2–3.5 Tonne Excavator Grading/Ditching Bucket – 1200mm

The 2–3.5 tonne excavator grading bucket is a 1200mm fixed bucket for compact excavators used in landscaping, drainage, utility work and general groundworks. Its broad, smooth cutting edge is designed for levelling surfaces, spreading loose material, cleaning existing ditches and leaving a neater finish after the main excavation work is complete.

Also known as a 2–3.5 tonne ditching bucket, this model has a 105-litre heaped capacity and weighs 99kg. An HB400 abrasion-resistant cutting edge, reinforced floor wear strips, low-profile shape and extended flat base make it a practical finishing attachment for machines working regularly with soil, sub-base and loose aggregates.

Key Features

• Designed for excavators in the 2–3.5 tonne carrier class
• 1200mm working width, approximately 47.2 inches
• 105-litre heaped capacity and 76-litre struck capacity
• 15 × 150mm HB400 abrasion-resistant cutting edge
• Reinforced wear strips help protect and strengthen the bucket floor
• Smooth, toothless edge supports accurate levelling and a cleaner finish
• Low-profile design gives the operator a clear view of the working edge
• Extended flat base supports controlled grading and efficient collection of loose material

2–3.5 Tonne Grading Bucket Specifications

Where This 1200mm Ditching Bucket Works Best

The 1200mm width gives compact excavators a productive working face for open grading work while remaining manageable on the smaller construction and landscaping sites where 2–3.5 tonne machines are commonly used. It is particularly useful when a narrower digging bucket has completed the trenching or excavation and the surrounding ground then needs to be shaped, reinstated or cleared.

Typical applications include:

• Levelling topsoil, sub-base and loose aggregate across paths and driveways
• Reinstating surfaces after drainage or utility trenching
• Spreading backfill around foundations and small building plots
• Cleaning established ditches, swales and drainage channels
• Shaping banks, verges, garden levels and landscaped slopes
• Loading and moving loose soil during general site clearance
• Completing final grading before turf, paving or other surface finishes

This is a fixed bucket, so it does not provide the hydraulic side-to-side movement of a tilt bucket. It is best suited to straight grading, ditch cleaning and loose-material handling where the excavator can be positioned to create the required angle.

Capacity, Material Weight and Machine Stability

The stated 105-litre heaped capacity describes the bucket volume, not the weight that will be lifted. Wet clay, saturated soil and dense aggregate can place a much greater load on the machine than dry topsoil or other light material. The practical load will also change with reach, working position, undercarriage orientation and site conditions.

Always account for the bucket’s 99kg empty weight and follow the excavator and hitch manufacturers’ operating limits. The machine must remain stable throughout the intended working range; a bucket should not be selected by width or capacity alone.

Fitment and Compatibility

Excavator buckets are not universal. A 2–3.5 tonne carrier rating narrows the choice, but it does not confirm that the linkage will fit your machine or quick hitch. Before ordering, check the exact excavator make and model, hitch type, pin diameter, pin centres and dipper gap.

Our guide to measuring an excavator for a new bucket explains the dimensions required. If you would like us to check the specification, use the request a quote form and include the machine details, measurements and clear photographs of the hitch or an existing bucket.

Grading Bucket or Digging Bucket?

Choose this grading bucket when the job calls for a wide contact area, smooth cutting edge and accurate movement of loose material. If the priority is penetrating compacted ground, opening trenches, digging footings or working in a narrow excavation, a toothed 2–3.5 tonne excavator digging bucket will normally be the more effective attachment.

For different carrier sizes, browse the complete range of excavator grading buckets. You can also compare finishing and excavation attachments in our full excavator bucket range.

Delivery and Ordering

This bucket is supplied to suit the confirmed machine and hitch specification. Typical fulfilment is within 7–10 working days, although stock, factory workload and fitment requirements can affect the exact lead time. Please contact us before ordering if the bucket is needed for a fixed date.

2–3.5 Tonne Grading Bucket FAQs

How wide is this grading bucket?

The bucket is 1200mm wide, equal to approximately 47.2 inches. It is commonly described as a 48-inch grading or ditching bucket.

Will it fit every 2–3.5 tonne excavator?

No. Excavators in the same carrier class can use different pin sizes, pin centres, dipper gaps and quick-hitch systems. The machine and linkage dimensions must be confirmed before supply.

Is a grading bucket the same as a ditching bucket?

For this fixed, smooth-edged bucket design, grading bucket and ditching bucket are alternative names for the same attachment. It is intended for levelling, shaping, ditch cleaning and handling loose material.

Is this a tilt grading bucket?

No. This is a fixed grading bucket and does not tilt hydraulically from side to side. Tilt buckets are a different attachment used where the operator needs to change the working angle without repositioning the excavator.

Can this bucket be used for digging?

It can collect loose soil and complete light excavation or ditch-cleaning work, but its wide, toothless design is not intended for aggressive digging in hard or compacted ground. A toothed digging bucket is normally more suitable for penetration and trenching.

What details are needed to confirm fitment?

Provide the excavator make and model, operating weight, hitch type, pin diameter, pin centres and dipper gap. Photographs of the hitch and an existing bucket are also useful when checking compatibility.