Best Screening Buckets for Skid Steers: Brands, Sizes, and What to Look For

A skid steer screening bucket is one of the fastest ways to start screening material without buying a standalone machine. If you already own a skid steer, the bucket bolts onto a machine you are already running every day. No second engine. No separate trailer. No extra operator. You scoop, screen, and dump with one machine and one person.

We have been selling screening equipment since 1973. We work with contractors, landscapers, topsoil producers, and recyclers at every scale. This guide covers what you need to know about skid steer screening buckets: which brands are worth considering, how to match a bucket to your machine, what materials they handle well (and what they do not), and what you should expect to pay.

Why Skid Steer Screening Buckets Are So Popular

Skid steer screening buckets have grown in popularity for a few straightforward reasons.

You already own the carrier. Most contractors, landscapers, and small earthwork companies already have a skid steer on the lot. A screening bucket turns that existing machine into a screener without adding a single piece of iron to your fleet. No new insurance policy. No new trailer. No extra set of maintenance costs. You are putting a machine to work that otherwise sits idle part of the day.

Lower cost of entry. A vibrating screening bucket for a skid steer costs a fraction of a standalone trommel screen or shaker screen. If you are testing the market for screened material in your area, or if screening is 10 to 20 percent of your workload, a skid steer screening bucket is a sensible starting point. You can always upgrade later if volume justifies it.

Versatility on tight job sites. A skid steer fits in places larger machines cannot. Residential backyards, narrow alleyways between buildings, tight materials yards. If you need to screen material in a confined area, a skid steer with a screening bucket will get the job done where a loader feeding a standalone screener simply will not fit.

Quick attachment changes. Most skid steer screening buckets use a universal quick-attach plate. Swap from your regular bucket to the screening bucket in a few minutes. When the screening job is finished, swap back and return to loading, grading, or whatever else the skid steer does on that job.

One-person operation. The operator scoops, screens, and dumps without leaving the cab. No second person needed to feed a hopper or manage a conveyor. For small operations where labor is the biggest constraint, this matters.

Hydraulic Flow Requirements

This is where many buyers run into problems. A skid steer screening bucket needs adequate hydraulic flow to power the vibrating or rotating mechanism. If your machine does not deliver enough flow, the bucket will not screen effectively.

GPM and PSI Ranges

Most skid steer screening buckets require 15 to 30 GPM (gallons per minute) of auxiliary hydraulic flow and 2,500 to 3,500 PSI of hydraulic pressure. Some smaller buckets can operate on as little as 12 GPM, but performance will be limited.

Here is the critical point: not all skid steers deliver the same hydraulic flow. Standard-flow skid steers typically produce 15 to 22 GPM. High-flow skid steers produce 25 to 40+ GPM. A screening bucket that requires 25 GPM will not perform properly on a standard-flow machine rated at 17 GPM.

Matching Bucket to Machine

Before you buy a skid steer screening bucket, check your machine's auxiliary hydraulic specifications. This information is in the operator's manual or on the manufacturer's spec sheet. You need two numbers: auxiliary flow rate (GPM) and auxiliary pressure (PSI).

Skid Steer Class Typical Aux Flow (GPM) Typical Aux Pressure (PSI) Screening Bucket Compatibility Small frame (under 50 HP) 12-17 3,000-3,500 Limited; smaller buckets only Medium frame (50-74 HP) 17-24 3,000-3,500 Standard-flow buckets Large frame (75-100+ HP) 24-40+ 3,000-3,500 Full range, including high-flow buckets If your machine falls in the standard-flow range and the bucket you want requires high flow, you have two options: choose a different bucket that matches your flow, or upgrade your skid steer's hydraulic system (if the manufacturer offers a high-flow option for your model). The upgrade is not cheap, so factor that cost into your decision.

Bobcat, Cat, John Deere, Case, and other major manufacturers all publish auxiliary hydraulic specs. If you are shopping for a Bobcat screening bucket specifically, check the model's spec sheet. Bobcat offers both standard and high-flow configurations across their lineup, and the difference in GPM is significant.

Brand Comparison

Several manufacturers build screening buckets designed for skid steers. Each brand takes a slightly different approach to the design. Here is what we know about the major players.

Wolverine

Wolverine is one of the most common names in the skid steer screening bucket market. Their buckets are competitively priced and popular with contractors and landscapers who need a durable, no-nonsense attachment at a reasonable price.

Wolverine screening buckets use a vibrating screen design. Material is loaded into the bucket, and the hydraulic motor drives a vibrating mechanism that shakes fines through the screen mesh. They offer multiple screen sizes so you can change the mesh to match your material and desired product grade.

Wolverine buckets are widely available and have a strong aftermarket parts supply. They are a solid mid-range option for operators who want a reliable skid steer rock screening bucket without paying top dollar.

