plant hire brand
Kubota
The mini excavator most hire fleets standardise on. Reliability and the zero-tail-swing U series are the reasons - on a domestic driveway or a garden job, the ability to slew without catching a wall is worth more than extra breakout force.
Last reviewed 6 October 2026
Built in
Japan
UK availability
Widely available in the UK
Extremely common in UK hire fleets, particularly at the one to three tonne end.
What Kubota builds
Kubota model ranges
| Range | What it is |
|---|---|
| KX series | Conventional mini excavators |
| U series | Zero and reduced tail swing, for confined sites |
Every Kubota model on GetBrent
24 models with figures from the maker or an official dealer. Open one for the full specification, photos and how it compares.
Kubota KX019-4
Sub-2 tonne mini excavator
Operating weight: 1,780kg with cab, 1,680kg with canopy
Dig depth: 2,580mm maximum
Kubota U27-4
Tight tail swing compact excavator, around 2.5 tonnes
Operating weight: 2,590kg or 2,490kg depending on variant
Dig depth: 2,820mm maximum
Kubota K008-3
Micro excavator, under 1.3 tonnes
Operating weight: 980kg
Engine power: 10.2PS
Kubota K008-5
0.8 tonne micro excavator
Operating weight: 975kg
Dig depth: 1,720mm
Kubota KX015-4
1.5 tonne class mini excavator
Operating weight: up to 1470kg
Dig depth: 2250mm
Kubota KX016-4
1.5 tonne class mini excavator
Operating weight: up to 1540kg
Dig depth: 2250mm
Kubota KX018-4
1.5 tonne class mini excavator
Operating weight: up to 1720kg
Dig depth: 2380mm
Kubota KX027-4
1.5 tonne class mini excavator
Dig depth: 2740mm
Width: 1400mm
Kubota KX080-4a
Tracked excavator, 6 to 10 tonnes
Operating weight: 8240kg
Engine power: 63.2PS
Kubota U10-3
Micro excavator, under 1.3 tonnes
Operating weight: 1120kg
Engine power: 10.2PS
Kubota U10-5
1.5 tonne class mini excavator
Dig depth: 1800mm
Kubota U17-3a
1.7 tonne mini excavator
Operating weight: 1,700kg
Dig depth: 2,460mm
Kubota U48-4
Midi excavator, 3 to 6 tonnes
Operating weight: 4775kg
Engine power: 40.5PS
Kubota U50-5
4.8 tonne mini excavator
Operating weight: 4,775kg
Dig depth: 3,370mm
Kubota U55-4
Midi excavator, 3 to 6 tonnes
Operating weight: 5400kg
Engine power: 46PS
Kubota U10
Micro excavator
Operating weight: 1200kg (2645lb, including operator)
Max dig depth: 1.8m (5'11")
Kubota U20
2-tonne class mini excavator
Machine weight: 2,380kg (cab) / 2,180kg (canopy)
Engine power: 13.5kW / 19hp
Kubota B2230
4WD compact tractor
Power: 22hp
Drive: 4WD
Kubota KX080-4a2
8 tonne class tracked excavator
Machine weight: 8365 kg (mono boom)
Power: 46.5/63.2 kW/hp
Kubota KX71-3
Mini excavator
Operating weight: approx. 6,550lb (2,970kg)
Length: 14ft 11in
Kubota KX030-4
2.8 tonne class mini excavator
Operating weight: 2790 kg
Dig depth: 2870 mm
Kubota KX037-4
3.5 tonne class mini excavator
Operating weight: 3518 kg
Dig depth: 3410 mm
Kubota U36-4
3.5 tonne zero-tail swing compact excavator
Operating weight: 3755 kg
Dig depth: 3410 mm
Kubota KX060-5
5 tonne class mini excavator
Operating weight: 5441 kg
Dig depth: 3875 mm
Kubota models compared
The closest matches from other makes, side by side.
- Kubota KX019-4 vs Wacker Neuson EZ17e
- Kubota U27-4 vs Yanmar ViO26-6
- Kubota K008-3 vs Kubota K008-5
- Kubota KX015-4 vs Wacker Neuson ET16
- Kubota KX016-4 vs Wacker Neuson ET16
- Kubota KX018-4 vs Wacker Neuson EZ17
- Kubota KX027-4 vs JCB 8018 CTS
- Kubota KX080-4a vs HD Hyundai Construction Equipment R35Z-9A
- Kubota U10-3 vs Bobcat E10z
- Kubota U10-5 vs JCB 8018 CTS
- Kubota U17-3a vs Yanmar SV17VT
- Kubota U48-4 vs Kubota U50-5
How Kubota compares
These are the makes buyers actually cross-shop against Kubota.
Kubota vs Takeuchi
Credited with building the first compact excavator, and still a specialist rather than a full-line manufacturer. Operators tend to rate the hydraulics, and fleets buy them where a machine will be worked hard all day.
Kubota vs JCB
The default British plant make and the one hire customers ask for by name. Fleets buy JCB because operators already know the controls, parts turn up quickly and residual values hold, which matters more to a hire business than any single spec on the sheet.
Kubota vs Bobcat
The brand that turned into the generic word for a skid-steer. Hire customers ask for "a Bobcat" when they mean the machine class, which is exactly the kind of brand recognition that drives search volume whoever ends up supplying the machine.
Kubota vs Hitachi
An excavator specialist with a long reputation for hydraulic smoothness. Operators who spend all day in the seat tend to have strong opinions about Zaxis machines, and fleets that serve civils work stock them for that reason.
UK companies hiring and selling Kubota
20 listed companies mention Kubota.Contact them directly - GetBrent charges no booking fee.
B & T Plant Hire
Gravesend · DA12 2**
B & T Plant Hire Ltd
Morden · SM4 4**
Boss Plant Sales Ltd
Tring · HP23 4**
Compact Plant Sales
Farnham · GU10 5**
CW Plant Hire
Borehamwood · WD6 2**
Instant Power. Reliable Service. With a range of generators from 10kVA to 550kVA and a selection of…
CW Plant Hire
London · SW18 4**
Instant Power. Reliable Service. With a range of generators from 10kVA to 550kVA and a selection of…
Fairfax Plant Hire Ltd
Selby · YO8
Kubota near you
Places where we list three or more companies carrying Kubota, ranked.
Other makes
GetBrent is an independent directory of UK hire and sales companies. We are not a Kubota dealer and have no affiliation with, or endorsement from, Kubota. The Kubota name and model names are trademarks of their owner, used here only to identify the products they refer to. Specifications vary by model year and market - always confirm weights, dimensions and towing limits with the supplier before hiring or buying.