Introduction
Bobcat builds one of the broadest compact excavator lineups on the market โ from a sub-1-tonne micro machine that fits through a doorway to an 8-tonne flagship that digs over 15 feet deep and lifts 10,000 pounds. That range is a gift if you know how to navigate it and a maze if you don’t. Add in two undercarriage-adjacent decisions most buyers underestimate โ tail swing and diesel-versus-electric โ and the 2023 model renaming that turned the E42 into the E48 and the E50 into the E55, and choosing the right machine takes more than scanning a spec sheet. For a Saskatchewan farmer running tile drainage, an Alberta acreage owner digging footings, or a prairie contractor on confined sites, the hard part is figuring out which Bobcat.
This guide answers that the way an experienced operator would โ by working through the decisions that actually narrow the field. We’ll cover the five questions that determine the right machine (what work you do, what size, what tail swing, diesel or electric, and which arm and hydraulics), point you to every Bobcat compact excavator model along the way, and finish with a full comparison table you can scan in one pass. We’ll also explain the single most important design choice on any compact excavator โ tail swing โ and why getting it wrong means a machine that can’t work where you need it to.
The quick version: most prairie operations that need real digging end up on a mid-size machine in the E35 to E55 range. But “most” isn’t “all,” and the right answer depends on your access, your dig depth, and whether you face emissions or noise constraints. Let’s work through it.
First, the One Choice Everyone Underestimates: Tail Swing
Before any size talk, you need to understand tail swing, because it determines where a machine can work โ and it’s the spec most buyers overlook until it costs them.
Tail swing describes how far the rear of the machine โ the counterweight and engine housing โ extends past the tracks when the upper structure rotates. There are four categories:
- Zero tail swing (ZTS): the rear stays within the track width through full rotation. You can dig flush against a wall, fence, or building without the tail striking anything. The trade-off is usually slightly less lifting stability.
- Reduced tail swing: a small overhang (often under 2 inches) โ nearly zero, with a bit more counterweight for stronger lifting.
- Minimal tail swing: a slightly larger but still small overhang, balancing stability and tight-quarters work.
- Conventional tail swing: the counterweight swings well past the tracks. Best stability and lift capacity, but you must watch the rear near obstacles.
Here’s what makes Bobcat distinct: most of its machines also feature an in-track swing frame, where the swing castings and cylinders stay within the tracks even when digging in an offset position. So on a zero-tail-swing Bobcat, you can turn right up against a wall without any part of the machine bumping it โ something many competitors can’t match even when they share the same tail-swing rating.
The practical rule: if you frequently work near foundations, walls, fences, or buildings, prioritize zero or reduced tail swing. If you dig in open areas and prioritize lifting, conventional tail swing gives you more capacity. Keep this in mind as we go โ it matters as much as size.
Question 1: What Work Will You Actually Do?
Start here, because it drives everything else. Be honest about your deepest, heaviest, and tightest realistic jobs.
- Tight-access and interior work (barns, between buildings, fenced yards, indoors): you need a micro or sub-2-tonne machine, and possibly electric.
- Landscaping, light trenching, acreage chores: a 1.7-to-3-tonne machine handles it.
- Drainage tile, water lines, footings: this is the core of prairie excavator work, and it calls for a 3-to-5-tonne machine with real dig depth.
- Deep foundations, heavy trenching, near-full-size work: a 6-to-8-tonne machine approaches what a larger excavator does.
Match the machine to your most demanding regular job โ not your biggest one-off (rent for that) and not your average (you’ll undersize). With that framing, let’s size it.
Question 2: What Size Do You Need?
Bobcat’s compact excavators span sub-1-tonne to 8-tonne. Here’s how the range breaks down.
Micro (Sub-1 to 1 Tonne): Access Above All
These exist for one reason โ fitting where nothing else can. The Bobcat E08 is the smallest, a sub-1-tonne machine that retracts narrow enough to pass through a standard doorway for interior work. The Bobcat E10 steps up to 1 tonne with about 6 feet of dig depth, still doorway-capable. Both are specialists โ too small for general farm digging, invaluable for ultra-tight access. For most prairie operations, these are niche second machines.