ALLU

ALLU is a Finnish manufacturer known for their Transformer series screening buckets. ALLU buckets use a different approach than traditional vibrating designs. Instead of a flat vibrating screen, ALLU uses rotating drums with blades or screening combs that crush, screen, and mix material simultaneously.

ALLU screening buckets handle a wider range of materials than conventional vibrating buckets, including wet and sticky soil that would clog a flat screen. They are built heavy and priced accordingly. ALLU is a premium brand, and the cost reflects the engineering and versatility.

If your work involves variable material conditions, including wet soil, clay-heavy dirt, or material mixed with roots and organic debris, ALLU is worth a close look.

Remu

Remu is another Finnish manufacturer that builds screening buckets for skid steers, excavators, and wheel loaders. Remu buckets use a rotating blade drum design that screens material while breaking apart clumps and soft debris.

Remu buckets are known for handling wet and sticky material well, similar to ALLU. They are particularly popular in the European market and have a growing presence in North America. Build quality is high. Pricing is in the premium range.

Rotastar

Rotastar screening buckets use star-shaped rotating discs to screen material. This design is self-cleaning, which gives Rotastar an advantage with wet, clay-heavy, and root-laden material that would blind a conventional mesh screen.

Rotastar buckets are less common in the US market than Wolverine or ALLU, but they offer a genuine performance advantage in difficult material conditions. If you are working with consistently wet or sticky soil, the star screen design is worth serious consideration.

MB Crusher

MB is an Italian manufacturer that builds crushing and screening attachments for a wide range of carriers, including skid steers. Their screening buckets use a rotating drum design and are well-built machines with good engineering.

MB screening buckets tend to be on the higher end of the price range. The build quality justifies the cost for operations that run the bucket daily. MB also has a solid dealer and parts network, which matters when something wears out or breaks.

Blue Diamond

Blue Diamond manufactures a range of skid steer attachments, including screening buckets. Their screening buckets are positioned at the more affordable end of the market, making them attractive for operators who screen material occasionally rather than as a primary activity.

Blue Diamond buckets are functional and get the job done for light to moderate screening work. They are widely available through equipment dealers and online sellers. For a budget-conscious buyer who needs a skid steer screening bucket at a lower price point, Blue Diamond is worth considering.

Brand Comparison Table

Brand Screen Type Wet Material Handling Price Range Best For Wolverine Vibrating mesh Fair Mid-range General-purpose screening, dry to moderate material ALLU Rotating drums/combs Excellent Premium Variable material, wet soil, mixing applications Remu Rotating blades Excellent Premium Wet/sticky material, high-quality screening Rotastar Star discs Excellent Mid to premium Wet clay, root-heavy material, self-cleaning MB Rotating drum Good Premium Heavy daily use, production screening Blue Diamond Vibrating mesh Fair Budget to mid-range Occasional use, budget-conscious buyers

Sizing by Skid Steer Weight Class

Screening bucket size must match your skid steer's weight class and lifting capacity. An oversized bucket full of material can exceed the machine's rated operating capacity and create a tipping hazard.

Small Frame Skid Steers (Under 6,000 lbs Operating Weight)

These machines work best with screening buckets in the 48-inch to 60-inch width range. Bucket capacity is limited by the machine's lift capacity, not the bucket size. Expect the bucket plus a full load of material to weigh 1,500 to 2,500 pounds.

Small frame skid steers can screen topsoil, garden soil, and fine aggregate effectively. They struggle with heavy material like wet clay or rock-laden dirt because the weight exceeds what the machine handles safely.

Medium Frame Skid Steers (6,000-8,500 lbs Operating Weight)

This is the sweet spot for most skid steer screening bucket operations. Medium frame machines have enough hydraulic flow and lift capacity to run a 60-inch to 72-inch screening bucket loaded with material. Most Bobcat S-series, Cat 200-series, and similar machines fall into this class.

A medium frame skid steer with a properly sized screening bucket can process 10 to 20 cubic yards per hour of dry to moderately moist material. That is enough for small landscaping operations, residential site work, and light commercial screening.

Large Frame Skid Steers (Over 8,500 lbs Operating Weight)

Large frame skid steers and compact track loaders handle the biggest screening buckets available, typically 72 inches and wider. These machines have the hydraulic flow, lift capacity, and stability to run larger, heavier buckets at higher production rates.

With a large frame machine and a properly matched bucket, throughput of 15 to 25 cubic yards per hour is achievable in favorable conditions. If you are screening material regularly and need the highest production a skid steer screening bucket can deliver, a large frame machine is the way to go.

Material Limitations: What You Can and Cannot Screen

A skid steer screening bucket is a versatile tool, but it has limits. Understanding those limits before you buy prevents frustration and wasted money.

