Heavy Equipment Attachments Guide: Every Type Explained for Skid Steers, Excavators, and Loaders

Last updated: April 2026

This heavy equipment attachments guide covers every major attachment type for the three biggest host machine categories: skid steers (and compact track loaders), excavators, and loaders. Attachments are what turn a single machine into a fleet — the right set can triple the value of what your equipment accomplishes on a job site, and the wrong set leaves you renting tools you should already own.

Pricing throughout this guide reflects used market values from Ritchie Bros auction results and MachineryTrader listings, current through Q1 2026. Buying attachments used typically saves 40–60% versus new, and because attachments have fewer moving parts than the host machines themselves, used attachments in good condition often have years of service life remaining.

How Heavy Equipment Attachments Work

Every attachment connects to its host machine through two systems: a mechanical mounting interface and a hydraulic connection. The mounting interface physically locks the attachment to the machine's loader arms or excavator stick. The hydraulic connection (when present) powers attachment functions like rotating augers, swinging grapple jaws, or hammering breaker pistons.

The universal skid steer quick-attach plate — popularized by Bobcat in the 1970s as the “Bob-Tach” — is the most successful attachment standard in the industry. Every major skid steer and compact track loader manufacturer (Bobcat, CAT, Kubota, Case, New Holland, John Deere, Takeuchi, JCB) uses compatible plates, which means an attachment purchased for one brand fits any other brand's machine without adapters.

Excavators and wheel loaders do not share this universal standard. Excavator attachments mount via pin-on connections sized to the specific machine class, or through quick couplers (hydraulic or mechanical) that speed up attachment changes. Wheel loaders use manufacturer-specific coupler systems like CAT Fusion, ISO, Volvo, and JRB, though third-party adapters exist.

Standard vs High-Flow Hydraulics

The single most important spec for any powered attachment is hydraulic flow rate, measured in gallons per minute (GPM). Standard-flow skid steers deliver 17–24 GPM at around 3,000 PSI. High-flow systems deliver 30–45 GPM at 3,500–4,000 PSI — more than double the hydraulic horsepower.

Before buying a used attachment, verify whether your machine has standard or high-flow auxiliary hydraulics. Adding high-flow aftermarket costs $3,000–$6,000 when it is possible at all — and on many machines it simply is not. For a complete machine inspection protocol, see our used equipment inspection guide.

Skid Steer Attachments: The Complete List

Skid steer attachments represent the deepest attachment ecosystem in heavy equipment. The combination of universal mounting, versatile hydraulics, and broad machine install base has produced over 200 distinct attachment types from dozens of manufacturers. These are the attachments that account for the vast majority of real-world use.

Prices reflect used mid-frame skid steer attachments. Sources: Ritchie Bros, MachineryTrader, dealer surveys, Q1 2026.

Buckets and Forks

The general-purpose bucket is the default attachment and handles roughly 60% of daily tasks for most operators — loading material, backfilling trenches, rough grading, and stockpile work. Mid-frame skid steers carry 0.3–1.0 cubic yard buckets depending on machine class. Specialized bucket types include light-material buckets (larger volume for mulch, snow, and wood chips), low-profile buckets (for visibility during grading), and 4-in-1 buckets that open like clamshells for grabbing and dozing.

Pallet forks run a close second in utility. Any operation that handles lumber, block, bagged material, or palletized equipment needs forks. A fork frame with 42–48 inch tines is standard, and walk-through frames (no top rail) give better operator visibility. Used pallet forks run $600–$1,400.

Grapple Attachment Types

A grapple attachment converts your skid steer into a grabber. The most common variant is the grapple bucket — a standard bucket with hydraulic top claws that clamp material in place. Grapple buckets excel at debris cleanup, demolition sorting, and brush handling. Root grapples (open-frame with tines instead of a solid bucket floor) let dirt and fines fall through while keeping logs and roots, which is why they dominate land-clearing work.

Used grapples range $1,800–$4,500 depending on size and configuration. A grapple is one of the highest-ROI attachments a skid steer owner can add — it turns what would otherwise be manual cleanup work into machine work and dramatically speeds up job site turnaround.

Auger Attachment

An auger attachment drills holes for fence posts, deck footings, tree plantings, and sign installations. The auger drive unit mounts to the skid steer, and interchangeable bits (6", 9", 12", 18", 24", 36") match hole requirements. A complete auger package with two bits runs $2,500–$5,500 used. Heavy-duty augers designed for rocky soil cost more but save you from broken bits and bent drive units.

