An excavator auger only works well when the earth drill suits the machine carrying it. Too small and it struggles with big holes and hard ground. Too big and your excavator can't supply the oil it needs. Here's how to match an earth drill, auger and hitch to your excavator, with a size chart for 0.75 to 50 tonne machines and what to use on a telehandler, skid steer, mini loader, backhoe or truck crane.
Excavator Auger Size Chart
| Excavator size | Earth drill | Max torque | Oil flow | Hole sizes | Auger | Hitch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.75–1 tonnes | Auger Torque 1200 | 1,164Nm | 15–32 l/min | 100–300mm | S2 | 1200 single pin hitch |
| 1–2 tonnes | Auger Torque X1500 | 1,496Nm | 20–45 l/min | 100–400mm | S4 | X1500–X2500 hitch |
| 1–2.5 tonnes | Auger Torque X2000 | 2,190Nm | 25–57 l/min | 100–450mm | S4 | X1500–X2500 hitch |
| 1.5–3 tonnes | Auger Torque X2500 | 2,847Nm | 27–65 l/min | 100–500mm | S4 | X1500–X2500 hitch |
| 2–4 tonnes | Auger Torque 3000 MAX | 2,877Nm | 27–75 l/min | 100–600mm | S4 | 3000–4500 MAX hitch |
| 2.5–4.5 tonnes | Auger Torque 3500 MAX | 3,614Nm | 40–85 l/min | 100–750mm | S4 | 3000–4500 MAX hitch |
| 3–5 tonnes | Auger Torque 4500 MAX | 4,499Nm | 50–95 l/min | 100–900mm | S4 | 3000–4500 MAX hitch |
| 4.5–6 tonnes | Auger Torque 5500 MAX | 5,477Nm | 40–115 l/min | 150–750mm | S5 | 5500–8000 MAX hitch |
| 5–7 tonnes | Auger Torque 7000 MAX | 6,931Nm | 60–135 l/min | 150–900mm | S5 | 5500–8000 MAX hitch |
| 6–8 tonnes | Auger Torque 8000 MAX | 8,152Nm | 70–150 l/min | 150–1,200mm | S5 | 5500–8000 MAX hitch |
| 8–13 tonnes | Auger Torque 12000 MAX | 11,995Nm | 80–170 l/min | 150–1,000mm | S6 | 12000–15000 MAX hitch |
| 10–15 tonnes | Auger Torque 15000 MAX | 15,071Nm | 80–170 l/min | 150–1,200mm | S6 | 12000–15000 MAX hitch |
| 13–20 tonnes | Auger Torque 20000 MAX | 19,564Nm | 80–170 l/min | 150–1,000mm | S6 | 20000–25000 MAX hitch |
| 15–22 tonnes | Auger Torque 25000 MAX | 24,755Nm | 80–170 l/min | 150–1,500mm | S6 | 20000–25000 MAX hitch |
| 20–45 tonnes | Auger Torque 35,000–65,000 MAX | 66,589Nm | 100–280 l/min | 300–2,400mm | PA | Single pin or double pin cradle |
| 21–50 tonnes | Auger Torque 70,000–150,000 MAX | 152,319Nm | 100–340 l/min | 300–2,400mm (70,000 and 80,000 MAX) | PA | Double pin cradle |
Hole sizes are Auger Torque's recommended drilling range for each drive. The S5 augers we supply go up to 1,000mm, the S6 up to 1,500mm and the PA up to 2.4m. Drives from the 35,000 MAX up are quoted with their hitch and augers.
1. Start with Your Excavator's Weight
Earth drills are matched to the operating weight of the machine carrying them, so find your excavator's operating weight in its manual or on the spec plate. The ranges overlap: a 2.5 tonne mini digger suits the X2000, X2500, 3000 MAX or 3500 MAX. Where two drives fit, your machine's oil flow and the hole sizes you need decide.
2. Check Your Hydraulics
An earth drill runs off your excavator's auxiliary circuit, which has to run both ways so you can reverse the auger to free it. Oil flow sets how fast the auger turns and pressure sets the torque, so check your machine's auxiliary flow and pressure in its manual or spec sheet against the chart. If your machine is at the low end of a drive's flow range, it will drill more slowly.
The 12000 MAX and larger can be fitted with an optional 2-way valve to run from a single-acting hammer circuit, and the 35,000 MAX to 80,000 MAX also need a case drain line. If you're not sure what your machine has, send us your machine details and we'll check.
3. Choose Your Hole Size
Each earth drill has a recommended range of hole diameters, shown in the chart. A wider auger needs more torque, so bigger holes take a bigger drive. Choose the diameter your post, pile or plan calls for, and make sure it's within your drive's range. The auger's length sets how deep you can drill in one go: 900mm for S2, 1,200mm for S4, 1,500mm for S5, 1,875mm for S6, and 2.3m or 3.3m for PA augers.
4. Pick the Right Teeth
- Earth teeth: for clay, topsoil and mixed ground.
- Tungsten teeth: for harder, abrasive and stony ground.
- Rock teeth: for very hard and fractured rock. Available on S5 and S6 augers.
