SKID STEER
ATTACHMENTS

The right attachments turn a single skid steer into a dozen different machines. From buckets and forks to mulchers and trenchers, explore every category and find the tools that match your work.

Skid steer with fork attachment carrying construction materials

Understanding Quick-Attach Systems

Most modern skid steers use a universal quick-attach plate, originally standardized by Bobcat, allowing operators to swap attachments in under a minute without leaving the cab. Before purchasing any attachment, verify compatibility with your machine's coupler plate and check that your auxiliary hydraulic output (GPM and PSI) meets the attachment's requirements.

High-flow hydraulics (22–45 GPM) are required for demanding attachments like mulchers, cold planers, and large trenchers. Some commercial-grade industrial tools require super high flow (45+ GPM). If you plan to run high-flow attachments regularly, make sure your skid steer has a high-flow option — this is typically factory-ordered and cannot be easily added later.

BUCKETS

Buckets

The most fundamental attachment. Different bucket types are designed for specific materials and tasks, from moving loose topsoil to handling heavy aggregate.

Dirt Bucket — Low-profile design with good cutting-edge visibility. Best for moving soil, sand, and fine materials.

Utility Bucket — Taller back wall for heavier materials like gravel and rock. General-purpose workhorse.

Light Material Bucket — Extra-wide, high-capacity for bulky low-density materials — mulch, leaves, hay, snow.

Grader Bucket — Flat bottom with drainage holes for precision grading and leveling. Often includes a built-in back drag edge.

Combination (4-in-1) Bucket — Multi-purpose: dig, grade, grapple, and level with a single attachment. Clamshell design opens for dumping or gripping.

Skeleton Bucket — Open-bottom tine design that sifts soil while retaining rocks and debris. Essential for site cleanup and sorting.

GRAPPLES

Grapples

Hydraulic grapple attachments grip, lift, and move irregularly shaped materials that would roll or slide off a standard bucket. Built with grade 50+ steel for heavy-duty applications.

Rock Grapple — Tines spaced to pick up rocks while allowing soil to sift through. Essential for land clearing and site prep.

Root Grapple — Front tines designed to pull roots and stumps. Wider spacing than rock grapples for grabbing brush and tree debris.

Grapple Bucket — Combines a solid bucket bottom with a hydraulic top clamp. Ideal for bulky, hard-to-handle materials like demolition debris.

FORKS

Forks

Fork attachments transform your skid steer into a rough-terrain forklift. Available in various heights and widths for different load types.

Pallet Forks — The most popular fork type. Move pallets, hay bales, fencing materials, logs, and crates. Adjustable width for different loads.

Construction Forks — Heavier duty than standard pallet forks with higher back frames for securing tall loads on rough terrain.

Industrial Grapple Forks — Add a hydraulic top clamp to prevent loads from shifting. Critical for loose or irregular materials.

Log & Lumber Forks — Longer tines with rounded tips for handling logs and timber without damaging the material.

AUGERS

Augers

Auger attachments use the skid steer's hydraulic power to drill holes in the ground for fence posts, tree planting, footings, and utility installations. Available in diameters from 6 to 60 inches.

Single Flight Auger — Standard auger for most soil types. Can handle heavy clay and frozen ground. Most common choice for fence posts and sign poles.

Rock Auger — Carbide-tipped teeth designed to cut through solid rock and concrete. Required for footings in rocky terrain.

Tree Auger — Large-diameter auger (18–48") for digging tree planting holes. Designed to minimize root zone compaction.

TRENCHERS

Trenchers

Trencher attachments dig narrow, precise trenches for laying electrical cable, water and gas pipes, irrigation lines, or drainage systems. Chain-driven with different tooth types for various soil conditions.

Standard Trencher — General-purpose chain trencher for soil and light clay. Available at 36", 48", and 60" cutting depths.

Rock Trencher — Carbide-tipped teeth and reinforced chain for cutting through rock, hardpan, and frozen ground.

