The Excavator Cycle Time Calculator helps construction teams, contractors, and engineers estimate how long one complete bucket operation takes—from digging to dumping and returning. This cycle time is essential for planning workloads, calculating hourly production, and deciding how many machines or workers are needed on a job site.
Using this calculator lets you accurately predict machine efficiency under real working conditions, adjust timelines, and ensure smoother project scheduling. Whether you’re managing trenching, loading trucks, or mass excavation, cycle time is a key factor in determining output and cost.
Formula of Excavator Cycle Time Calculator
Cycle Time = Dig Time + Swing Time + Dump Time + Return Time
Where:
- Dig Time = time to scoop and fill the bucket
- Swing Time = time to rotate the upper body to the dump location
- Dump Time = time to release and empty material
- Return Time = time to rotate back to digging area
To factor in real-world delays or operator variability:
Cycle Time = (Total Mechanical Time per Cycle) / Efficiency Factor
Where:
- Efficiency Factor adjusts for pauses, repositioning, operator reaction time, and is usually 0.85 to 0.95 depending on site conditions
Once you calculate cycle time in seconds, determine productivity:
Cycles per Hour = 3600 / Cycle Time (in seconds)
This allows you to estimate how many scoops per hour your machine can perform.
Reference Table for Quick Use
| Operation Scenario | Typical Dig | Swing | Dump | Return | Cycle Time (sec) | Cycles per Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Soil, Short Haul | 6 sec | 4 sec | 2 sec | 4 sec | 16 sec | 225 |
| Clay, Medium Haul | 8 sec | 5 sec | 2 sec | 5 sec | 20 sec | 180 |
| Rocky Terrain, Long Swing | 10 sec | 8 sec | 3 sec | 8 sec | 29 sec | 124 |
This table helps estimate work output based on common field conditions.
Example of Excavator Cycle Time Calculator
Suppose your excavator performs as follows:
- Dig Time = 7 seconds
- Swing Time = 4 seconds
- Dump Time = 2 seconds
- Return Time = 4 seconds
- Efficiency Factor = 0.90
Cycle Time = (7 + 4 + 2 + 4) / 0.90 = 17 / 0.90 ≈ 18.89 seconds
Cycles per Hour = 3600 / 18.89 ≈ 190.5
So your machine can complete about 190 cycles per hour in this setup.
Most Common FAQs
A standard excavator cycle time ranges between 15 to 30 seconds, depending on the material type, swing radius, and operator skill.
Skilled operators reduce wasted movement and downtime, improving cycle times by 10–15% compared to less experienced ones.
Yes. The calculator is based on cycle steps, not machine type. Just make sure you input accurate values based on the specific excavator’s speed and capabilities.