Excavator machines are one of the most recognizable and important pieces of heavy machinery used in farming, construction, mining, and a variety of other industries. So, what is an excavator used for, exactly?
While each has unique capabilities, all types of excavators are heavy construction machines used for digging and moving large amounts of earth and materials. They consist of a cab, bucket, dipper (or stick), and a boom mounted on a rotating platform called the house. The house sits on an undercarriage with wheels or tracks.
Now that you know the basics of these machines, let’s take a closer look at the different types of excavators on the market.
9 Common Types of Excavators
While excavators are all designed for moving or digging earth, there are different kinds of machines that perform specialized tasks. Some of the most widely used excavator types are found on many job sites across various industries. Let’s look at the pros and cons of some common examples:
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Crawler Excavators
A crawler excavator is the most common type of earth-moving machine. It is versatile and used in numerous applications, such as digging, trenching, and material handling. Crawler excavators feature tracks instead of wheels, which provide stability and allow them to operate on uneven terrain.
The potential downsides include a risk of ground damage due to their heavy tracks and slower movement compared to wheeled models. Despite these concerns, crawler diggers remain one of the most popular and adaptable digging machines.
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Wheeled Excavators
Wheeled excavators have wheels instead of tracks. This makes them faster and more suitable for urban environments and paved surfaces than crawler excavators. Wheeled diggers move faster than their tracked counterparts, are more maneuverable, and are less likely to damage the ground.
The most notable shortcoming of wheeled diggers is that they don’t provide the best stability on uneven or rough terrain. They also have a lower lifting capacity compared to their tracked counterparts. For most projects, a crawler will be the better option. However, you should consider a wheeled machine if you frequently work on pavement or asphalt.
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Dragline Excavators
Dragline excavators are used for large-scale operations like mining and dredging. They have a long boom and a bucket that is dragged along the ground to collect material. These machines are larger, heavier, and more expensive than crawlers or wheeled diggers. Therefore, they are best suited for large excavation projects and submerged environments.
One of the drawbacks of a dragline excavator is that you’ll need a lot of space to operate one. They also require a significant initial investment and substantial ongoing maintenance costs. But when you need a piece of excavation equipment that efficiently moves large volumes of material, a dragline excavator is likely your best option.
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Long-Reach Excavators
Long-reach excavators are available in both tracked and wheeled models. They have extended arms and booms, allowing them to reach further than standard diggers. Long-reach diggers are a great option if you need to access far-away or obscured areas.
The extended arm makes it easy to reach hard-to-access areas, such as those found during demolition and dredging. However, the longer boom makes it less maneuverable in tight spaces. It may also have reduced lifting capacity at maximum reach. Operators must be wary of flipping or tilting when using the arm when fully extended.
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Mini Excavators
Mini excavators are smaller and lighter than other excavators, making them a great option if you need to work in tight or confined spaces. They are commonly used in urban construction, landscaping, and small-scale excavation projects.
They are also quite affordable, making them an excellent choice while working on smaller projects. However, their small footprint comes with downsides: they have less digging and lifting capacity, making them inefficient when deployed on large-scale projects.
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Hydraulic Shovel Excavators
Hydraulic shovel excavators are powerful machines commonly used in mining and heavy-duty construction. They have a front shovel and a backhoe for versatile digging and loading capabilities. These machines pack a ton of power and can easily move tough earth, including clay. You can also use them to load materials onto trucks or trailers.
Hydraulic shovel diggers can be a bit tricky to operate. Your team members will need lots of practice and proper training to use these machines safely. Maintaining hydraulic shovels can also be quite expensive.
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Skid Steer Excavators
Skid steers are often used in landscaping, agriculture, and smaller construction projects. They can easily switch between attachments, including diggers. Thanks to their compact and maneuverable design, they are also incredibly popular in many industries.
When selecting a skid steer, it’s important to consider all the attachments available. You’ll be able to tackle a wide range of small to mid-sized projects with a skid steer and a few attachments. These machines are also incredibly easy to operate, which means that less experienced crew members can use them.
The only real downside is that they’re small and that skid steer lift capacity is limited. They typically aren’t a great fit for large-scale projects because they can’t keep pace with higher-capacity excavation tools.
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Backhoe Excavators
A backhoe excavator combines the capabilities of a loader and a digger. They are typically attached to a tractor or loader. As the name suggests, these machines have a backhoe on the rear and a bucket on the front.
Backhoe diggers are versatile, allowing your team to alternate between a loader and a shovel without switching attachments. By turning the machine around, they can begin using the other attachment. These pieces of equipment are most common in construction and agriculture.
