A backhoe excavator is a hydraulic digging machine whose bucket scoops toward the machine and digs below the level on which it stands. It is the most common excavator on European construction sites — pulling the bucket inward, ideal for trenches, foundation pits and loading trucks.
How it works
The backhoe consists of a boom (the large arm) and a stick to which the bucket is attached. The bucket has teeth or a cutting edge at the front and is pulled toward the machine by a hydraulic cylinder. Because the machine stands higher than the level being dug, the digging depth depends on the stick length — ranging from 2 m on a mini-excavator to 10 m on a large tracked machine.
Application
The backhoe excavator is used for many earthworks tasks:
- Foundation pits — for basements, footings and crawl spaces
- Trenches — for sewers, cables and services
- Ditches and watercourses — deepening and profiling
- Loading trucks — from a trench or pit upward
- Demolition — fitted with a breaker or sorting grab
- Piling — as a carrier for a piling rig
Backhoe vs. other excavator types
| Type | Bucket motion | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Backhoe | Inward and downward | Trenches and pits below machine |
| Loader / face shovel | Outward and upward | Loading loose material onto trucks |
| Dragline | Cast out and pulled in | Deep dredging, long reach |
| Front shovel (classic) | Outward and up | Steep banks, older machines |
Bucket sizes and machine classes
Bucket volume ranges from 30 litres (mini-excavator) to 5 m³ (large tracked machine). Common classes on a building site:
- Wheeled excavator 8–14 t — bucket volume 0.3–0.5 m³
- Tracked excavator 20–25 t — bucket volume 0.8–1.2 m³
- Tracked excavator 35–50 t — bucket volume 1.5–2.5 m³
Related terms
- Excavator
- Dragline
- Face shovel
- Foundation pit
- Earthworks
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