Budget – how big of an excavator are you willing to pay for? Larger models with more power are going to cost you significantly more than a smaller model
Worksite – what kind of terrain are you working on? Are you indoors or outdoors? Do you need to worry about inclement weather or tight corners? Pick an excavator size that plays to your jobsite’s advantage.
Needs – what kind of work needs to be done? Even outside of the attachments available to you, the size of the excavator limits the kind of work it can do. If you need to haul heavy materials or move large objects, a smaller excavator might not be able to do the job.

Buckets – the stereotypical attachment on an excavator. They scoop up earth or debris with ease, partially because of the teeth lining the edge. Buckets come in just as wide of a variety as excavators themselves – you can find many different sizes!
Couplers – an essential excavator attachment, this lets you quickly detach and reattach other attachments. Without a coupler, it takes significant time and energy to switch out pieces.
Clamps – attach alongside a bucket to help assist in larger or heavier loads. The two pieces grip onto obstacles like boulders and tree stumps for an easier removal.
Augers – useful for drilling especially, these attachments include a blade and hydraulics to power it. These come in many specificities, depending on the size of the hole and what you’re drilling into.
Breakers – essentially a giant jackhammer, excavators can use this attachment to break apart hard terrain and materials – as the name would suggest.