Guide to Choosing the Right Skid Steer Buckets

Skid steer buckets work as hard as you do, tackling the toughest digging jobs and material handling tasks. These attachments move different materials like gravel, large boulders, and manure across the jobsite. Discover how these specialized tools simplify various jobs and how you can use them to your advantage.  

What Is a Skid Steer Bucket?

Skid steer buckets are purpose-built for different heavy-duty tasks. Some common types of skid steer buckets include: 

• General-purpose: Utility or general-purpose buckets are widely used for general digging and loading tasks.
• Multipurpose: This 4-in-1 design can perform all tasks a utility bucket can do and more, like gripping debris, grading dirt, and leveling surfaces. 
• High-capacity: The deeper and taller design of these dirt buckets provides improved durability for better and more hauling.
• Snow or light material: Carry larger volumes of loose or light material like snow, wood chips, and mulch with this specialized bucket. 
• Skeleton rock: Count on these heavy-duty attachments to effectively remove rocks and large boulders from the ground while sifting out the soil between the tines. 

Skid Steer Bucket Capacity

Knowing the capacity of a skid steer bucket allows for optimal performance and safe operations. Contractors, landscapers, and equipment buyers should consider the bucket capacity to ensure quick, efficient handling of materials in a single load. 

Skid steer buckets are measured in cubic yards because of the bucket’s three-dimensional space. This specific cubic unit allows precise measurements and maximum productivity on the jobsite. 

How Many Yards Are in a Skid Steer Bucket?

Buckets have different capacities depending on their size range. Smaller buckets tend to have capacities between 0.3 and 0.5 cubic yards, while high-capacity buckets could exceed 1.5 cubic yards. Standard skid steer buckets have capacities of around 0.6-1 cubic yard.  

Here's a size chart of different skid steer buckets:

Factors That Influence Bucket Capacity

Several aspects impact a skid steer bucket’s capacity, including:

• Dimensions: The bucket’s width and height can influence how much material it can hold. Wider buckets feature a larger cross-sectional area, allowing them to carry more material at a certain depth. Taller ones can hold materials within the same width and length. 
• Material type: Buckets containing denser materials like rocks are suitable for smaller buckets for improved control and maneuverability. Large buckets move loose dirt and lighter materials like gravel and sand more efficiently. 
• Capacity during operations: Struck capacity is the bucket’s volume when it's filled to level with its top section. Heaping capacity refers to the volume when the bucket is filled slightly above the top. 
• Skid steer size: Bucket capacity varies depending on the size of the equipment, whether it’s a mini or full-sized skid steer loader. 

Choosing the Right Bucket Size for the Job

Bucket size selection is crucial for your operational efficiency and safety. The right bucket size allows you to properly handle material for optimized performance. Efficient bucket usage translates to maximized material transfer, lower fuel consumption, and reduced equipment wear and tear. Using a bucket that’s either too small or too large for your equipment can impact its lifespan and may pose potential risks in the worksite. 

Here are some tips when selecting bucket sizes for your skid steer:

• Match the bucket to your machine’s horsepower and hydraulic flow.
• Determine the main purpose of the bucket, whether it’s for grading, material moving, or snow removal. 
• Choose a bucket that’s wider than your skid steer’s width to increase load capacity and maximize each pass.
• Consider the heaviest material that you handle most of the time. 
• Factor in your site conditions, like tight spaces or uneven ground, which may require compact buckets for easy maneuverability. 
• Check your bucket’s capacity by identifying markings or calculating using volume formulas.

How to Determine the Operating Capacity?

A skid steer’s operating capacity is no more than 50% of the tipping capacity, which is the maximum weight your equipment can carry without tipping over. For example, if a skid steer has a tipping capacity of 2,000 pounds, it can safely lift up to 1,000 pounds or less.  

How to Calculate the Bucket’s Total Load Weight?

Determining the bucket's total load weight helps you identify if you're carrying just enough or too much in every pass. Here are some key aspects with their corresponding units of measurement for quick reference:

• Bucket capacity in cubic feet 
• Material density in pounds per cubic foot
• Bucket weight with edge in pounds
• Skid steer operating capacity in pounds 

To identify if the bucket you choose and the material you’ll be hauling will not overload the skid steer, use this formula: 

• Bucket capacity x material density + bucket weight = total load weight 

Then, subtract the total load weight from the skid steer operating capacity. A negative result means the skid steer is overloaded, while a positive number signifies you are on the safe side.

Applications of Skid Steer Buckets

These versatile attachments serve a wide range of industries, helping with digging, loading, and moving materials. Rent a skid steer bucket for your next project and improve various operations.

Construction

Skid steer buckets help in several construction tasks, such as: 

• Excavation: Dig holes, ditches, and trenches and carry them around the jobsite.
• Leveling terrain: Use a bucket to distribute soil and other materials and ensure a smooth, even surface for site preparation. 
• Material handling: Move construction materials like gravel, rocks, and soil quickly and easily.

Landscaping

Improve landscaping operations with the right bucket type and size. Here are some ways buckets can assist you: 

• Site preparation: Level and grade surfaces to prepare the foundation for buildings or patios. 
• Debris removal: Clear brush, fallen trees, and other debris from the site.
• Snow clearing: Remove snow from parking lots, driveways, and walkways. 
• Root ball transport: Move shrubs and trees from one part of the site to another. 

Agriculture

Farms can make use of skid steer buckets for a variety of tasks, including:

• Seeding and fertilization: Use buckets to carry seeds or fertilizer and spread them evenly over the ground.
• Farm maintenance: Clean fields and stables with buckets that help in stall cleaning and soil bedding removal. 
• Material transport: Move agricultural materials like hay bales, livestock feed, and manure over various terrains.

Rent the Right Skid Steer Bucket Today

Explore our selection of skid steer buckets for your operations in Alabama and Northwest Florida. At Thompson Rents, we carry premium skid steers and high-quality attachments to complete more jobs quickly. Rent a skid steer with different attachment options, or if you already have a trusted piece of equipment, simply find the perfect attachment for your project.

If you need help with the selection, speak to one of our experts for the best recommendations. You can visit one of our locations to get started or request a quick online quote today.