How to use it
- Enter the Bucket Capacity in m³ from the machine specification (heaped or struck, as the manufacturer states it).
- Set the Fill Factor, from 0 to 1. A value near 0.9 suits easy digging; use less for rock, clay or blasted material.
- Enter the Cycle Time in seconds: dig, swing, dump and return. Choose a realistic figure for the depth and the swing angle.
- Set Efficiency, from 0 to 1, for the share of each hour the machine really digs. The default 0.83 is about 50 working minutes per hour.
- Enter the Hours per Day, and the Hourly Cost if you want the cost per m³. Read Hourly Production, Daily Production and Cost per Unit.
The formula
Production (m³/hr) = bucket capacity × fill factor × (3,600 ÷ cycle time in seconds) × efficiency. Daily production = hourly production × hours per day. Cost per unit = hourly cost ÷ hourly production.
What changes the result
Cycle time is the most sensitive input: a shorter swing, a lower digging face and a trained operator cut seconds off every pass. The fill factor depends on the material and the bucket type, and efficiency absorbs waiting for trucks, repositioning and breaks. The calculator gives a loose-material estimate for planning; check actual output on site and adjust the inputs.
Using it on UAE sites
Match the excavator to the trucks: the hourly figure shows how many truckloads per hour the machine can fill, so you do not hire trucks that wait or an excavator that waits for them. In summer heat many Gulf sites shorten the working day or shift work to cooler hours, so enter the hours you really expect. The Hourly Cost can be a rental rate quoted by a supplier, or your own ownership and running cost.
Worked examples
- A 1.2 m³ bucket on the default settings moves 129.082 m³/hr and 1,032.653 m³/day in an 8 hour day.
- At a rental rate of AED 180 an hour, the same excavator costs AED 1.39 per cubic metre moved.
- A 2.5 m³ bucket, 30 second cycle, 10 hours a day: 204 m³/hr and 2,040 m³/day, at AED 1.72 per m³ when hired at AED 350 an hour.
Excavator output by bucket size
Printable chart| Bucket (m³) | Per hour (m³) | Per 8 h day (m³) |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 53.784 m³/hr | 430.272 m³/day |
| 0.8 | 86.054 m³/hr | 688.435 m³/day |
| 1 | 107.568 m³/hr | 860.544 m³/day |
| 1.2 | 129.082 m³/hr | 1,032.653 m³/day |
| 1.5 | 161.352 m³/hr | 1,290.816 m³/day |
| 2 | 215.136 m³/hr | 1,721.088 m³/day |
| 2.5 | 268.92 m³/hr | 2,151.36 m³/day |
| 3 | 322.704 m³/hr | 2,581.632 m³/day |
| 4 | 430.272 m³/hr | 3,442.176 m³/day |
With a fill factor of 0.9, a 25 second cycle, efficiency of 0.83 and an 8 hour day. Change the inputs above for your own conditions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate excavator productivity?
Multiply the bucket capacity by the fill factor, by the cycles per hour (3,600 ÷ cycle time in seconds) and by efficiency. The calculator above does this and also gives the daily figure.
What is a typical excavator cycle time?
It depends on the machine size, the swing angle and the digging depth. The default here is 25 seconds; use your own measured time for a better estimate.
What efficiency factor should I use?
Values around 0.75 to 0.85 are common for planning. Use the lower end for a busy site with a lot of waiting and repositioning.
What is the fill factor of a bucket?
It is the share of the rated bucket volume that is actually filled on each pass. It is lower in rock or sticky clay and higher in loose sand.
How do I get the cost per cubic metre?
Enter the Hourly Cost. The calculator divides it by the hourly production to show the cost per m³.
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