Short answer
It depends on the class. A mid-size civil-works excavator, like the Komatsu PC200-10M0, weighs 20.3 t ready to work; the ones in the catalog range from 11.7 t (PC130-8) to 118.3 t (PC1250-11R). A Bobcat mini excavator weighs 1.2 to 8.3 t, a Komatsu backhoe 7.5 to 8.3 t, a skid steer 1.3 to 5.8 t, a wheel loader 8 to 34.5 t, a dozer 8.5 to 56 t and a motor grader 15.1 to 22.2 t. These are operating weights from the spec sheets: the machine ready to work, not empty.
Operating weight: what that number includes
Spec sheets give the operating weight: the machine as it goes to work, with its standard equipment, lubricants, coolant, fuel and, usually, the operator. Each manufacturer details on the sheet exactly what's included (bucket, counterweight, shoe or track type). A bigger bucket, a hydraulic breaker or extra counterweight raise the real weight.
A useful rule with Komatsu excavators: the model number gives the size class. The PC200 is in the 20-tonne class and the PC130 is close to 12. But it's a class, not the exact weight: the PC1250-11R weighs 118.3 t, not 125.
Excavators: from 11.7 to 118.3 tonnes
The most common class in civil works is 20 to 24 tonnes: enough for trenches, footings and truck loading, and still haulable on a lowboy trailer. From the 30 t class up, they're machines for mass earthmoving, quarries and mining.
- PC130-8: 11.7 t
- PC200-10M0: 20.3 t
- PC210-10M0: 20.9 t
- PC220LC-8M0: 23.7 t
- PC300-8M2: 31.7 t
- PC360-8M2: 32.9 t
- PC390LC-8M0: 38.4 t
- PC500LC-10M0: 49.4 t
- PC600-8: 58.1 t
- PC800-8: 78.3 t
- PC1250-11R: 118.3 t
- Grupo ConstruMarket catalog spec sheets (operating weight).
Mini excavators and backhoes: 1 to 8 tonnes
Bobcat mini excavators range from 1.2 t (E10) to 8.3 t (E80): the smallest fit through a doorway and on a light trailer, and the 5 t ones are full urban-job machines. Komatsu backhoes weigh 7.5 t (WB93R-5E0) and 8.3 t (WB97R-5E0), and drive on the road under their own power.
- Mini excavator or backhoe loader: which one is right for you?
- How do you choose a backhoe loader for your jobsite?
- Bobcat E10: 1.2 t
- Bobcat E20: 2 t
- Bobcat E27: 2.8 t
- Bobcat E37: 3.6 t
- Bobcat E50: 5 t
- Bobcat E55: 5.4 t
- Komatsu WB93R-5E0: 7.5 t
- Bobcat E80: 8.3 t
- Komatsu WB97R-5E0: 8.3 t
- Grupo ConstruMarket catalog spec sheets (operating weight).
Skid steers: weight isn't the same as capacity
A skid steer weighs much more than it lifts, and that's how it should be: the weight is what keeps it stable with the load raised. The Bobcat S70 weighs 1,312 kg and its rated operating capacity is 362 kg; the S770 weighs 4,162 kg and lifts 1,569 kg; the tracked T870 weighs 5,756 kg. The Komatsu SK820-5E0 weighs 3,080 kg with a 900 kg rated capacity.
To choose one, look at the rated capacity, not the weight. To haul it, look at the weight, with the attachment on.
Loaders, dozers and motor graders
The Komatsu wheel loaders in the catalog range from 8.0 t (WA150-5) to 34.5 t (WA500-6). Dozers, from 8.5 t (D39EX-22) to 56.0 t (D275AX-5E0): they're the heaviest machines for their size, because weight is what pushes. Motor graders range from 15.1 t (GD535-5) to 22.2 t (GD705-5).
- How to choose a wheel loader and what drives its price
- When does a bulldozer make sense?
