Increased Productivity – The proper excavator bucket size will allow you to get more done in less time. Only then will you access all of these benefits: You need the excavator bucket size that’s right for your job. You don’t always need the largest size available. When it comes to buckets, bigger isn’t always better. Why You Need to Pick the Right Excavator Bucket Size Keep reading, and you’ll see all the ways you benefit from picking the right excavator bucket size. When you consider the bucket width, capacity, and the job site materials you will handle, you won’t just make an informed decision. The orange volume is used to calculate the bucket capacity. See the example below on a 200 series 36” bucket. This method calculates the bucket capacity with the bucket’s inside volume plus the heaped top with a 1:1 ratio for excavators. Viking West uses the SAE (The Society of Automotive Engineers) heaped method, which is the common method adopted by major machine OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). There are a few different ways to calculate bucket capacities. Consider Bucket Capacity to Maximize Your Efficiency For instance, a 42” size bucket might measure 43” in actual size. The actual bucket width may vary from the standard size callout. We should mention it’s important to consult with your local dealer to confirm the actual measurement of the bucket width. You wouldn’t want to dig a 42″ trench with a 48″ bucket. The same goes if you need to control the specific width when digging or handling at the job site. It’s helpful to consider the bucket width when the working area is restricted to a certain size. For example, Viking West offers the following standard bucket widths for 250 Series machines: There are typically 2-3 different widths of dig buckets for each size machine, and 1-2 different widths of clean-up buckets offered as standard size buckets. The bucket sizes typically increase in 6” increments. The common bucket widths start from 12” for the compact trenching bucket, all the way to an 96” clean-up bucket for 800 Series excavators and beyond. The Excavator Bucket Width That’s Right for Your Job First, let’s discuss the factors you need to consider when choosing your excavator bucket size. These basic guidelines will help you choose the correct excavator bucket size to maximize your productivity and experience other benefits. There are three main items you should consider when choosing your excavator bucket size: However, the different bucket sizes and capacity numbers published by manufacturers make it an overwhelming task. Selecting the right excavator bucket size is essential to getting your job done right.