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Small, Medium, Large or Wheeled? Your Excavator Size Guide.
One Machine, Many Jobs: How to Narrow Your Excavator Search by Size
Trenching. Grading. Truck loading. Demolition. Utility work. When it comes to versatility on a jobsite, it’s hard to beat an excavator. With the right size and setup, a single machine can take on all kinds of tasks — helping you save time, labor and fuel across the board.
But with so many options, how do you choose the right one?
Read on for a quick breakdown of the major excavator size classes and types to help you narrow your search and get to work faster.
Small and Medium Excavators: For All-Around Performance and Versatility
Small and medium excavators (Cat® models 313–335) are the go-to pick for most general contractors and commercial construction crews — and for good reason. They strike a solid balance between power and agility.
Offering a sizable step up in performance from mini excavators, small and medium-sized models are big enough to tackle serious digging and lifting but still easy to transport and maneuver on compact sites. Plus, most come with advanced hydraulics that can handle multiple tools — everything from trenching buckets to thumbs, hammers and compactors.
If you want a do-it-all excavator that can adapt to different jobs without taking up too much space, this is the size class to start with.
Large Excavators: For High-Volume Digging and Heavy Lifting
When the job calls for maximum muscle, it’s time to size up. Large excavators (Cat models 336–395) are purpose-built for heavy-duty construction, demolition and truck loading. They deliver powerful breakout forces, longer reach options and larger bucket capacities to help you move more material faster.
This class is often the right fit for:
- Bridgework and roadwork
- Large-scale demolition
- Loading large off-highway trucks
Bonus: Many large excavators offer configurations for mass excavation or removable counterweights for easier transport. If productivity is your priority, you’ll find a strong return on investment here.
Wheeled Excavators: For Mobility Without Compromise
Need an excavator that moves easily between tasks — without a trailer? Wheeled excavators (Cat models M314–M322) bring the same power and attachment compatibility as their tracked counterparts, with more mobility and less disruption to finished surfaces.
They’re especially useful in:
- Urban and residential construction
- Municipal jobs
- Paved or landscaped environments
Wheeled excavators also shine when space is confined and time is short. Their ability to drive from one part of a jobsite to another can help shave hours off your schedule.
Still Not Sure? Let’s Talk.
Whether your focus is driving down cost per hour, raising the bar on performance and fuel efficiency, or hitting bold production and cost targets, there’s a Cat excavator to match your job and budget.
Choosing the right one starts with understanding the type of work you do most — and the environments you work in. Your local Cat dealer can help you weigh the options and match your needs to the correct size and setup.
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