- What is a motor grader and how do you choose the right one?
| Criterion | Lightest | Heaviest |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel loader | WA150-5 · 8.0 t | WA500-6 · 34.5 t |
| Dozer | D39EX-22 · 8.5 t | D275AX-5E0 · 56.0 t |
| Motor grader | GD535-5 · 15.1 t | GD705-5 · 22.2 t |
Why weight matters: hauling, floors and ramps
Weight decides how the machine moves from one job to the next. A mini excavator or a skid steer goes on a light trailer; a 20 t excavator or a mid-size dozer needs a lowboy trailer, and the biggest machines are hauled partly disassembled or with oversize-load permits. Limits and permits are set by each country's traffic authority: the hauler handles them using the spec-sheet weight plus the attachments.
It matters on site too: before driving a machine onto a slab, a temporary bridge or a ramp, someone has to confirm it can take that weight. And to lift it with a crane, the weight decides the crane.
Summary: what to choose
| If… | Then… |
|---|---|
| You need an excavator for civil works | 20–24 t class (PC200 to PC220LC) |
| Access is narrow or the floor is delicate | 1 to 5 t mini excavator |
| You're comparing skid steers | Look at rated capacity, not weight |
| You're going to haul the machine | Spec weight + attachments, to the hauler |
| The machine goes onto a slab or ramp | Confirm first that it can take the weight |
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Common mistakes
Reading the model number as the weight
The PC1250-11R weighs 118.3 t: the number is the class, not the exact weight.
Forgetting the attachment
A breaker or a big bucket add weight to the haul and the slab.
Mixing up weight and capacity
A 2.9 t skid steer doesn't lift 2.9 t: the S570 lifts 944 kg.
Booking the haul without the figure
The hauler needs the spec weight and dimensions to plan and get permits.
Take it to the job site
Print the checklist to go over it on site, or send the guide to your crew.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an excavator weigh?
A mid-size civil-works excavator weighs about 20 tonnes: the Komatsu PC200-10M0, 20.3 t ready to work. The ones in the catalog range from 11.7 t (PC130-8) to 118.3 t (PC1250-11R); Bobcat mini excavators, from 1.2 to 8.3 t.
How much does a skid steer weigh?
1.3 to 5.8 tonnes depending on the model: the Bobcat S70 weighs 1,312 kg, the S570 2,900 kg, the S770 4,162 kg and the tracked T870 5,756 kg. The Komatsu SK820-5E0 weighs 3,080 kg.
How much does a backhoe loader weigh?
The Komatsu WB93R-5E0 weighs 7.5 t and the WB97R-5E0, 8.3 t, ready to work.
How much does a dozer weigh?
The Komatsu dozers in the catalog range from 8.5 t (D39EX-22) to 56.0 t (D275AX-5E0); the D85EX-15E0, one of the most used in earthworks, weighs 27 t.
How much does a motor grader weigh?
From 15.1 t (Komatsu GD535-5) to 22.2 t (GD705-5) ready to work.
What is operating weight?
It's the machine's weight ready to work: with its standard equipment, fluids, fuel and, usually, the operator. Each manufacturer details on the spec sheet what's included.
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Get a quote for the machine and deliveryGrupo ConstruMarket · Job site checklist
How much does an excavator weigh? Heavy machinery weights, model by model
It depends on the class. A mid-size civil-works excavator, like the Komatsu PC200-10M0, weighs 20.3 t ready to work; the ones in the catalog range from 11.7 t (PC130-8) to 118.3 t (PC1250-11R). A Bobcat mini excavator weighs 1.2 to 8.3 t, a Komatsu backhoe 7.5 to 8.3 t, a skid steer 1.3 to 5.8 t, a wheel loader 8 to 34.5 t, a dozer 8.5 to 56 t and a motor grader 15.1 to 22.2 t. These are operating weights from the spec sheets: the machine ready to work, not empty.
Avoid
- Reading the model number as the weight. The PC1250-11R weighs 118.3 t: the number is the class, not the exact weight.
- Forgetting the attachment. A breaker or a big bucket add weight to the haul and the slab.
- Mixing up weight and capacity. A 2.9 t skid steer doesn't lift 2.9 t: the S570 lifts 944 kg.
- Booking the haul without the figure. The hauler needs the spec weight and dimensions to plan and get permits.
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