What are the different sizes of excavator buckets?

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The right excavator bucket is key to making sure your excavator can accurately and efficiently complete a task. You have a wide variety to consider, and you might not know where to start. This guide will walk you through the different types of excavator buckets and help you understand which one is best for your job.

Here are the excavator bucket types you have to choose from and the jobs they most commonly do:

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1. GENERAL PURPOSE BUCKETS

General purpose excavator buckets are versatile, making them a great choice if your worksite is not focused on one specific task. Because you can use them for such a wide variety of tasks, they are the bucket of choice when a client does not specify the type of bucket they want on their excavator.

A general purpose excavator bucket is characterized by short, blunt teeth that are available in a number of sizes.

2. GRADING BUCKETS

Grading excavator buckets offer smooth edges, flat cutting edges and wide builds. Some of their more unique characteristics include lift eyes, reversible bolt-on cutting edges and weld-on side cutters. These buckets also have a lot of versatility, specifically for loading a variety of materials.

Grading buckets can also be called ditching or clean-up buckets. You can use them in many contexts, including ditch maintenance, slope shaping, landscaping, utility work and road construction. Grading buckets traditionally have a straight edge, no teeth and a flat surface. The flat surface makes it easy to smooth out various surfaces.

3. HEAVY-DUTY BUCKETS

Heavy-duty buckets are sometimes called severe-duty buckets and are made to be incredibly durable. Abrasion-resistant, high-strength steel is commonly used to make these buckets. You will often find contractors using them in rock quarries or other areas where materials need to be dug or loaded out of a strong area.

They are also meant to be able to load heavy material with as few passes as possible. Some include a straight edge or spade nose so they can accept different types of teeth and excavate the right materials. Heavy-duty buckets often haul hard-packed clay, stone, ripped basalt, gravel, blasted rock, sharp rock, high-silica sand, gravel, shale and shot granite.

4. TRENCHING BUCKETS

A trenching excavator bucket is meant for working in small spaces, such as narrow cable trenches, drains and pipes. Trenching buckets are often used for digging trenches. They are unique in that they can deepen a trench quickly.

When working on digging a trench through an area that has a lot of obstacles, trenching buckets make it easy to be precise and avoid pipes and other obstructions. You can choose different size buckets based on the size of the trench you are trying to build. Trenching buckets are also a great tool for back-filling ground that is not too hard.

5. ANGLE TILT BUCKETS

Angle tilt excavator buckets are similar to grading buckets but can rotate 45 degrees in both directions. That makes them a great tool for creating precise slopes. They also make it possible for excavators to stay stationary while still having the flexibility to mold and shape the land.

Because you do not need to move the entire excavator very often, you will save time on projects that involve heavy-duty construction. Angle tilt buckets can be used for sloping, grading, finishing, trenching, ditch cleaning, leveling and many other applications.

CHOOSING BETWEEN EXCAVATOR BUCKET SIZES

When choosing the right excavator bucket, finding the right size is an essential part of the process. You must first determine the intended use of the bucket.

Say you are digging a trench. You will need to choose a bucket that is smaller or the same width as the trench you are going to build. If you are using the excavator bucket to move heavy materials, make sure you choose a bucket that is sturdy and large.

The size of the bucket you choose will also depend on the size of your excavator and the type of bucket you want to use. To increase efficiency, use an excavator and choose a type of bucket that will allow you to have the largest bucket you can to still accurately complete your project.

There are sizing rules you can follow to help you estimate in general what size bucket you need for your job and with your excavator:

• 0.75-ton excavators and below: This size of excavator typically has a bucket that is between 6 and 24 inches wide. If you have a grading bucket with an excavator that is this weight, you can go up to a 30-inch bucket.
• Between 1 and 1.9 tons: The bucket should be between 6 and 24 inches. Grading buckets on this excavator can be between 36 and 39 inches.
• Between 2 and 3.5 tons: These buckets can have a width of between 9 and 30 inches with grading buckets being 48 inches.
• 4 tons: Buckets on 4-ton excavators can be between 12 and 36 inches wide, while grading buckets can be 60 inches wide.
• Between 5 and 8 tons: The buckets on these excavators are between 12 and 36 inches. Grading buckets are 60 inches wide for 5- or 6-ton machines and between 60 and 72 inches wide for 7- or 8-ton machines.
• Between 10 and 15 tons: Buckets on these excavators are between 18 and 48 inches wide, while grading buckets are 72 inches wide.
• Between 19 and 25 tons: These buckets are between 18 and 60 inches wide. Grading buckets on these excavators are 84 inches wide.

Louisiana Cat desires to provide our clients with superior value, exceeding their expectations.

We offer a variety of Cat® excavator buckets to ensure you have what you need to get the job done. We also supply numerous equipment attachments, including excavator bucket attachments. Our mini excavators come with several mini excavator bucket types, as well.

Contact us today for a free quote on Cat excavator buckets. If you want to visit one of our showrooms, you can find our locations here.

An excavator is a powerful and necessary piece of equipment for everything from demolition and debris removal to earthmoving and excavation. However, excavators can only do these tasks with a bucket. 

The bucket is a toothed digging attachment that allows the operator to excavate, move and load materials. There are many types of buckets, each designed to meet the requirements of a specific application, and these buckets come in a wide range of sizes.
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Choosing the right bucket size helps improve efficiency, safety and productivity at the worksite and minimizes wear and tear on your equipment. On the other hand, the wrong bucket size can stress your excavator, increase cycle times and even cause tipping. 

