Excavators are an essential piece of heavy equipment for most construction projects. Often referred to as diggers, excavators are used for all kinds of jobs like material handling, landscaping, demolition, mining projects, river dredging and construction.

Excavators are available in a variety of sizes and can weigh up to 180,000 lbs. There are many other attachments for excavators that can take the place of the digging bucket to diversify the machine. By swapping out the bucket for an auger, drill, ripper or rake the excavator can be used for many different jobs.

The Different Types of Excavators 

There are many types of excavators. The smaller machines handle digging and drilling functions, while larger excavators have different tools for heavy-duty projects. When renting your excavator, you’ll want to consider its size and speed as well as working conditions on the job site, such as the amount of space and the soil types. 

Dragline 

The dragline excavators are very large and they operate utilizing a hoist rope system attached to a bucket. Due to the massive weight, dragline excavators are more often than not assembled on site. Large scale civil engineering projects such as canal dredging are one of the most popular projects where a dragline is used. 

Crawler 

Crawlers run on two large endless tracks, and they are incredibly useful for mining and heavy-duty construction projects. The chain wheel system allows this excavator to slide up and down hills, making them extremely useful for grading hilly areas and landscaping uneven terrain. 

Skid Steer 

Skid steer excavators have booms and buckets that face away from the driver. They are often used for digging pools, site cleaning, residential work and debris removal, where space is more limited and objects are spread far apart.

Mini Excavators 

A smaller and lighter version of the standard excavator, a mini excavator is capable of minimizing ground damage and fitting through crowded, narrow sites like parking lots and indoor spaces. They fit into tight spaces easily and can even be used indoors. 

Suction 

Also known as vacuum excavators, suction excavators feature a suction pipe capable of providing up to 400 horsepower. A suction excavator is ideal for delicate underground applications, as it can reduce the chance of damage by more than 50 percent.

Wheeled Excavator 

Wheeled excavators are similar in size and appearance to crawlers but run on wheels instead of tracks. Replacing tracks with wheels makes them faster and easier to maneuver on concrete, asphalt and other flat surfaces while still offering the same power capabilities. Wheeled excavators are commonly used for roadwork and urban projects. 

Long Reach 

A long reach excavator features a lengthier arm and boom sections. The design allows for better operation in hard-to-reach locations. These excavators are best used for demolition projects like structural crumbling and breaking down walls over bodies of water.