Mini excavator attachments: what they do and what they cost
Buckets, thumbs, augers, rippers, rakes, grapples, breakers and quick couplers: what each attachment does, what it needs from the machine, and current prices.
In short
- Start with two buckets (a narrow trenching and a wide grading bucket) and a thumb; add powered tools for the jobs you have.
- Augers, breakers and other powered tools need auxiliary hydraulics with enough flow.
- Pins and couplers differ between machines: buy for your machine's size class or check the pin dimensions.
Mini excavator attachment prices
From 75 attachments the brands in our library sell for mini excavators, at their US store prices:
| Attachment | Listed | Lowest | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydraulic or mechanical thumb Clamps against the bucket to pick up logs, rocks, brush and debris. Mechanical thumbs are pinned at a fixed angle; hydraulic thumbs move with a cylinder and need a hydraulic circuit. | 5 | $315 | $378 | $454 |
| Earth auger Drills holes for fence posts, trees and footings. Needs auxiliary hydraulics; match the auger's motor to the machine's hydraulic flow. | 6 | $649 | $998 | $1,576 |
| Ripper A single tooth that breaks hard ground, roots and frost before digging. | 5 | $150 | $288 | $450 |
| Rake Clears brush, roots and stones and levels ground without digging it up. | 5 | $173 | $329 | $524 |
| Grapple Grips and moves loose material, logs and brush with more control than a thumb. | 5 | $567 | $740 | $1,679 |
| Hydraulic breaker (hammer) Breaks concrete and rock. Needs auxiliary hydraulics with the right flow and pressure, and a machine heavy enough for the hammer. | 6 | $1,057 | $1,764 | $3,139 |
| Quick coupler (quick hitch) Changes buckets and tools in minutes without knocking out pins. | 6 | $188 | $319 | $629 |
| Tilt bucket Tilts left and right to grade slopes and ditches without moving the machine. | 6 | $649 | $2,435 | $3,149 |
| Trenching or narrow bucket A narrow toothed bucket for trenches for pipes and cables. | 15 | $150 | $284 | $2,184 |
| Grading or mud bucket A wide smooth-edged bucket for grading, cleaning ditches and moving loose soil. | 8 | $127 | $288 | $1,679 |
| Skeleton or rock bucket Lets soil fall through while holding rocks and roots: for sorting and clearing. | 2 | $227 | $378 | $378 |
| Brush cutter or flail mower A hydraulic mower or flail head for clearing brush and verges from the boom. | 4 | $1,610 | $2,759 | $2,783 |
| Pallet fork Turns the machine into a small forklift for pallets and materials. | 2 | $1,925 | $1,925 | $1,925 |
Sets and bundles are left out. Sold by AGT Industrial, Typhon, Huayee, MechMaxx.
Will it fit your machine?
Attachments mount on two pins at the end of the dipper arm. The pin diameter, the distance between the pins and the width between the ears must match the machine, or a coupler must adapt them. Brands sell attachments made for their own machines and for size classes ("for 1 to 2 ton", "for 2.5 to 3.5 ton"). Powered attachments also need auxiliary hydraulic lines and a flow and pressure within the tool's range: compare the hydraulic flow on the machine's specification sheet with the tool's requirement.
Questions
Which attachments should I buy first?
A narrow trenching bucket and a wider grading bucket, a thumb for logs and rocks, and a quick coupler if you change tools often. Add an auger or a ripper for the jobs you actually have.
Do attachments fit any mini excavator?
No. Pins, pin spacing and coupler type differ between machines, and hydraulic tools such as augers and breakers need auxiliary hydraulics with enough flow. Buy attachments made for your machine's size class, or check the pin dimensions.