Mini excavator buckets are one of the attachments explicitly designed for mini excavators or compact excavators. These buckets come in different sizes and shapes depending on the job’s requirements. Mini excavator buckets are made from high-quality steel or other durable materials and are designed for the harsh conditions of excavation work.
They are available in different widths, depths, and capacities to accommodate jobs, including digging, grading, trenching, and demolition, with over 35 years of tens of thousands of buckets already in use worldwide. Your buckets and accessories perform in the worst conditions.
Types of mini excavator buckets
General Purpose Buckets:
General-purpose buckets are the most common type of mini excavator buckets. They are used for digging and general excavating tasks, such as backfilling and grading. These buckets are available in different sizes and capacities and have teeth or other digging attachments to enhance their performance.
Trenching Buckets:
Trenching buckets are designed for digging narrow trenches and other narrow excavations. Their long, narrow shape is ideal for digging deep and narrow trenches. Trenching buckets come in various widths and depths to accommodate different trenching needs.
Grading Buckets:
Grading buckets are designed for grading and leveling surfaces. They have a flat bottom and curved sides to move soil and other materials evenly across a surface. Grading buckets are wider than other mini excavator buckets to provide a larger surface area for grading work.
Rock Buckets:
Rock buckets come for excavating rock and other hard materials. They have heavy-duty teeth or other attachments to break up and remove hard materials. Rock buckets are made with thicker steel plates to withstand the heavy impact of digging in rocky terrain.
Skeleton Buckets:
Skeleton buckets have an open design to move dirt and debris. They are best for sifting through soil and separating materials like rocks, roots, and other debris. Skeleton buckets are available with different spacing between the bars for different materials.
Ditch Cleaning Buckets:
Ditch-cleaning buckets are designed for cleaning ditches and other narrow waterways. Their curved shape is best for scooping and removing debris from narrow areas. Ditch-cleaning buckets come with teeth or other attachments to enhance performance.
Choose the right size mini excavator bucket for the correct size or type of mini excavator.
The size and type of mini excavator bucket suitable for a specific mini excavator depend on different factors, have the excavator’s weight class, hydraulic capacity, and the type of work.
Micro/Mini Excavators (0.5 – 3 tons): These machines use buckets that range in width from 6 to 18 inches and have a capacity of up to 0.1 cubic yards. They are used for light-duty work, such as landscaping and small trenching projects.
Compact Excavators (3 – 6 tons): Compact excavators use buckets that range in width from 12 to 36 inches and have a capacity of up to 0.5 cubic yards. They are best for various applications, including digging, trenching, grading, and demolition.
Mid-Sized Excavators (6 – 10 tons): Mid-sized excavators can use buckets that range in width from 24 to 48 inches and have a capacity of up to 1.0 cubic yards. They are used for heavier-duty work, like excavation, demolition, and site preparation.
Large Excavators (10 – 20 tons): Large excavators use buckets that range in width from 36 to 72 inches and have a capacity of up to 2.5 cubic yards. They are used for heavy-duty work, such as digging foundations, excavating large areas, and mining operations.
Mini excavator buckets specification table
| Type of Bucket | Width (inches) | Depth (inches) | Capacity (cubic yards) | Weight (pounds) | Recommended Excavator Size (tons) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Purpose | 12-24 | 12-24 | 0.02-0.25 | 100-400 | 1-3 |
| Trenching | 6-18 | 24-36 | 0.01-0.1 | 50-200 | 1-2 |
| Grading | 36-60 | 12-24 | 0.1-0.5 | 200-600 | 2-5 |
| Rock | 12-24 | 12-24 | 0.02-0.25 | 200-600 | 1-3 |
| Skeleton | 12-36 | 12-24 | 0.02-0.25 | 150-400 | 1-3 |
| Ditch Cleaning | 24-36 | 12-24 | 0.05-0.2 | 150-400 | 1-3 |
These specifications are just an example and can vary depending on the manufacturer and specific model of the mini excavator bucket.
How to choose the best mini excavator bucket
Several essential factors exist when choosing the best mini excavator bucket for your job.
Application:
The work you will perform is to consider when choosing a mini excavator bucket. Different buckets are designed for digging, trenching, grading, or rock excavation. Make sure you choose a bucket that suits the type of work you will be doing.
Bucket Size:
The mini excavator bucket’s size also considers your excavator’s size. Choosing a bucket suite with your excavator’s weight class and hydraulic capacity is essential. Using a too-large or too-small bucket can decrease performance and potentially damage the excavator.
Bucket Capacity:
You should match the capacity of the mini excavator bucket to the type of work you will be doing. A giant bucket can be more efficient for digging large areas, while a smaller bucket can be more suitable for precision work.
Bucket Material:
Mini excavator buckets are made of steel, but the quality and thickness of the steel can be different. Consider the type of soil or material you must dig in and the durability and lifespan of the bucket when choosing the material.
Tooth System:
Mini excavator buckets come with teeth or other digging attachments, like cutting edges or ripper shanks. Choose a tooth system best for the soil or material you want to dig.
Brand and Warranty:
When choosing a mini excavator bucket, consider the brand and warranty. Choose a reputable brand with a warranty and good customer support to ensure you get a high-quality product that will last.
Best mini excavator buckets from different brands
Caterpillar: Caterpillar offers a variety of mini excavator buckets, including heavy-duty rock buckets, general-purpose buckets, and ditch-cleaning buckets. Their best bucket is the Cat® Heavy Duty Rock Bucket for excavating hard, abrasive materials and a reinforced structure and wear-resistant steel.
Bobcat: Bobcat offers a range of mini excavator buckets, such as standard buckets, trenching buckets, and grading buckets. Their best bucket is the Bobcat Heavy Duty Grading Bucket, designed for precision grading, smooth lip design, and durable construction.
Komatsu: Komatsu has many mini excavator buckets, like standard buckets, heavy-duty buckets, and ditch-cleaning buckets. The best Komatsu Heavy Duty Rock Bucket bucket has a reinforced structure, abrasion-resistant steel, and an optimized tooth design for digging in harsh conditions.
JCB: JCB has a range of mini excavator buckets, including general-purpose buckets, trenching buckets, and grading buckets. The best is the JCB Geo-Productivity™ Bucket, designed for maximum productivity, a curved profile, and a reinforced structure for improved digging performance.
John Deere: John Deere has mini excavator buckets, such as standard buckets, heavy-duty buckets, and rock buckets. The ideal bucket is the John Deere Heavy Duty Rock Bucket, designed for digging in harsh conditions with an optimized tooth design.
Conclusion
When choosing a mini excavator bucket, consider all factors: some top brands and their best mini excavator buckets. So choose a high-quality bucket suitable for your excavator and the type of work you want to do. If you want more information, contact us.