Sub-2 Tonne: Landscaping and Light Work
The Bobcat E17 (1.7-tonne, zero tail swing, retractable to ~39 inches) and Bobcat E20 (2-tonne, zero tail swing, ~8.5 feet dig depth) bring real digging into tight spaces, with the E20’s next-generation design adding meaningful force and reach. The Bobcat E19 takes a different path โ conventional tail swing for best-in-class lifting stability in the same size class. Choose the E17 or E20 for tight-access work, the E19 when lifting stability matters more.
Mid-Size (2.5 to 4 Tonne): The Prairie Workhorses
This is where most serious prairie buyers land. The Bobcat E26 (2.6-tonne, minimal tail swing, no-DPF engine) starts genuine compact-excavator capability. The Bobcat E32 (3.2-tonne, conventional tail swing, ~10 feet dig depth) is one of Bobcat’s most popular machines. And the Bobcat E35 โ a 3.5-tonne zero-tail-swing machine โ is Bobcat’s best-sellingcompact excavator, pairing ~10 feet of dig depth (nearly 13 with the extendable arm) with the ability to work flush against walls. Its higher-output sibling, the Bobcat E38 (3.8-tonne, 33 hp), is the same platform with more power. The newest in this range, the Bobcat E40 (4-tonne, reduced tail swing, 40 hp), brings best-in-class lift.
Large Compact (4.5 to 8 Tonne): Serious Digging
When you need depth and power approaching a full-size machine. The Bobcat E48 (4.5-tonne, conventional tail swing) and Bobcat E55 (5-tonne, minimal tail swing) handle deep drainage and foundations. The Bobcat E60 (6-tonne, ~14.8 feet dig depth) delivers maximum power in a still-transportable frame. And the flagship Bobcat E88 (8-tonne) brings over 15 feet of dig depth, 23+ feet of reach, and a class-leading 10,020 lb lift โ the muscle of a larger machine with compact versatility.
Question 3: Which Tail Swing for Your Machine?
Now apply the tail-swing concept from the top to your size class. Within most sizes, Bobcat gives you a choice โ and it shapes what the machine does best:
- For tight, flush-to-wall work: the zero-tail-swing E17, E20, E35, and E38 keep the rear within the tracks.
- For a balance of lift and access: the reduced-tail-swing E40 and minimal-tail-swing E26 and E55.
- For maximum lift and stability in open work: the conventional-tail-swing E19, E32, E48, E60, and E88.
The clearest illustration is within one size: in the 3-tonne class, the conventional E32 and zero-tail-swing E35 are similar machines that excel at different work โ the E32 for open digging and lifting, the E35 for working against structures. Neither is better; they’re built for different priorities. Decide where you’ll spend most of your time and choose accordingly.
Question 4: Diesel or Electric?
Bobcat is one of the few makers offering battery-electric compact excavators, and for the right buyer they open jobs a diesel can’t take. There are three: the E10e (1-tonne micro), the E19e (1.9-tonne), and the E32e (3.2-tonne โ the largest electric).
The case for electric: zero emissions and a fraction of a diesel’s noise mean these machines work indoors, in enclosed spaces, in gardens and parks, and on noise-restricted urban sites at any hour โ work where diesels are prohibited or limited. The electric motor delivers full torque at all rpm, so digging force and control match (or slightly beat) the diesel equivalents. Batteries are maintenance-free, and running costs are lower.
The honest trade-offs: runtime is the big one โ about 4 hours continuous, or 6โ8 hours with break charging. For sustained all-day outdoor digging, that’s a real limitation. There’s a meaningful price premium over diesel. And for Canadian buyers, cold weather reduces battery runtime, which matters most for outdoor winter work.