Hydraulic Breaker Attachment

The hydraulic breaker attachment (also called a hydraulic hammer) converts a skid steer into a concrete-busting machine. Mid-frame breakers deliver 750–1,500 foot-pounds of impact energy per strike at 500–1,200 blows per minute. Used breakers for skid steers run $4,000–$9,000 depending on class.

Skid steer breakers are ideal for light demolition — concrete slabs up to 6 inches thick, sidewalk removal, foundation breakouts, and utility trench rock. For heavier demolition, you need an excavator-mounted breaker (covered in the excavator section below).

High-Flow Specialty Attachments

The most specialized skid steer attachments require high-flow hydraulics to function:

• Forestry mulcher:$15,000–$30,000 used. Grinds trees and brush up to 10 inches in diameter into mulch. Requires 30–40+ GPM high-flow.
• Cold planer (asphalt grinder):$8,000–$18,000 used. Mills asphalt for patching, trenching, and road work. Requires 30–35+ GPM.
• Stump grinder:$6,000–$12,000 used. Grinds tree stumps below grade. Requires 30+ GPM high-flow.
• Rock saw:$9,000–$22,000 used. Cuts utility trenches in rock and concrete. Requires 35+ GPM high-flow.

These attachments alone justify paying extra for a high-flow machine. If your business involves forestry work, asphalt patching, or rock excavation, a high-flow skid steer pays for itself within months through attachment productivity. See our used skid steer prices guide for high-flow pricing by model, or our used compact track loader prices guide if you need a tracked machine for soft ground.

Excavator Attachments: Buckets, Thumbs, and Breakers

Excavator attachments are sized to the machine class: a 2-ton mini excavator, a 20-ton mid-size machine, and a 45-ton full-size excavator use completely different attachment ecosystems. Before buying any used excavator attachment, verify the pin diameter, pin spacing, and width dimensions match your machine — or that a compatible quick coupler bridges the difference.

Prices span mini through full-size excavator classes. Sources: Ritchie Bros, MachineryTrader, Q1 2026.

Excavator Bucket Types

Excavator buckets come in five primary configurations, each optimized for a specific task:

1. Digging bucket (general-purpose): Narrow profile with aggressive teeth for trenching and excavation. The default bucket for most jobs.
2. Ditching / grading bucket: Wider profile with a smooth or toothless edge for finish grading, slope work, and ditch cleanup.
3. Rock bucket: Reinforced with extra-thick side plates and premium tooth profiles for abrasive material and frost.
4. Skeleton (sifting) bucket: Slotted floor that lets fine material fall through while keeping rocks and debris. Ideal for reclaiming rock from soil.
5. Tilt bucket: Rotates 45 degrees left and right hydraulically, allowing precise sloped grading without repositioning the entire machine. The highest-productivity bucket type for finish work.

A mini excavator typically uses 12–30 inch buckets, a mid-size excavator uses 24–48 inch buckets, and large excavators run 48–72+ inch buckets. For model-specific sizing and pricing data, see our used excavator prices guide or used mini excavator prices guide.

Hydraulic Thumb and Quick Coupler

The hydraulic thumb is one of the highest-value excavator upgrades. Mounted opposite the bucket, a hydraulic thumb lets the operator clamp objects against the bucket — grabbing rocks, logs, debris, or materials that would otherwise require a grapple attachment. Used hydraulic thumbs run $2,000–$5,000 and add $2,000–$5,000 in resale value to the machine because they expand the excavator's capability without requiring an additional tool.

Quick couplers (hydraulic or pin-grabber style) let operators change buckets in 30–60 seconds without leaving the cab. On a job that requires multiple bucket swaps per day — utility work, general excavation with finish grading, demolition sorting — a quick coupler pays back within weeks. Used couplers run $1,500–$6,500 depending on machine class.

Excavator Hydraulic Breaker

The excavator-mounted hydraulic breaker is the heaviest demolition tool available short of a wrecking ball. A 20-ton excavator breaker delivers 3,000–8,000 foot-pounds per strike — roughly 5–10x the impact of a skid steer breaker. Used excavator breakers range $5,000–$25,000 depending on class.

For any demolition business, an excavator breaker is the single most important specialized attachment. The used excavator pricing guide covers which machine classes best match different breaker sizes, and our equipment maintenance cost guide details the service intervals breakers require.

Wheel Loader and Backhoe Attachments

Wheel loaders and backhoes use a smaller attachment ecosystem than skid steers, but the attachments that exist for these machines are task-specific and productivity-focused. Most wheel loader attachments involve bucket variants rather than the wide attachment diversity seen on skid steers.

