Valuablemachines and equipment for land clearing, excavation, demolition, utility work, grading, construction, and more, excavators are popular pieces of heavy equipment for many large projects. Also commonly called diggers, these machines are versatile, coming in both tracked and wheeled forms, and are extremely powerful. When looking to buy or rent an excavator, it's important to choose the model with the right specs as it will affect your efficiency.
There are 15 popular excavator brands, providing hundreds of models. Although most manufacturers have a wide range of weights and specs available, we will be focusing on the upper ranges of weight classes, drawing the line at a minimum of 10 tons. If you're looking for a smaller, more compact excavator, you can check out our mini excavator spec guide.
Excavators are typically categorized into three main size ranges: small, medium, and large. These categories are determined by operating weight, which is generally a good indication of the power and capability of the machine. Small models range from 10 to 25 tons, medium from 25 to 50 tons, and large models exceed 50 tons lbs. There are also a select few that exceed 500 tons. This size of excavator is made for intense mining projects.
Small models make up a little less than a third of the market. These machines generally range between 15 to 22 feet in terms of dig depth, 18 to 24 feet in dump height, and 50 to 170 horsepower (hp). The smaller models on the market are excellent options for projects that require heavy lifting and some ability to work in tight spaces.
Significantly more impressive in their dig depth and dump height specs, the medium range of excavators are great choices for most projects. Variations of these models can reach dig depths and dump heights exceeding 30 feet, to go along with engine power topping out at 359 hp. This range of machines can at times outperform some large-class models while maintaining a lighter weight and are extremely valuable machinery for the job site.
The large range of excavators achieves dig depths of over 40 feet, a maximum dump height of 37 feet, and varies between 300 - 2000hp, depending on the industry they're typically used in. This class provides the widest selection of weights to choose from, and the upper tier of models is generally used for only the most extreme projects like quarrying and mining.
Before diving into the specs and sizes of each brand's selection of excavators, we need to talk about what you should be looking for in an excavator. In this guide, we focus on six main specs: operating weight, maximum dig depth, maximum dump height, maximum reach, bucket capacity, and engine power.
Operating weight generally indicates the overall capabilities of a machine, including breakout force, and bucket capacity. The weight of the equipment, along with horsepower, also dictates the amount of stress applied to the surrounding environment. As a general rule, lighter equipment is better if it is capable of getting the job done as they generally have lower ground pressure and are more fuel efficient.
Maximum digging depth depicts how deep the excavator can dig with the boom, stick, and bucket all extended downwards. This is perhaps the most important spec for these machines, as dig depth is often the primary reason for buying or renting an excavator. Maximum dump height is how high the bucket can be safely dumped. Unfortunately, not all brands provide this spec on their website, though its importance varies depending on the project.
Maximum reach (sometimes listed as maximum reach at ground level or maximum digging reach) reflects how far the arm of the excavator can reach across the surface of the ground. This is vital for job sites where you cannot get the machine too close to where you need to dig. If there are obstacles or obstructions which require you to keep the machine further away from the dig site, max reach is an important spec to consider.
Bucket capacity is the amount of material you can fit into the bucket of the excavator. The higher the bucket capacity the fewer amount of shovels it takes to finish your project, making your job faster and more efficient. The bucket capacity is affected by the bucket attachment equipped on the machine which is why some brands don't provide an exact number.
The amount of power a machine generates is reflected in its total horsepower. This indicates the effectiveness of a piece of equipment and the speed at which it can achieve movements such as lifts, dumps, or driving. A more efficient hydraulic system can make up for lost horsepower, but more power is usually better.
With 18 models spanning every size category, CASE excavators are some of the most versatile on the market. Built for speed, power, efficiency, reliability, comfort, and responsiveness, the new E Series models include seven new powerful machines like the CX140E, CX170E, and CX365 E SR, that will boost your team's productivity on the job site.