Micro Trencher — Creates narrow, shallow trenches for fiber optic cable and irrigation tubing with minimal surface disruption.

SNOW REMOVAL

Snow Removal

Skid steers are popular snow removal machines, especially wheeled models. Several attachment types handle different snow clearing needs.

Snow Blower — Auger teeth break down heavy snow and ice. Directional chute aims snow in any direction. Best for deep accumulation.

Snow Pusher — Wide pusher blade with side walls prevents snow overflow. Ideal for parking lots and large flat areas.

Snow Plow Blade — Angled blade for pushing snow to one side. Available with rubber or poly cutting edges to protect surfaces.

LAND CLEARING

Land Clearing

Purpose-built attachments for clearing vegetation, trees, and stumps. These typically require high-flow hydraulics due to their demanding power requirements.

Brush Cutter / Mower — Covered rotary blades cut through grass and brush slightly above ground level. Available in disk and drum types.

Disc Mulcher — Shreds trees up to 6–8" diameter and grinds stumps into mulch. Leaves mulch on the ground as erosion control.

Drum Mulcher — Higher-capacity than disc mulchers for larger vegetation. Creates finer mulch but requires more hydraulic flow.

Stump Grinder — Grinds stumps below grade level. Carbide-tipped cutting wheel handles any wood species and root systems.

Tree Shears — Hydraulic scissor-action cuts trees at the base. Clean cuts allow for lumber salvage rather than destruction.

GRADING & EARTHWORK

Grading & Earthwork

Precision grading and soil preparation attachments for construction site prep, landscaping, and agricultural applications.

Box Blade — Enclosed blade for fine grading to achieve accurate slopes. More precise than bucket grading for finish work.

Land Plane — Float-style leveling attachment for large flat areas. Self-adjusting blade follows ground contour for consistent grade.

Landscape Rake — Tine-style rake for removing rocks and debris while leveling soil. Essential for seedbed preparation.

Rototiller — Rotating tines break up compacted soil for planting. Available in widths from 48" to 72" or more.

Power Rake — Combines raking and pulverizing — removes debris while creating a smooth, seed-ready surface in a single pass.

SPECIALTY ATTACHMENTS

Specialty Attachments

Purpose-built tools for specific industries and applications that expand the skid steer's capabilities into specialized work.

Cold Planer — Mills asphalt and concrete surfaces for road repair. Creates a textured surface for new paving. Requires high-flow hydraulics.

Broom / Sweeper — Rotary broom for cleaning streets, parking lots, and job sites. Available with collection hoppers or as open sweepers.

Backhoe — Rear-mounted digging arm for trenches and excavation. Adds backhoe capability without needing a separate machine.

Post Driver — Hydraulic hammer drives fence posts, guard rails, and sign posts. Eliminates manual post-pounding labor.

Concrete Mixer — On-board mixing drum for small concrete pours. Eliminates the need for a separate mixer and wheelbarrows on small jobs.

Tips for Choosing Attachments

Match Hydraulic Requirements

Check the GPM and PSI requirements of every attachment against your machine's auxiliary hydraulic output. Under-powering an attachment reduces performance and can damage both the attachment and the machine.

Consider Weight Balance

Heavy attachments shift your machine's center of gravity. A 2,000 lb mulcher on a small-frame skid steer creates stability risks. Match attachment weight to your machine's ROC and counterweight capacity.

Coupler Compatibility

While most manufacturers follow the universal quick-attach standard, some use proprietary systems. Always verify your machine's coupler plate matches the attachment before purchasing.

Rent Before You Buy

For specialty attachments you'll use infrequently, renting is often more cost-effective. Save your purchase budget for attachments you'll use weekly or daily.

Need the Right Machine First?

Make sure your skid steer can handle the attachments you need. Check our specifications guide for hydraulic flow rates and ROC ratings.

View Specifications

SKID STEER ATTACHMENTS