Top 10 Biggest Excavators in the World: Excavators are some of the most essential machines in construction, mining, and heavy-duty earth-moving industries.
Known for their incredible lifting power, large-scale digging capabilities, and impressive versatility, the biggest excavators in the world are capable of handling enormous tasks, from large mining operations to high-scale infrastructure projects. These massive machines are designed to operate under extreme conditions, moving tons of material with every scoop, dig, and lift.
In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 biggest excavators in the world that lead the industry in size, power, and performance.
1. Liebherr R 9800 Crawler Excavator , 1st of Biggest Excavators
Operating Weight: 810,000 kg (1,785,000 lbs)
Engine Power: 2,000 hp
Bucket Capacity: 42 m³ (55 yd³)
The Liebherr R 9800 is a high-performance, large-scale crawler excavator designed for heavy-duty mining and earthmoving operations. Known for its exceptional power, reliability, and advanced technology, the R 9800 is one of the largest hydraulic excavators in the world, ideal for the most demanding tasks in mining and quarrying.
Powered by dual 1,120 kW (1,500 hp) engines, the R 9800 delivers impressive digging power and speed, making it highly efficient for digging, lifting, and loading large quantities of material. The excavator features a robust hydraulic system, enabling precise and powerful operation in various conditions, from soft soil to tough rock.
With an operating weight of around 810,000 kg, the R 9800 is built to handle massive workloads. Its large bucket capacity of up to 42 cubic meters allows it to move significant amounts of material in a single pass, making it highly productive in surface mining operations.
The R 9800 is designed with operator comfort and safety in mind, featuring a spacious, ergonomic cabin equipped with advanced controls, climate control, and excellent visibility. The cabin is designed to reduce fatigue and improve safety for long working hours.
For enhanced fleet management, the R 9800 comes with Liebherr’s LiDAT telematics system, which provides real-time data on machine performance, fuel consumption, and maintenance schedules. This allows operators and fleet managers to optimize the excavator’s performance and reduce operational costs.
In summary, the Liebherr R 9800 Crawler Excavator is an incredibly powerful and reliable machine designed for high-performance mining and earthmoving tasks. Its advanced features, massive capacity, and operator-friendly design make it a top choice for large-scale mining projects worldwide.
2. Hitachi EX8000-6 Crawler Excavator
Operating Weight: 800,000 kg (1,764,000 lbs)
Engine Power: 1,800 hp
Bucket Capacity: 42 m³ (55 yd³)
The Hitachi EX8000-6 is a high-performance, large-scale crawler excavator designed for the most demanding mining and earthmoving applications. Renowned for its robustness, efficiency, and advanced technology, the EX8000-6 is engineered to deliver exceptional productivity in heavy-duty excavation, loading, and material handling tasks.
Equipped with two powerful 1,000 kW (1,341 hp) engines, the EX8000-6 offers outstanding performance and reliability, even in the most challenging conditions. Its hydraulic system provides precise control, enabling the operator to handle even the toughest materials, whether soft soil or solid rock, with ease.
With an operating weight of around 811,000 kg, the EX8000-6 is built for large-scale operations. It features a bucket capacity of up to 42 cubic meters, making it highly efficient in moving massive amounts of material in a single pass, which boosts productivity in surface mining and large-scale excavation projects.
Designed with operator comfort and safety in mind, the EX8000-6 boasts a spacious and ergonomic cabin, offering excellent visibility and climate control for all-weather comfort. The cabin is designed to reduce operator fatigue during long working hours and enhance safety.
For optimized fleet management, the EX8000-6 integrates Hitachi’s ConSite telematics system, providing real-time data on machine performance, fuel consumption, and maintenance needs. This system allows for predictive maintenance, reducing downtime and maximizing operational efficiency.
In summary, the Hitachi EX8000-6 Crawler Excavator is a powerful and efficient machine designed for large-scale excavation, mining, and material handling. With its advanced technology, massive capacity, and focus on operator comfort, it is an ideal choice for the toughest excavation projects.