The bottom line for prairie operations: for typical farm and acreage digging, diesel is usually the more practical and economical choice โ the work is outdoors, often all day, sometimes in the cold. The electric machines earn their place when you have indoor, emissions-sensitive, or noise-restricted jobs in your business. If you do, they can win work and pay for themselves; if you don’t, stick with diesel.
Question 5: Which Arm and Hydraulics?
Two final choices fine-tune the machine to your work.
Arm configuration. Most mid-size and larger Bobcats offer a choice: a standard arm for maximum breakout force, a long arm for added reach and dig depth, or โ on machines like the E35 โ a clamp-ready extendable arm that hydraulically extends up to 30 inches on demand, then retracts for full digging force. The extendable arm is the most versatile, letting one machine cover both deep/far reach and maximum force. If you frequently work at varying depths or distances, it’s worth the option.
Hydraulic flow for attachments. If you’ll run attachments โ augers, hydraulic breakers, plate compactors, mulchers, grapples โ confirm the machine’s auxiliary flow supports them. Larger machines like the E60 (~20 gpm) and E88 (~25 gpm with selectable control) run heavier attachments; smaller machines have proportionally less flow. Match the attachment’s flow requirement to the machine before buying, not after.
One brand-wide advantage worth noting: most Bobcat compact excavators meet Tier 4 emissions without a diesel particulate filter (DPF). Many competitors require one, and DPF regeneration interrupts work while cleaning adds downtime and cost. The no-DPF design keeps a Bobcat working without regeneration cycles โ a real uptime benefit on a busy site.
Putting It Together: Quick Recommendations
Working through the five questions, here’s where most buyers land:
- Interior/ultra-tight access: Bobcat E08 or E10 (diesel), or E10e (electric, indoors).
- Landscaping and light acreage work: Bobcat E17 or E20.
- The prairie all-rounder (drainage, footings, utilities): Bobcat E35 โ Bobcat’s best-seller โ or the higher-output E38.
- Open digging with maximum lift in the 3-tonne class: Bobcat E32.
- Deeper drainage and foundations: Bobcat E48, E55, or E60.
- Near-full-size capability, transportable: Bobcat E88.
- Indoor/emissions-sensitive work at real capability: Bobcat E32e.
Full Bobcat Compact Excavator Comparison Chart
Here’s the entire Bobcat compact and mini excavator lineup in one view, from micro to flagship. (Note: the E48 was formerly the E42, the E55 was formerly the E50, and the E38 was the 33-hp E35 before Bobcat’s 2023 renaming.)
| Model | Class | Tail Swing | Power | Dig Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E08 | Sub-1 t micro | Zero | Diesel | Compact | Fits through a doorway |
| E10 | 1 t micro | Zero | Diesel | ~6 ft | Retracts to ~28 in |
| E10e | 1 t micro | Zero | Electric | ~6 ft | Zero-emission, ~4 hr runtime |
| E17 | 1.7 t | Zero | Diesel | ~7.3 ft | Retracts to ~39 in |
| E19 | 1.9 t | Conventional | Diesel | ~8 ft | Best-in-class stability |
| E19e | 1.9 t | (per config) | Electric | ~8 ft | Electric, more capability than E10e |
| E20 | 2 t | Zero (0.35 in) | Diesel | 8.5 ft | Next-gen, strong force |
| E26 | 2.6 t | Minimal | Diesel | ~9.5 ft | No-DPF, long-arm option |
| E32 | 3.2 t | Conventional | Diesel | ~10.3 ft | Popular, great visibility |
| E32e | 3.2 t | (per config) | Electric | ~10 ft | Largest electric Bobcat |
| E35 | 3.5 t | Zero + in-track | Diesel (25 hp) | 10.3 ft (12.9 ext) | Best-seller |
| E38 | 3.8 t | Zero + in-track | Diesel (33 hp) | ~10.3 ft | 33-hp E35 (renamed) |
| E40 | 4 t | Reduced (<2 in) | Diesel (40 hp) | Long arm std | Best-in-class lift |
| E48 | 4.5 t | Conventional | Diesel | ~10.5 ft | Formerly E42 |
| E55 | 5 t | Minimal (<1 in) | Diesel | Strong | Formerly E50, in-track frame |
| E60 | 6 t | Conventional | Diesel (55 hp) | ~14.8 ft | Max compact power |
| E88 | 8 t | Conventional + in-track | Diesel (65 hp) | 15.2 ft | Flagship, 10,020 lb lift |
Comparing Bobcat to Other Brands
This guide focuses on choosing within the Bobcat lineup, but most prairie buyers also cross-shop Kubota and John Deere compact excavators. Two Bobcat strengths to carry into that comparison: the in-track swing frame (which lets zero-tail-swing Bobcats work tighter than many competitors), and the no-DPF engines (which avoid regeneration downtime that DPF-equipped rivals face). For the full category picture across brands, see theย Compact & Mini Excavatorsย hub on Aglist, and to explore the rest of Bobcat’s equipment, visit theย Bobcat brand hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Bobcat excavator is the most popular?
