Excavators

Excavators are one of the largest pieces of equipment used in construction. They are used for heavy-duty clearing, loading, digging and trenching. This large excavation equipment is ideal for your commercial construction site or landscaping job. With 360-degree swing rotation, our durable track-type excavators are ideal for muddy terrain and can handle your site’s needs efficiently.

United Rentals offers multiple sizes of excavators, ranging from 21 tons to 24.95 tons, and attachments for multipurpose applications. If you’re looking for construction equipment for excavating, we have just the tool to fit your needs.

FAQs about Excavators

Is an excavator the same as a digger?

Backhoes — also known as diggers — and excavators (specifically mini-excavators) look similar and they can do similar jobs, but they are different in important ways. Typical excavators are much bigger, but mini-excavators can do a lot of things backhoes can do. They both have articulating booms, dippers, and buckets and are used for trench work, construction work, and more. Excavators don't have wheels; they run on tracks (that is why they are known as trackhoes), and they have very good traction for slick, muddy sites. Excavators have 360-degree swing rotation, but backhoes only have 180- to 200-degree swing rotation.

What size excavator should I use?

The best size of excavator for you depends on the size of your site and the kind of work you are doing. Consider whether a heavy machine like an excavator can move around easily within the site and whether a 25-ton machine might damage the site. United Rentals offers clearing rake attachments for our excavators so you can clear roots, brush and more across your site. We offer hammer attachments for breaking through tough asphalt or cement, and other attachments. Our excavators are used primarily on construction sites or large landscaping sites where they are unlikely to damage surrounding structures. If you have a smaller site, see our mini-excavator section.

What are the types of excavation?

There are many types of jobs excavators are used for, including:
- Trench excavation
- Cutting and filling embankments
- Basement excavation
- Dredging
- Excavation of various materials including rock, silt, topsoil and muck

Cat Class Code

905-1205

Excavator, 100,000-109,999 lbs.

Up to 12 track rollers per side
Comfortable, climate-controlled operator cab
Digging depth up to 27' 2"
Heavy-duty and durable
Uses: Ideal for digging, trenching, backfilling, leveling and grading
Add this excavator to your cart now

Cat Class Code

905-1005

Excavator, 19,000 lbs., Zero-Swing

Excellent all-around visibility
Comfortable, climate-controlled operator cab
14' 11" digging depth
16,335-lb. breakout force
Uses: Ideal for digging, trenching, backfilling, leveling and grading
Add this excavator to your cart now

Cat Class Code

905-1015

Excavator, 25,000-29,000 lbs.

Excellent all-around visability
Maximum digging depth up to 19' 7"
Ground level reach up to 28' 4"
Bucket capacity up to .98 cubic yards
Uses: Ideal for standard excavating jobs on construction sites
Add this excavator to your cart now

Cat Class Code

905-1025

Excavator, 30,000 lbs.

7 track rollers per side
Two-speed, turbocharged
Digging depth up to 19'5"

Cat Class Code

905-1030

Excavator, 30,000-35,000 lbs.

Excellent all-around visibility
Maximum digging depth up to 21' 9"
Ground level reach up to 32' 6"
Bucket capacity up to 1.11 cubic yards
Uses: Ideal for standard to heavy-duty excavating jobs on larger construction sites
Add this excavator to your cart now

Cat Class Code

905-1035

Excavator, 30,000-35,000 lbs., Zero Swing

Maximum digging depth up to 19' 7"
Ground level reach up to 28' 4"
Bucket capacity up to .98 cubic yards
Uses: Ideal for standard excavating jobs on larger construction sites
Add this excavator to your cart now

Cat Class Code

905-1045

Excavator, 35,000-39,000 lbs.

Excellent all-around visibility
Maximum digging depth up to 21' 4"
Ground level reach up to 30'
Bucket capacity up to 1 cubic yard
Uses: Ideal for standard excavating jobs on larger construction sites
This is oversized equipment. View permit information below.

Cat Class Code

905-1060

Excavator, 43,000-49,999 lbs.

Excellent all-around visibility
Maximum digging depth up to 22'
Built-in wheels for easy maneuverability
Ideal for standard to heavy-duty jobs on larger construction sites
Add this excavator to your cart now
This is oversized equipment. View permit information below.

Cat Class Code

905-1085

Excavator, 50,000-55,999 lbs.

Excellent all-around visibility
Maximum digging depth up to 21' 9"
Ground level reach up to 32' 6"
Bucket capacity up to 1.11 cubic yards
Uses: Ideal for standard to heavy-duty excavating jobs on larger construction sites
This is oversized equipment. View permit information below.

Cat Class Code

905-1080

Excavator, 50,000-55,999 lbs., Reduced Swing

Tail swing between 6' and 7' 10"
Maximum digging depth up to 21' 9"
Ground level reach up to 32' 6"
Bucket capacity up to 1.11 cubic yards
Uses: Ideal for standard to heavy-duty excavating jobs on larger construction sites
This is oversized equipment. View permit information below.

Cat Class Code

905-1135

Excavator, 63,000-66,999 lbs.

Excellent all-around visibility
Maximum digging depth between 20-22'
Ground level reach up to 31'
Bucket capacity between 1-2 cubic yards
Uses: Ideal for standard to heavy-duty excavating jobs on larger construction sites
This is oversized equipment. View permit information below.

Cat Class Code

905-1150

Excavator, 70,000-79,000 lbs.

Excellent all-around visibility
Maximum digging depth up to 24' 10"
Ground level reach 36' 3"
Bucket capacity up to 2.75 cubic yards
Uses: Ideal for standard to heavy-duty excavating jobs on larger construction sites
This is oversized equipment. View permit information below.

Cat Class Code

905-1185

Excavator, 90,000-109,999 lbs.

Excellent all-around visability
Comfortable, climate controlled operator cab
Easy-to-use joystick controls