- Hard rock auger: for fractured hard rock where standard rock augers refuse. The Auger Torque hard rock auger fits S6 and PA drives on 10 to 50 tonne excavators.
5. Get the Hitch Right
Every earth drill needs a hitch to mount it on your dipper, and ours are made to measure. Choose a double pin hitch for a rigid mount, or a double pin cradle hitch for more control over the auger's position and angle on uneven ground. The 1200 uses a single pin hitch. We'll need your pin diameters, pin centres and dipper width: our guide on how to measure an excavator for a new bucket shows how to take them.
Augers for Telehandlers
You can drill from a telehandler too. The Auger Torque telehandler auger uses the 5500 MAX on 4.5 to 7 tonne telehandlers or the 7000 MAX on 5 to 8 tonne telehandlers, hung in a fixed centre or side shift cradle, and drills 150mm to 900mm holes with S5 augers.
Augers for Skid Steers, Mini Loaders, Backhoes and Truck Cranes
Auger Torque makes drives for other machines too. On these, match the drive to the oil flow your machine can supply rather than its weight:
- Skid steers: the 3000 MAX, 3500 MAX and 4500 MAX suit standard flow skid steers up to 80hp, and the 5500 MAX, 7000 MAX and 8000 MAX suit high flow machines up to 150 l/min. See the Auger Torque skid steer auger.
- Mini loaders: the ML1500, ML2000 and ML2500 run on 20 to 65 l/min and drill holes up to 500mm on a 2 way or 4 way swing frame. See the mini loader auger.
- Backhoe loaders: the 7000 MAX, 8000 MAX and 10000 mount on a hitch made to fit your dipper and drill holes up to 1.2m. See the backhoe auger.
- Truck cranes: the 3000TC, 5500TC and 7000TC run on 5 to 50 l/min, and a rope wind hitch stows the drill under the boom for travel. See the truck crane auger.
To drill deeper than one auger length, add an auger extension between the drive and the auger.
How to Drill Safely
- Check for buried services. Find out where cables and pipes run before you drill, and follow HSE guidance on avoiding danger from underground services.
- Keep people clear. Nobody should be near the turning auger.
- Let the auger do the work. Let it cut at its own pace rather than forcing it down.
- Reverse to free it. If the auger binds, stop and reverse it.
- Mind your lifting limits. A loaded auger is heavy, so stay within your excavator's lifting limits when you lift it out of the hole.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size auger do I need for a 1.5 tonne mini digger?
The X1500 for holes up to 400mm or the X2000 for holes up to 450mm, both with S4 augers. The X1500 needs 20–45 l/min of oil flow and the X2000 25–57 l/min.
What size auger do I need for a 3 tonne mini digger?
The X2500 for holes up to 500mm, the 3000 MAX up to 600mm or the 3500 MAX up to 750mm, all with S4 augers. They need 27–65, 27–75 and 40–85 l/min of oil flow.
What size auger do I need for a 5 tonne excavator?
The 4500 MAX, recommended for 3 to 5 tonne machines, drills holes up to 900mm with S4 augers. On a machine nearer 4.5 to 6 tonnes, the 5500 MAX takes S5 augers.
What size auger do I need for an 8 tonne excavator?
The 8000 MAX, recommended for 6 to 8 tonne excavators, with S5 augers. On a machine nearer 8 to 13 tonnes, look at the 12000 MAX.
What size auger do I need for a 13 tonne excavator?
The 12000 MAX (8 to 13 tonnes) drills holes up to 1,000mm, the 15000 MAX (10 to 15 tonnes) up to 1,200mm and the 20000 MAX (13 to 20 tonnes) up to 1,000mm, all with S6 augers.
What size auger do I need for a 20 tonne excavator?
The 20000 MAX (13 to 20 tonnes) for holes up to 1,000mm, or the 25000 MAX (15 to 22 tonnes) for holes up to 1,500mm, both with S6 augers.
What size auger do I need for a 30 tonne excavator?
From 20 tonnes up, the 35,000 MAX, 42,000 MAX or 65,000 MAX earth drills turn PA augers from 300mm to 2.4m. For heavy piling, core barrels or rock, the high torque earth drills go up to 152,319Nm on 21 to 50 tonne machines.
What size auger do I need for a skid steer?
It depends on your skid steer's auxiliary oil flow. Standard flow machines suit the 3000 MAX (27–75 l/min, holes up to 600mm), the 3500 MAX (40–85 l/min, up to 750mm) or the 4500 MAX (50–95 l/min, up to 900mm), all with S4 augers. High flow machines suit the 5500 MAX to 8000 MAX, with S5 augers and holes up to 1.2m. See the skid steer auger for the full table.
Does an earth drill come with a hitch and auger?
No. Earth drills up to the 25000 MAX come with hoses, and you choose the hitch and auger separately, so you get the right pin size and hole diameter. The large drives from the 35,000 MAX up are quoted with their hitch and augers.
Ready to choose? Browse all our excavator augers and mini digger augers, or send us your machine details and we'll recommend the right setup.