The Bobcat E35 is Bobcat’s best-selling compact excavator. At 3.5 tonnes with zero tail swing, ~10 feet of dig depth (nearly 13 with the extendable arm), and an in-track swing frame for working flush against walls, it hits the sweet spot for drainage, utility, and foundation work while staying transportable. The slightly larger E32 is also very popular.
What is the biggest Bobcat compact excavator?
The Bobcat E88 โ an 8-tonne flagship with over 15 feet of dig depth, 23+ feet of reach, and a class-leading 10,020 lb lift capacity. It brings near-full-size capability in a machine you can still transport as a compact excavator.
What’s the difference between zero and conventional tail swing?
Zero tail swing keeps the rear within the track width as the machine rotates, so you can dig flush against walls and obstacles. Conventional tail swing has a counterweight that extends past the tracks, giving more lifting stability but requiring you to watch the rear near obstacles. Bobcat offers both across its lineup, plus reduced and minimal options in between โ choose based on whether tight-quarters access or maximum lift matters more.
Why were some Bobcat excavator models renamed?
In 2023, Bobcat renamed several models to better align with their size class: the E42 became the E48 (4.5-tonne), the E50 became the E55 (5-tonne), and the 33-hp version of the E35 became the E38 (3.8-tonne). On the used market, you’ll still see the old names โ they’re the same machines.
Are Bobcat electric excavators worth it?
It depends on your work. The E10e, E19e, and E32e carry a price premium and have limited battery runtime (~4 hours continuous), but they can work indoors, in emissions-sensitive areas, and on noise-restricted sites where diesels can’t. If those jobs are part of your business, they can win work and pay off; for typical all-day outdoor prairie digging, diesel is usually more practical.
What size Bobcat excavator do I need for drainage and footings?
For tile drainage, water lines, and footings โ the core of prairie excavator work โ a 3-to-5-tonne machine is the sweet spot. The E35 (~10 ft dig depth) handles most of it; for deeper work, step up to the E48, E55, or E60 (~14.8 ft). Match the dig depth to your deepest realistic job.
Do Bobcat excavators have a DPF?
Most Bobcat compact excavators meet Tier 4 emissions without a diesel particulate filter, which is a brand-wide advantage. Many competitors require a DPF, whose regeneration cycles interrupt work and add maintenance downtime. The no-DPF design keeps a Bobcat working without those interruptions.
How deep can Bobcat compact excavators dig?
It ranges with size: a micro machine like the E10 digs about 6 feet, mid-size machines like the E35 reach about 10 feet (nearly 13 with an extendable arm), and the flagship E88 digs over 15 feet. Match dig depth to your deepest job, and consider a long or extendable arm if you need extra reach.
Note: We try our best to keep specs and information accurate, but some details can be missing or different depending on the source. Before you buy, service, or repair equipment, please double-check key specs with the manufacturer, the owner’s manual, or your dealer.
About reviews: Reviews on Aglist are written by real users. We moderate them for spam and abuse, but opinions and claims are still personalโso use them as guidance, not as a guarantee.