3. Komatsu PC8000-11 Crawler Excavator
Operating Weight: 720,000 kg (1,587,000 lbs)
Engine Power: 1,850 hp
Bucket Capacity: 42 m³ (55 yd³)
The Komatsu PC8000-11 is a cutting-edge, high-performance crawler excavator designed for the most demanding mining and heavy-duty earthmoving applications. Built for maximum productivity and efficiency, the PC8000-11 delivers exceptional power and reliability in large-scale operations.
Powered by dual 1,000 kW (1,341 hp) engines, the PC8000-11 is capable of handling the toughest excavation tasks with ease. The excavator features a highly efficient hydraulic system, providing smooth, precise control for digging, lifting, and loading large volumes of material in challenging environments, such as mining and quarrying.
With an operating weight of approximately 812,000 kg, the PC8000-11 is a massive machine designed for high-capacity material handling. Its large bucket capacity of up to 42 cubic meters ensures that it can move significant amounts of material in a single pass, making it highly efficient for large-scale mining operations.
The spacious, ergonomic cabin offers excellent visibility and comfort for the operator, reducing fatigue during long shifts. It is equipped with advanced controls, climate control systems, and low vibration levels, ensuring a safe and comfortable working environment.
For enhanced productivity and operational efficiency, the PC8000-11 comes equipped with Komatsu’s KOMTRAX telematics system. This system provides real-time data on machine performance, fuel consumption, and maintenance schedules, allowing operators and fleet managers to optimize machine uptime and reduce operating costs.
In summary, the Komatsu PC8000-11 Crawler Excavator is a powerful and reliable machine designed to excel in large-scale mining and earthmoving projects. With its advanced technology, massive capacity, and focus on operator comfort, it is an excellent choice for the toughest excavation tasks in mining and heavy-duty earthmoving operations.
4. Caterpillar 6090 FS Hydraulic Shovel
Operating Weight: 1,000,000 kg (2,200,000 lbs)
Engine Power: 4,500 hp
Bucket Capacity: 52 m³ (68 yd³)
The Caterpillar 6090 FS is an ultra-large, high-performance hydraulic shovel designed for the toughest mining and excavation tasks. Built for optimal efficiency, productivity, and reliability in demanding environments, the 6090 FS is one of the most powerful machines in Caterpillar’s fleet, ideally suited for large-scale earthmoving, excavation, and material handling.
Equipped with dual 2,240 kW (3,000 hp) engines, the 6090 FS offers incredible power to tackle heavy-duty tasks. Its hydraulic system is engineered to provide precise control, ensuring optimal performance during digging, lifting, and loading operations in mining applications, especially in surface mining and open-pit operations.
With an operating weight of approximately 1,000,000 kg, the 6090 FS is built to handle massive workloads. The shovel’s bucket capacity of up to 52 cubic meters enables it to move large amounts of material quickly and efficiently, making it perfect for handling overburden, ore, and other heavy materials in mining operations.
The spacious, ergonomic cabin is designed to provide exceptional operator comfort. It offers superior visibility, advanced controls, and climate control to ensure a safe and comfortable working environment, even during extended shifts in harsh conditions. The cabin is equipped with low vibration levels and noise-reducing technologies to reduce fatigue and enhance focus.
The Caterpillar 6090 FS is also integrated with Caterpillar’s VIMS (Vital Information Management System) and CAT’s Product Link™ telematics, providing real-time data on performance, fuel consumption, and maintenance needs. These advanced systems enable operators and fleet managers to optimize machine performance, minimize downtime, and reduce operational costs.
In summary, the Caterpillar 6090 FS Hydraulic Shovel is a highly advanced, powerful, and reliable machine designed for the most demanding mining and excavation applications. Its exceptional performance, large capacity, and operator-friendly features make it an ideal choice for large-scale mining projects where productivity and reliability are essential.
5. Volvo EC950F Crawler Excavator
Operating Weight: 54,000 kg (119,050 lbs)
Engine Power: 408 hp
Bucket Capacity: 3.7 m³ (4.8 yd³)
The Volvo EC950F is a powerful and efficient crawler excavator designed for demanding applications in construction, mining, and heavy-duty earthmoving projects. With its advanced technology, robust build, and superior performance, the EC950F is an excellent choice for large-scale excavation, material handling, and infrastructure development.