In this guide, we explain how to determine the correct bucket sizes for excavators by considering certain factors and consulting an excavator bucket size chart. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bucket Size

Excavator bucket sizes are measured by how wide they are inside. Mini-excavator bucket sizes may have a width as short as 12 inches, while buckets for large excavators can measure over 10 feet wide. The width of the bucket decides how wide of a trench you can dig and how much the bucket can hold.

Generally, the size of your excavator dictates the size of the bucket. However, many other factors come into play when determining the right size bucket for your project. These include the following:

The Type of Material to Be Excavated

The density of the material you’ll be excavating plays a significant role in bucket selection. Denser materials, such as rock, clay or compacted soil, can weigh large buckets down. 

A better option would be smaller buckets, as these maintain optimal cycle times without overloading the excavator. Additionally, using smaller buckets for denser and heavier materials helps reduce fuel consumption. 

Meanwhile, large buckets are better suited for moving and loading lighter, softer materials like loose dirt and sand.

Consider the Size of the Hauler Truck

The size of the bucket should be matched with the capacity of the hauler. This allows the operator to load it as quickly as possible.
 

A bucket that’s too small for the job requires more passes, wasting time and fuel. However, too big of a bucket is also not a good thing. Loading a large amount of materials at once can place added stress on the hauler, resulting in premature wear and tear that could lead to major problems requiring expensive repairs.

Job Site Conditions

Another factor to consider is the environment in which the bucket is to be used. If you’re operating in a narrow space, utilizing a smaller bucket that allows the operator to maneuver it safely is essential. For instance, if you’re working on a utility project in a residential area, you’ll likely only be able to use a mini-excavator and an appropriately sized bucket.

Other key factors include:

• Soil Stability: If you’re working on soft or unstable ground, a smaller bucket may be necessary to minimize the risk of the excavator sinking or getting stuck. Using a larger, heavier bucket could cause the excavator to become unstable and even tip over. 
  
  When working on soft or moist ground, a smaller bucket is often preferred to prevent the excavator from getting stuck or sinking. A larger bucket in such conditions could increase the risk of tipping or bogging down.
• Obstructions: In areas with obstructions, such as tree branches, buried pipes and debris, a smaller bucket may be necessary to navigate the work site without causing damage to either the surroundings or the equipment, as well as to help ensure precision in digging.
  
  Additionally, the type of ground in the worksite impacts the size of the excavator you can use and, by extension, the size of the bucket.

Type of Application

As mentioned, choosing the biggest excavator bucket that your excavator can safely handle is generally good practice. However, it’s also essential to consider the applications it will be used for. For example, if you need to dig a 30-inch trench, an 18-inch bucket won’t do.

Using the Excavator Bucket Size Chart

The manufacturer of your excavator has likely provided you with a helpful chart that details the appropriate size of buckets to use with your machine. An excavator bucket size chart helps simplify the process of choosing the right size bucket for your excavator. It’s also essential to consider the factors mentioned earlier before deciding to purchase or rent. 

If you do not have a copy of your excavator’s bucket size chart, you can refer to the following:

 

Excavator Size in Tons Bucket Width Grading Bucket Up to .75-ton machine 6 to 24 inches   1 to 1.9-ton machine 6 to 24 inches   2 to 3.5-ton machine 9 to 30 inches   4- to 6-ton machine 12 to 36 inches 60 inches 7-ton to 8-ton machine 12 to 36 inches 60 to 72 inches 10-ton to 15-ton machine 18 to 48 inches 72 inches 19-ton to 25-ton machine 18 to 60 inches 84 inches

Understanding Excavator Bucket Capacity

When you’re cooking or baking, recipes sometimes call for heaping or level tablespoons of an ingredient. Similarly, bucket capacity can be described as heaped or actual. 

Heaped capacity refers to the volume of material in a bucket when it has been filled to the point where it mounds at the top. Meanwhile, actual capacity refers to the bucket’s volume when the materials are leveled and struck off at the top. 

Actual capacity is more accurate, while heaped capacity is typically 1.3 times more than actual capacity. While using the actual capacity in planning an excavation project is generally recommended, referring to the heaped capacity makes sense when you need to load a lot of material very quickly. However, when using heaped capacity, it’s crucial to factor in the increased cycle time and evaluate the risk of overloading the excavator. 

The capacity of an excavator bucket, or how much it can carry, depends not just on its size but also on the following factors:

• Weight and density of materials
• Fill factor 
• Cycle time
• Hourly production requirement

There are calculators online that help with determining bucket capacity. A better alternative is to contact an expert to assist you in calculating bucket capacity and choosing the right bucket size for your excavator.

Why It’s Important to Calculate the Capacity of the Bucket

Calculating the capacity of excavator buckets is vital for operational efficiency. This is because bucket capacity dictates how much material can be moved per cycle. Knowing the capacity of excavator buckets allows you to choose the right one for the job, optimizing workflow, increasing productivity and reducing cycle times. 

Additionally, accurately determining bucket capacity helps prevent overloading of the excavator. Overloading can lead to wear and tear on its hydraulic system and components. On the other hand, choosing a bucket with a suitable capacity helps your excavator last longer and reduces repair costs. 

Another reason is to ensure that the excavator is operating within its load limits. A bucket that is filled beyond capacity can cause safety hazards, such as the excavator tipping over.

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We offer rentals of excavators with all the attachments you need for the job. Additionally, we provide value-added services like trucking and subcontracting to help ensure the efficiency of your project and the quality of its outcome. 
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