Many of CASE's models offer better horsepower than their closest competitors, giving these machines extra power for your project. This power makes difficult jobs that much easier, and gives operators one less thing to worry about.
Their CX750D model provides a best-in-class dig depth to go along with excellent engine power to provide faster cycle times and pure performance. Promising to help you move more dirt, this machine is one of the best on the market and can compete with any model in its weight class.
CASE also provides specialized models like the CX290D Material Handler, with reduced dig depth and horsepower. This model is equipped with additional guarding on the cab and undercarriage to protect the operator and the excavator while working on tough waste and scrap handling applications. CASE excavators are all great options for your construction site, and with their vast selection, you're sure to find a model perfect for you.
No matter what type of work you do, CAT excavators deliver top performance, unmatched versatility, and excellent fuel efficiency. Outstanding durability and safety technology to go along with simple operations that will help your team reach the next level of productivity.
The largest selection of models on the market, most of CAT's models fall under the small and medium weight classes. Although this makes them somewhat limited in terms of competing for bigger sizes, unlike Komatsu or Hitachi, there are many options for more reasonably sized projects. Many of these models, particularly the 395 - Tier 4, provide some of the best-in-class horsepower, placing them among the most efficient excavators available.
The CAT 340 Long Reach is one of their most impressive models, reaching over 40 feet in both dig depth and dump height, along with a mind-boggling max reach of almost 60 feet! And it does all of this while only weighing 48.4 tons. This isn't even their only excavator with over 40' of digging depth; so if you're looking to maximize depth, dump height, reach, and horsepower while still keeping the operating weight low, you should consider renting a CAT excavator.
CAT also offers a selection of wheeled excavators, which are great for the transportation of materials between job sites. These models take a downtick in horsepower and reach, and you should almost always choose a tracked excavator if it's compliant with your job requirements.
Offering 14 models spanning 16.1-90.5 tons, Doosan excavators can handle most projects. Updated comfort features and intuitive controls make these machines a favorite of operators, and excellent fuel efficiency and versatility make them loved by managers who want to keep costs low.
Some models, like the DX420LC-7, come equipped with multiple power modes to match any application, providing better control over machine performance. A one-touch power boost can momentarily increase hydraulic power when you're in the middle of a difficult task, and the fine swing minimizes the bucket's shaking as you turn.
With powerful digging, fast cycle times, and unbeatable operator comfort, it's hard to go wrong when renting a Doosan excavator. Coming in around the industry average on dig depth and horsepower, they may not be the most expansive brand on the market, but they certainly make high-quality, reliable, and productive machines.
Following up one excavator powerhouse with another, Hitachi is the only brand that competes with Komatsu in providing the heaviest and most powerful machines on the market. Built on reliability and comfort, Hitachi excavator models are high-performing, heavy-duty models built to handle the toughest jobs.
Their vast selection of small and medium-sized machines are built with the same toughness as their monstrous mining excavators and come equipped with fuel-efficient engines and excellent safety features. With a reduced tail swing, some of these smaller models, like the ZC85USB-5N, ZX130-6, and ZX160LC-6, come specifically designed for those congested areas contractors so often work in. Efficient, reliable, and durable machines, these models can help you tackle tough jobs with confidence.
Moving to their breathtakingly large excavators, Hitachi offers a class of mining models ranging from 126.8 to 924.8 tons. Each of these models comes with two variations, an electric engine or a Tier 4 Final engine. With state-of-the-art safety features, advanced hydraulics, and simple controls, these excavators can be operated safely and easily. Providing efficient power options, you can handle any and every job with the reliable, productive, and extremely capable models of Hitachi excavators.
With great horsepower and a wide range of models spanning 14.8-103.3 tons, Hyundai excavators are excellent options for your project. Hyundai's HX series of crawler excavators offer fuel-efficient fast cycle speeds to go along with versatile equipment performance. An impressive hydraulics system increases the efficiency of the machines overall, generating extra power from their already-strong engines.
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