Equipped with a Stage V compliant 370 kW (496 hp) engine, the EC950F offers impressive power and fuel efficiency, making it ideal for tasks such as digging, lifting, and hauling heavy materials. The powerful hydraulic system ensures smooth and precise control, enhancing productivity and minimizing fuel consumption during operations.
With an operating weight of 50,300 kg and a bucket capacity of up to 3.4 cubic meters, the EC950F is built to handle demanding workloads. Its large digging reach and high lifting capacity make it highly efficient for digging trenches, moving materials, and tackling tough terrain in construction and mining sites.
The spacious and comfortable operator’s cabin is designed to maximize visibility and reduce fatigue, with a fully adjustable seat, climate control, and a large glass area. The cabin is equipped with user-friendly controls and an intuitive touchscreen interface, allowing the operator to easily monitor machine performance and make real-time adjustments.
For added efficiency, the EC950F comes equipped with Volvo’s CareTrack telematics system, which provides real-time machine data, enabling fleet managers to track performance, fuel consumption, and maintenance needs. This helps optimize productivity, reduce downtime, and lower operational costs.
In summary, the Volvo EC950F Crawler Excavator is a versatile, high-performance machine designed for heavy-duty construction, mining, and earthmoving projects. Its powerful engine, advanced hydraulics, large capacity, and operator-friendly features make it an excellent choice for demanding applications where performance, durability, and efficiency are key.
6. SANY SY500H Crawler Excavator
Operating Weight: 52,000 kg (114,640 lbs)
Engine Power: 354 hp
Bucket Capacity: 2.3 m³ (3 yd³)
The SANY SY500H is a high-performance crawler excavator designed for tough and demanding construction, mining, and earthmoving applications. Known for its exceptional power, reliability, and fuel efficiency, the SY500H is built to handle large-scale excavation tasks with ease, making it an excellent choice for a variety of heavy-duty projects.
Powered by a SANY SDEC 6BTAA8.9-C180 engine, the SY500H delivers a powerful output of 368 kW (493 hp), ensuring efficient and reliable operation even under the most challenging working conditions. The machine’s hydraulic system is engineered for maximum efficiency, offering precise control for digging, lifting, and handling a wide range of materials.
With an operating weight of 50,500 kg and a bucket capacity of up to 2.3 cubic meters, the SY500H is designed to move significant amounts of material quickly and efficiently. Whether it’s digging trenches, loading trucks, or moving soil, the SY500H’s powerful hydraulics and large capacity allow it to perform tasks with ease and in less time, boosting productivity on job sites.
The operator’s cabin is designed with comfort and convenience in mind, offering excellent visibility, a spacious layout, and an intuitive control system. It features a large touchscreen display, ergonomic controls, and advanced climate control, ensuring that operators can work comfortably and safely throughout long shifts.
The SANY SY500H is equipped with SANY’s SANYCare telematics system, which provides real-time data on machine performance, fuel efficiency, and maintenance schedules. This system allows fleet managers to track equipment performance and implement preventive maintenance to reduce downtime and improve overall productivity.
In summary, the SANY SY500H Crawler Excavator is a powerful and reliable machine designed to tackle large-scale excavation, construction, and mining tasks. With its advanced features, impressive performance, and operator-focused design, the SY500H offers outstanding efficiency, durability, and productivity in demanding environments.
7. Liebherr R 944 Crawler Excavator
Operating Weight: 43,000 kg (94,800 lbs)
Engine Power: 270 hp
Bucket Capacity: 2.3 m³ (3 yd³)
The Liebherr R 944 is a highly versatile and powerful crawler excavator designed for heavy-duty construction, mining, and earthmoving operations. Renowned for its reliability, fuel efficiency, and precision, the R 944 is engineered to deliver optimal performance in challenging environments, making it an ideal choice for demanding excavation tasks.
Powered by a Liebherr D936 A7 engine, the R 944 produces a robust 240 kW (322 hp), providing excellent performance and fuel economy. This powerful engine is paired with a highly efficient hydraulic system, ensuring smooth, responsive, and precise control during digging, lifting, and loading operations.