Backhoe excavators are a happy medium between dedicated diggers and loaders. They have a larger footprint than mini diggers, which isn’t a concern unless you work in tight spaces. However, they do offer less digging depth than dedicated excavators because the boom and arm are shorter and more compact.
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Amphibious Excavators
The amphibious excavator is designed to operate in waterlogged and swampy areas. These excavators have pontoons instead of traditional tracks so they can float and work in shallow water.
Amphibious diggers are ideal for dredging and environmental restoration projects. However, they are highly specialized machines that aren’t useful for other tasks. They also carry higher maintenance costs due to frequent water exposure.
Operating amphibious machinery can be trickier than dry-land excavators, too. They are more difficult to handle than tracked or wheeled vehicles, so your team will need quite a bit of practice to safely navigate waterlogged areas. You must also be mindful of hidden barriers and hazards that might be submerged in your work environment.
Using Excavator Attachments to Expand Capabilities
Most excavators can accommodate multiple attachments, including:
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Buckets: For digging, trenching, and material handling
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Hydraulic Hammers: For breaking concrete and rock
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Grapples: For handling scrap, waste, and logs
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Augers: For drilling holes in the ground
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Thumbs: For grasping and lifting objects
The exact accessories available will vary depending on your excavator's make, model, type, and size. When purchasing digging machinery, it's important to consider both your immediate project needs and long-term goals.
While you don’t necessarily need to purchase all of your attachments up front, you want to ensure that your equipment can accommodate add-ons in the future. One great way to reduce the costs associated with purchasing attachments is to buy used excavators on an auction site like Purple Wave.
Our equipment auction platform has dozens of accessories for sale, making it easy to find just what you need. Sellers even include accessories with their machines, which helps keep costs down and increases your return on investment.
Excavator Size Classifications
Just as there are multiple types of excavators, there are also several different sizes of excavators. While certain types are available in more than one size, others might fit into only one size classification.
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Mini excavators: Designed for smaller jobs and tighter spaces, a mini excavator is any piece of excavation machinery that weighs seven metric tons or less. They generally include a standard backfill blade and feature a independent boom swing.
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Standard excavators: A standard excavator weighs between seven and forty-five metric tons. These machines are designed to handle a wide variety of jobs.
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Large excavators: Any excavator weighing more than forty-five metric tons is classified as a large excavator. These are generally used for large commercial and civil projects.
Used Excavators for Auction at Purple Wave
Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with the different types of excavators, it's time to find the new piece of machinery that’s perfect for your needs. One of the best and most cost-effective ways of purchasing the right equipment is by shopping used with Purple Wave.
Our online auction features dozens of excavators and attachments. You’ll find reputable brands and different sizes of machines, all of which are competitively priced. Getting started with Purple Wave is easy. Simply register online, explore our equipment auctions, and find your next excavator today!
Excavator FAQs
Still have questions about the different types of excavators? We have answers.
What does an excavator do?
Excavators can perform a number of tasks, including:
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Trenching and Digging: Creating foundations, trenches for utility lines, and other excavation tasks
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Demolition: Breaking down buildings and other structures
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Material Handling: Moving heavy objects and materials around a job site
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Landscaping: Shaping land for aesthetic or practical purposes
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Forestry: Removing trees and stumps
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Mining: Extracting minerals from the earth
Their versatility makes these machines a great addition to your equipment inventory. You can further expand the capabilities of your excavator by investing in attachments such as hammers, augers, or buckets.
While diggers are most common in construction and mining, they can also play a key role in demolition and landscaping. The key is to choose the right type for your project size and scope. Prioritize machines that give you the most flexibility or an excavator that will handle the most common work you do as efficiently as possible.
How many types of excavators are there?
While our list featured nine common types of excavators, there are other variations and specialized mining machines. Most excavator variations involve different attachments, not necessarily different machines. For instance, you can attach an auger to a crawler excavator and use it to drill holes for pylons or posts.
Do you want to get the most out of your investment? If so, choose a reliable model with enough power, maneuverability, and versatility to handle the work you do regularly.
Is a digger and excavator the same thing?
In a sense, yes. All excavators are diggers, but not all diggers are excavators. The term "excavator" is more specific, while "digger" is more general and can apply to a variety of digging equipment. Both terms refer to the heavy machinery used for digging, lifting, and moving earth and materials. While shopping for your machine, you will undoubtedly encounter both phrases. Just know that they are one and the same.
With that in mind, don't get too caught up in the basic terminology. Instead, focus on the size, lifting capacity, and configuration of the machinery, such as whether it has tracks or wheels. These factors are important when evaluating your needs and will help you find the ideal machine.
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