Finning A Guide to Excavator Types and Uses
Learn about different types of excavators, what they’re used for, and how to choose the right machine for your construction, mining, or landscaping project.
A Complete Guide to Excavator Types and Their Uses
Excavators are the workhorses of modern construction and earthmoving projects. Whether you're breaking ground on a new site or maintaining a quarrying operation across UK and Ireland, choosing the right type of excavator is critical for efficiency, safety, and cost control. This guide covers the main types of excavators, how they’re used, and how to choose the right one for your project.
What Is an Excavator?
An excavator is a heavy-duty machine used primarily for digging and moving large volumes of material. Commonly seen on construction sites across the UK and Ireland, excavators are equipped with a boom, dipper (or stick), a hydraulic arm, and a bucket, all attached to a cab mounted on either tracks or wheels.
Excavators are designed for power and precision. They can rotate 360 degrees and are highly versatile thanks to interchangeable attachments.
Excavator Uses Across Industries:
- Construction: Foundations, trenching, backfilling, site prep
- Quarrying: Material extraction, pit development, overburden removal
- Utilities: Installing pipes, safe digging around underground services
- Demolition: Building teardown, debris handling
- Forestry & Environmental: Land clearing, stream restoration, erosion control
- Industrial & Waste: Lifting, sorting, loading, and stock piling
- Infrastructure: Land clearance, construction and preparation for development projects
- Landscaping: Shaping and terra forming
- House building: Site preparation and clearing for construction utilities
Main Types of Excavators Explained
There are many types of excavators, each suited to specific tasks and terrain. Here's a breakdown of the most common types used in the UK and Ireland.
Crawler Excavator (Standard Hydraulic)
- Best for: General construction, trenching, large-scale excavation
- Why it works: The tracked undercarriage offers great stability on rough, muddy, or sloped terrain—ideal for job sites in remote or rugged areas or areas requiring low ground pressure.
Wheeled Excavator
- Best for: Urban jobs, roadwork
- Why it works: Faster and more agile on paved surfaces with less damage. Often used in cities where space and mobility matter.
Mini/Compact Excavator
- Best for: Tight spaces, small residential jobs, landscaping
- Why it works: Lightweight and easier to transport, mini excavators minimise damage to finished surfaces and can navigate narrow access points.
Long-Reach Excavator
- Best for: Dredging, deep trenching, demolition at height
- Why it works: Extended arm and boom make it perfect for reaching across waterways or accessing hard-to-reach areas.
To choose the best excavator, consider:
- Terrain (e.g., rocky vs urban)
- Space (tight residential lot vs wide-open mining pit)
- Depth requirements (shallow trench vs deep foundation)
- Project duration (one-off job vs long-term operation)
Crawler Excavator (Standard Hydraulic)
- Ideal for: Construction, mining
- Limitations: Slower on paved roads.
Wheeled Excavator
- Ideal for: Urban roadwork
- Limitations: Less stable on rough terrain
Mini Excavator
- Ideal for: Landscaping, small sites
- Limitations: Lower lifting and digging power
Long-Reach Excavator
- Ideal for: Dredging, demolition
- Limitations: Not ideal for confined spaces
Popular Excavator Uses & Applications
Excavators are among the most versatile machines on a job site. Here are some of their most common applications:
- Trenching and Digging: For foundations, pipelines, and cables
- Demolition: Removing structures safely and efficiently
- Material Handling: Lifting and moving debris, aggregates, or logs
- Dredging and Waterways: Cleaning and shaping rivers, lakes, or harbours
- Utility Excavation: Non-destructive digging for cable or pipe laying
- Forestry Work: Clearing land or restoring environmental areas
Excavator Sizes and Weight Classes
Understanding excavator sizes helps ensure you’re not over- or under-powered for your project.
- Micro (<1 tonne): Indoor or ultra-tight spaces
- Mini (1–6 tonnes): Landscaping, small construction projects
- Medium (7–25 tonnes): General construction, municipal work
- Large (26–45 tonnes): Commercial site prep, road building
- Ultra-Heavy (>45 tonnes): Mining, major infrastructure projects
Excavator Attachments That Expand Capability
With the right attachment, one excavator can do the job of many machines:
- Buckets: Trenching, digging, grading
- Hydraulic Breakers: Demolition of concrete and rock
- Grapples: Lifting logs or scrap materials
- Augers: Drilling post holes or foundation supports
- Tiltrotators: Greater flexibility and efficiency in digging angles
Excavator FAQs
What is the most common type of excavator?
The crawler excavator is the most widely used type, thanks to its versatility, stability on uneven terrain, and suitability for general construction, quarrying, and trenching projects.
What size excavator do I need for my project?
This depends on the task, site conditions, and space. Mini excavators are ideal for landscaping or residential jobs, while medium to large machines suit commercial and industrial work.
What attachments can I use with an excavator?
Excavators can be fitted with buckets, hydraulic breakers/hammers, grabs or grapples, augers, and tiltrotators to expand their capabilities—from digging to demolition and lifting.
What is a mini excavator used for?
Mini excavators are best for tight spaces, small jobs, and light digging work—common for landscaping, utility installation, or indoor demolition/house building.
How deep can an excavator dig?
Excavator digging depth varies by size. A standard 20-tonne machine can typically dig around 6–7 metres deep, while long-reach models can go beyond 10 metres, depending on specification.