With an operating weight of approximately 45,500 kg and a bucket capacity of up to 2.5 cubic meters, the R 944 is perfectly suited for a wide range of tasks. Whether it’s trenching, material handling, or heavy lifting, this excavator’s large digging reach and lifting capacity allow it to tackle demanding projects efficiently, improving overall productivity on site.
The operator’s cabin is designed for maximum comfort and visibility. It features ergonomic controls, climate control systems, and advanced noise reduction technologies, ensuring a safe, comfortable environment for operators even during long shifts. The high-resolution display provides real-time machine data, allowing the operator to monitor key performance metrics easily.
For increased operational efficiency, the Liebherr R 944 is equipped with Liebherr’s LiDAT telematics system, which provides real-time data on fuel consumption, maintenance needs, and machine performance. This allows fleet managers to track the health of the machine, perform timely maintenance, and optimize productivity.
In summary, the Liebherr R 944 Crawler Excavator is a robust, efficient, and versatile machine designed for demanding applications. With its powerful engine, efficient hydraulics, operator comfort features, and advanced telematics system, the R 944 is an excellent choice for large-scale construction, mining, and earthmoving projects where high performance and reliability are crucial.
8. Komatsu PC490LC-11 Crawler Excavator
Operating Weight: 49,000 kg (108,000 lbs)
Engine Power: 280 hp
Bucket Capacity: 2.1 m³ (2.7 yd³)
The Komatsu PC490LC-11 is a robust mid-size crawler excavator designed to deliver exceptional performance in a variety of heavy-duty applications, including construction, land clearing, trenching, and foundation work. With an operating weight of 49,000 kg and a powerful 280 horsepower engine, the PC490LC-11 is engineered to handle demanding tasks with ease and efficiency.
Featuring a bucket capacity of 2.1 cubic meters, this machine provides excellent material handling capabilities, enabling operators to move large volumes of material quickly and efficiently. Its advanced hydraulic system ensures precise and smooth control, making it ideal for digging, lifting, and loading operations on job sites with tough conditions.
The PC490LC-11 is highly regarded for its fuel efficiency, allowing it to reduce operational costs without sacrificing performance. The machine’s enhanced productivity features, including improved hydraulics and engine performance, allow for faster cycle times and greater fuel savings, resulting in lower total cost of ownership.
Designed with ease of maintenance in mind, the Komatsu PC490LC-11 offers reduced downtime and maintenance costs, thanks to its user-friendly service access and long-lasting components. The machine’s advanced monitoring system helps operators and fleet managers track real-time data on machine performance, fuel consumption, and maintenance schedules, contributing to improved operational efficiency.
In summary, the Komatsu PC490LC-11 is a highly versatile and efficient crawler excavator, perfect for a wide range of construction and earth-moving tasks. Its powerful engine, fuel efficiency, high bucket capacity, and low maintenance costs make it an excellent choice for large-scale projects that demand high performance, durability, and reliability.
9. Doosan DX800LC-7 Crawler Excavator
Operating Weight: 83,000 kg (183,000 lbs)
Engine Power: 530 hp
Bucket Capacity: 4.4 m³ (5.7 yd³)
The Doosan DX800LC-7 is a powerful and highly efficient crawler excavator designed for heavy-duty applications in mining, large-scale construction, and earthmoving projects. With its robust performance, advanced technology, and fuel-efficient features, the DX800LC-7 is built to tackle the toughest jobs with ease, making it an ideal choice for operators seeking both power and productivity.
Equipped with a Doosan DL08V engine, the DX800LC-7 generates 402 horsepower (300 kW), providing the machine with outstanding digging and lifting capabilities. Its powerful engine is paired with an advanced hydraulic system, ensuring fast, smooth, and precise control for a variety of tasks such as deep excavation, material handling, and heavy lifting.
With an operating weight of 81,500 kg and a bucket capacity of up to 3.5 cubic meters, the DX800LC-7 is built to handle large volumes of material quickly and efficiently. Its large digging depth, high lifting capacity, and impressive reach make it suitable for applications such as mining, quarrying, and large-scale infrastructure projects.
