Bucket Sizes, Balance, Weight and What it all Means for You.

Let’s talk bucket sizes, balance, weight, and why bigger isn’t always better (and smaller doesn’t always mean smarter). Here’s how to pick the perfect bucket for your machine and your mission.

In general terms, bucket sizing for mini excavators comes in two forms: width and pin diameter. Pin diameter is straightforward; your bucket pin size needs to match your excavator. Heavier excavators that have more breakout force will use heavier attachments with a stronger, larger pin diameter. For example, in the Rhinoceros line, the XN08, XN10-8, and XN12-9 all use 25mm pin diameter attachments, while the XN18 and XN20 use 30mm pin attachments.

In terms of width, the wider the bucket, the more material it can scoop up in one pass, making it more efficient in digging, grading, and transporting material. However, a wider bucket will not only mean less precision, but also more weight in both the bucket and material inside, which can add stress to both the excavator arms and hydraulic systems, as well as make the excavator more unstable, especially when reaching. Larger buckets are also usually more expensive.

On the other hand, your bucket can also be undersized for the mini excavator, which poses a risk of damaging and potentially pulling the bucket apart. Larger buckets are usually built with thicker steel to withstand larger, more powerful mini excavators.

Here’s a quick guide to help you choose the right bucket size for your mini excavator:

Type of Bucket

Grading/tilt grading buckets are shallower compared to a digging bucket. Hence, while a specific size of digging bucket may start to strain your mini excavator, the same width for a grading bucket will have less weight inside and be viable. Similarly, while a larger, more powerful mini excavator may put stress on a 200mm (8 inch) digging bucket, a trenching bucket of the same size is likely to be built of thicker steel plates to cope with concentrated digging force and is therefore more durable.

Mini-Excavator Power

Consider your mini excavator’s weight and power to determine the minimum and maximum bucket sizes you can safely use.

For a 1T microexcavator like the Rhinoceros XN10-8, we recommend using a 200mm (8 inch) bucket size to no larger than a 600mm (24 inch) digging bucket or a 900mm (36 inch) grading bucket. For a larger mini-excavator such as a Rhinoceros XN18 (1.8T), a 750mm (30 inch) digging bucket, and a 1000mm grading/tilting bucket would be suitable.

Setting of the Project

If you have a larger bucket, you are spreading the force over a larger area, and so the per-inch cutting force is reduced. Thus, for compact or rockier soils, consider a slightly narrower bucket. Additionally, the soil will determine the weight within the bucket. For example, a larger grading bucket may be okay with sand, but if you fill it up with wet clay, suddenly your mini excavator is tipping.

Job Requirements

After passing through the checks for bucket type, excavator power, and ground type to determine the maximum and minimum sizes, consider your job needs to decide on a size.

Are you digging a trench? A 200mm (8 inch) bucket may be suitable.

Are you trying to excavate a large quantity? Having the largest safe bucket size for your machine will save a lot of time.

Digging in a moderately tight space? A bucket in between, such as a 400mm (16 inch) bucket, may work.

Do you need multiple bucket sizes?

Final Thoughts

Buying buckets should be well thought out to ensure they are safe and effective. You can’t go too big, and you also can’t purchase too small. Check your bucket type, diggers’ weight and power, project setting and job requirements. We also recommend using a tape measure or long ruler to visualise the size of the bucket you are considering. For most excavator operators, having multiple sizes — a small one, a medium, and a large — is sensible to maximise versatility and efficiency.

Still unsure what’s best for you? Feel free to contact us about any purchasing decisions here.