volume work move to the 8 tonne. Compare the full range or jump to a neighbouring size.

In contrast, the 3 tonne midi handles most domestic foundations and fits tighter access, whereas the 8 tonne digs deeper again for bulk earthmoving. Every 5 tonne hire includes a digging bucket, delivery and collection, and a handover on safe use. Furthermore, we can add a grading bucket or breaker and arrange a ticketed operator for site work.

All sizes compared 3t Midi 8 tonne

Get a 5 ton digger quote

Tell us the job, your postcode and dates — we'll confirm the machine, operated hire if needed, and price it with no deposit.

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5 ton digger hire FAQs

How much space does a 5 ton digger need?
At around ~1.96 m wide and 5 tonne, this is a site machine — it needs open access, a solid hardstanding to work from and room to slew. It won't go through domestic gateways, so it's best suited to driveways, building sites and commercial plots. If access is tight, look at the 3 tonne instead.
How deep can a 5 tonne digger dig?
It reaches up to ~3.8 m with a digging reach of around ~6.0 m — deep enough for proper drainage to invert, deep foundations and below-ground commercial work that a midi can't reach. For the deepest digs and biggest volumes, step up to the 8 tonne.
What jobs is a 5 ton digger best for?
Best for commercial groundwork, deep drainage, site clearance, foundations. That covers commercial groundwork and site preparation, deep drainage and attenuation digs, clearing and grubbing-up sites, and excavating substantial foundations — work where the extra reach, depth and breakout force genuinely pay off.
Do I need a trained operator for a 5 tonne machine?
On commercial and construction sites a recognised operator card (CPCS/NPORS) is normally required, and the size really calls for an experienced hand. If you don't have a ticketed operator, we offer operated hire with a driver so the digging is done for you.
Will it damage finished ground?
At 5 tonne this machine will mark and compact lawns, soft verges and finished surfaces — it's built for working sites and hardstanding, not tidy gardens. For domestic and landscaping work where the finish matters, a 1.5t or 3t on rubber tracks is the kinder choice.

Got a site to dig?

Send your job and postcode for a fast, no-deposit quote on the 5 tonne.

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