The operator’s cabin is designed for comfort, safety, and productivity. It features a spacious layout with excellent visibility, reducing operator fatigue and enhancing safety during long shifts. The cabin is equipped with ergonomic controls, a high-resolution display, and advanced climate control, ensuring a comfortable working environment in all conditions.
For enhanced productivity, the Doosan DX800LC-7 is equipped with Doosan’s DoosanCONNECT telematics system, which provides real-time data on machine performance, fuel consumption, and maintenance needs. This allows fleet managers to monitor the machine’s performance remotely, track its condition, and reduce downtime through timely maintenance.
In summary, the Doosan DX800LC-7 Crawler Excavator is a high-performance, fuel-efficient machine designed to handle the toughest construction, mining, and earthmoving tasks. Its powerful engine, advanced hydraulic system, and operator-friendly features make it an excellent choice for large-scale projects requiring reliability, durability, and productivity.
10. CAT 390F L Hydraulic Excavator
Operating Weight: 88,000 kg (194,000 lbs)
Engine Power: 380 hp
Bucket Capacity: 3.6 m³ (4.7 yd³)
The CAT 390F L Hydraulic Excavator is a powerful and versatile machine designed for heavy-duty applications such as construction, mining, and large-scale earthmoving projects. Combining advanced technology, improved fuel efficiency, and exceptional productivity, the 390F L is built to excel in challenging environments.
Key Specifications:
| Specification | Details |
| Engine | CAT C18 ACERT™ |
| Engine Power | 523 hp (390 kW) |
| Operating Weight | 88,000 kg (193,000 lbs) |
| Bucket Capacity | 2.3 m³ |
| Maximum Digging Depth | 7.5 m |
| Maximum Reach | 11.7 m |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 650 L |
| Hydraulic System Flow | 570 L/min |
| Travel Speed | 5.5 km/h |
| Swing Speed | 9.3 rpm |
Key Features:
Engine Power: The CAT 390F L is powered by the CAT C18 ACERT™ engine, offering 523 horsepower (390 kW), providing the strength and reliability needed for heavy-duty tasks.
Hydraulic System: The excavator comes equipped with a high-efficiency hydraulic system, delivering up to 570 L/min flow, ensuring strong lifting power and smooth operation.
Operating Weight: Weighing in at 88,000 kg, the 390F L provides excellent stability and high lifting capacity for large-scale projects.
Fuel Efficiency: The machine incorporates fuel-efficient technologies, offering up to 10% improved fuel economy compared to previous models, helping to reduce operational costs.
Cab and Comfort: Designed for operator comfort, the 390F L features a spacious, noise-reducing cabin with excellent visibility, ensuring enhanced safety and reducing operator fatigue during long shifts.
Maintenance: The 390F L offers easy maintenance access with centrally located service points and an advanced monitoring system that helps reduce downtime and improve machine uptime.
Applications:
The CAT 390F L Hydraulic Excavator is ideal for various heavy-duty applications, such as:
- Large-scale earthmoving
- Demolition and construction
- Quarry and mining operations
- Material handling
- Road construction and infrastructure development
The CAT 390F L Hydraulic Excavator is designed for high productivity and efficiency, making it an excellent choice for large, demanding jobs in construction, mining, and earthmoving industries. With its powerful engine, advanced hydraulics, and operator-friendly design, it delivers superior performance and fuel savings over its lifecycle.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Excavator for Your Project
The choice of an excavator depends on the scale of your project, the type of terrain, and the materials to be moved. The Liebherr R 9800 and Hitachi EX8000-6 are the giants of the industry, capable of handling massive mining tasks, while models like the Volvo EC950F and SANY SY500H provide a more balanced approach for large-scale construction and earth-moving operations. If you’re looking for a powerful excavator to take on the toughest jobs, these top 10 models are sure to meet your needs.
Whether you need the extreme performance of the Komatsu PC8000-11 or the versatility of the Cat 390F, choosing the right excavator for your project is key to maximizing productivity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
