How to use it
- Enter the Bucket Width, Bucket Depth and Bucket Height in metres, taken from the bucket or the spec sheet.
- Set the Fill Factor, from 0 to 1, for how full the bucket really is. Loose sand loads fuller than wet clay or rock.
- Enter the Cycle Time in seconds for one load: fill, travel, dump and return.
- Set Efficiency, from 0 to 1, for the productive share of each hour. Enter the Hours per Day, and the Hourly Cost if you want a cost per m³.
- Read Bucket Capacity (m³), Hourly Production (m³/hr) and Cost per Unit.
The formula
Bucket capacity (m³) = width × depth × height × fill factor. Hourly production = capacity × (3,600 ÷ cycle time in seconds) × efficiency. Cost per unit = hourly cost ÷ hourly production.
What changes the result
The three dimensions give a box volume, so the capacity is an estimate of the working volume, not the manufacturer’s rated (SAE heaped) capacity. If you have the rated bucket volume, you can use it as the target and adjust the dimensions and the fill factor until the capacity matches. Short haul distances and a loader working close to the stockpile shorten the cycle time and raise output.
Using it on UAE sites
Loaders at crushers, batching plants and stockpiles in the UAE mostly handle sand, aggregate and base material. Match the loader to the truck: a loader that fills a truck in three to four passes is usually better balanced than one that needs many small passes. Output falls in the heat of summer afternoons, so enter the hours and efficiency you really expect.
Worked examples
- A 2.4 m × 1.2 m × 1 m bucket at a fill factor of 0.85 holds 2.448 m³ and loads 201.435 m³/hr.
- Hired at AED 150 an hour, that loader costs AED 0.75 for every cubic metre it loads.
- A larger 3 m × 1.5 m × 1.1 m bucket with a 40 second cycle: 4.455 m³ per pass and 300.712 m³/hr.
Loader output by cycle time
Printable chart| Cycle time (sec) | Bucket (m³) | Per hour (m³) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 2.448 m³ | 282.01 m³/hr |
| 30 | 2.448 m³ | 235.008 m³/hr |
| 35 | 2.448 m³ | 201.435 m³/hr |
| 40 | 2.448 m³ | 176.256 m³/hr |
| 45 | 2.448 m³ | 156.672 m³/hr |
| 50 | 2.448 m³ | 141.005 m³/hr |
| 60 | 2.448 m³ | 117.504 m³/hr |
For a 2.4 m × 1.2 m × 1 m bucket at fill factor 0.85 and efficiency 0.8. Shorter cycles come from short hauls and a well-organised stockpile.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the capacity of a loader bucket?
Multiply the bucket width, depth and height in metres, then by the fill factor. The calculator above shows the result in cubic metres.
Can I use the manufacturer’s bucket volume?
Yes. Adjust the dimensions and the fill factor until the capacity matches the rated figure, or use the rated volume with the excavator or cycle-time calculators.
What is a typical wheel loader cycle time?
It depends on the haul distance and the loading method. The default here is 35 seconds; measure your own on site for a better figure.
How many loader passes fill a truck?
Divide the truck capacity in cubic metres by the Bucket Capacity and round up. Check the truck capacity with your supplier.
How do I find the cost per cubic metre of loading?
Enter the Hourly Cost of the loader. The calculator divides it by the hourly production.
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