Pricing spans compact through full-size wheel loaders and mid-frame backhoes. Sources: Ritchie Bros, MachineryTrader, Q1 2026.

Wheel Loader Bucket Types

Wheel loader buckets are matched to the material being moved. A general-purpose bucket handles mixed aggregate, dirt, and mid-density stockpile material. High-capacity (light-material) buckets offer 30–50% greater volume for low-density material like mulch, wood chips, or loose snow — the extra volume does not strain the loader because light material weighs less per cubic yard.

Rock buckets trade volume for durability, with reinforced wear plates, V-shaped floors, and rock-specific tooth profiles. Multi-purpose (4-in-1) buckets open like clamshells for grabbing and grading, turning the wheel loader into a rough dozer. Side-dump buckets offload to one side, which lets the loader work in tight corridors without backing up.

For wheel loader sizing and pricing, see our used wheel loader prices guide.

Backhoe Loader Attachments

Backhoe loaders are the Swiss Army knives of small construction — they combine a front loader and a rear excavator on one machine. Most backhoe attachment investments focus on the rear end (buckets, thumbs, extended dippers) because the front loader bucket handles general loading tasks without much variation.

A hydraulic thumb for the backhoe stick adds material-handling capability for demolition and debris work. An extended dipper adds 2–4 feet of dig depth for utility installations. Pin-on or quick-coupler rear bucket sets let operators swap between digging buckets (18", 24", 30") and grading buckets (36"+) without pulling pins manually. See our used backhoe prices guide for model-specific pricing.

Recommended Core Attachment Packages by Machine

If you are buying a used machine and need to budget for attachments, these core packages cover the majority of real-world tasks for each machine category. Building a package incrementally lets you spread costs across the first year of ownership while still getting immediate productivity from the host machine.

One real-world example: a landscaping contractor in central Ohio bought a used Kubota SVL75-2 compact track loader for $41,500 at auction. Over the following six weeks, he added a $950 GP bucket, $1,100 pallet forks, $3,200 grapple bucket, and $4,800 auger with three bits — a total attachment investment of $10,050. Twenty-two months later he sold the machine and attachment package together for $48,000. The attachments added roughly $6,500 to the resale value above what the bare machine would have fetched.

How Attachments Affect Equipment Resale Value

Attachments affect resale value in two ways: they add direct dollar value when sold with the machine, and they expand the buyer pool that considers the listing. Both factors matter, but the second is often more valuable — a machine with a grapple bucket attracts contractors who would skip a bare unit entirely.

The single highest-ROI upgrade is factory high-flow hydraulics on a skid steer or CTL. Machines equipped with high-flow sell 10–15% faster and command a 5–8% premium over identical standard-flow units, because the buyer pool includes forestry mulching, cold planing, and stump grinding operators who need it. For a complete breakdown of how various factors affect heavy equipment depreciation, see our equipment depreciation guide.

On excavators, the two most value-adding additions are a hydraulic thumb ($2,000–$5,000 resale boost) and a quick coupler ($1,500–$3,500 resale boost). Both make the machine instantly more useful to any buyer and signal that the previous owner maintained the equipment with productivity in mind.

Tips for Buying Used Attachments

The used attachment market is strong. Because attachments have fewer moving parts than host machines and are not tracked by hour meters, the condition signals are different from buying a used machine. These are the inspection priorities that matter most.

• Wear points:On buckets, inspect cutting edges, teeth, and side plates for wear. Replacement teeth cost $30–$150 each — factor that into the purchase price.
• Pin holes:Oval-shaped or egg-shaped pin holes signal worn bushings. Re-bushing runs $200–$800 per pin location.
• Hydraulic cylinders:Check for rod scoring, seal leaks, and smooth extension / retraction. Cylinder rebuild runs $400–$1,500.
• Hydraulic hoses:Look for cracking, fraying, and leaks. Hose replacement is cheap ($30–$150 per hose) but delays you if they fail mid-job.
• Welds and frame: Cracked welds around high-stress points (especially on grapples, forks, and breakers) are the single worst finding. Walk away unless the price reflects a full re-weld cost.
• Coupler plate condition: On skid steer attachments, inspect the quick-attach plate for cracks, bent lips, or worn locking surfaces. A damaged coupler plate means the attachment will not lock securely to your machine.

For broader buying protection, our used equipment scams guide covers the red flags that apply to both machines and attachments — forged documentation, stolen serial numbers, and misrepresented condition.

Frequently Asked Questions