Note: the term excavator is sometimes used as a general term for any peice of digging equipment. The term "bagger" is used in Europe. Tracked excavators are sometimes called trackhoes.

Excavators are mostly used to dig trenches and holes. They come in a wide variety of sizes. The smaller ones are called "mini-excavators" or "compact excavators". One manufacturer's largest model weighs 79200 Kg (174,606 lbs.) and has a maximum bucket size of 4520 L (5.91 cu yd.). The same manufacturer's smallest mini-excavator weighs 1470 kg (3240 lbs), has a maximum bucket size of 36 L (0.048 cu yd) and the width of its trackss can be adjusted to 89 cm (35 inches). Another company makes a mini excavator that will fit through a doorway with tracks that can be adjusted to only 70 cm (28 in.) wide.

Often the bucket can be replaced with other tools like a breaker or auger. Excavators are usually employed together with loaders and bulldozers.

Most smaller excavators have a backfill blade. It's a horizontal bulldozer like blade attached to the undercarriage and is used for pushing removed material back into a hole.

Most excavators travel on trackss but others have wheels.

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