What You Can Screen

• Dry to moderately moist topsoil. This is the most common application. A vibrating screening bucket for skid steer handles dry topsoil efficiently and produces a clean, uniform product.
• Fill dirt and loam. Screening fill material to remove rocks and debris. Works well when the material is not excessively wet.
• Compost. Finished, dry compost screens well through a screening bucket. Partially decomposed or wet compost is more problematic.
• Sand and fine gravel. A screening bucket can separate sand from gravel or size fine aggregate. Screen opening size determines the separation point.
• Light demolition debris. Separating fines from broken concrete, brick rubble, and similar material. The bucket is not a crusher, so material must already be broken down to manageable size.

What You Cannot Screen (or Should Not)

• Wet, sticky clay. Heavy clay soil with high moisture content will clog a standard vibrating screen almost immediately. You will spend more time unclogging the mesh than screening. Rotary-style buckets from ALLU, Remu, or Rotastar handle wet clay better, but even they slow down significantly.
• Large rocks and boulders. A screening bucket is not designed to handle oversized rock. Material should be broken down before it goes into the bucket. Feeding large, heavy rocks also risks exceeding the skid steer's lift capacity.
• Heavy, matted root balls. Thick roots and root mats wrap around vibrating mechanisms and jam star discs. Some debris is inevitable, but heavily root-bound soil needs a different approach.
• Saturated, muddy material. If the material flows like mud, a screening bucket will not separate it. Let the material dry before attempting to screen.

The honest takeaway: a skid steer screening bucket works well on dry to moderately moist, free-flowing material. The further you get from those conditions, the more you need a standalone screening machine. For a detailed comparison, read our guide on screening buckets vs trommel screens.

Throughput: What to Expect

Production rates for skid steer screening buckets range from 10 to 25 cubic yards per hour, depending on several factors:

• Material type and moisture. Dry, sandy topsoil screens fastest. Wet clay screens slowest.
• Screen opening size. Larger openings pass material faster. A 1-inch screen will outproduce a 1/2-inch screen significantly.
• Bucket size. A 72-inch bucket holds more material per scoop than a 48-inch bucket.
• Operator technique. An experienced operator who loads the bucket properly and shakes it at the right angle will outproduce a novice by a wide margin.
• Skid steer hydraulic flow. Higher GPM means more aggressive vibration or rotation, which moves material through the screen faster.

For perspective, 15 cubic yards per hour translates to roughly 100 to 120 cubic yards in a full 8-hour day, assuming steady work with no significant downtime. That is enough for a small landscaping operation selling screened topsoil to residential customers. It is not enough for a materials yard filling 20-yard dump trucks all day.

If your volume regularly exceeds what a screening bucket can produce, it is time to look at dedicated screening equipment. We sell shaker screens and trommel screens that process 30 to 600+ cubic yards per hour. A screening bucket is a great starting point, but it is not a replacement for a production screener. Call us at 770-433-2670 and we can walk through the upgrade options that fit your operation.

Pricing: New and Used

New Skid Steer Screening Buckets

New skid steer screening buckets range from roughly $6,000 to $20,000, depending on the brand, size, and screen type.

Price Range What You Get $6,000-$9,000 Budget brands, smaller buckets, vibrating mesh design, basic construction $9,000-$14,000 Mid-range brands like Wolverine, 60-72 inch buckets, solid build quality $14,000-$20,000 Premium brands like ALLU, MB, and Remu, rotary designs, heavy-duty construction The price difference between a $7,000 vibrating bucket and a $17,000 rotary-drum bucket is not just about brand name. The more expensive buckets use fundamentally different screening mechanisms that handle a wider range of materials, particularly wet and sticky soil. They also tend to be built heavier with better bearings, seals, and wear components that last longer under daily use.

Used Skid Steer Screening Buckets

Used screening buckets for skid steers typically sell for 40 to 60 percent of the new price, depending on condition, hours, and brand. A used Wolverine bucket in good working condition might run $4,000 to $7,000. A used ALLU or MB bucket holds its value better and might sell for $8,000 to $14,000 used.

When buying used, inspect these items carefully:

• Screen mesh or disc condition. Worn, torn, or stretched screen media is the most common issue. Replacement screens are available but add to your cost.
• Hydraulic motor and lines. Check for leaks, worn fittings, and proper operation. A bad hydraulic motor is an expensive repair.
• Bucket shell and mounting plate. Look for cracks, bent mounting points, and excessive wear on the bucket body. Structural repairs are costly.
• Bearings and vibration mechanism. Worn bearings produce a grinding noise and uneven vibration. Listen to the bucket running before you buy.

A skid steer screening bucket for sale on the used market can be a smart purchase if you inspect it carefully. A bad one will cost more to fix than you saved on the purchase price.

How to Choose the Right Screening Bucket

Here is a straightforward decision process:

Step 1: Check your hydraulics. Look up your skid steer's auxiliary hydraulic flow rate and pressure. This eliminates any bucket that requires more flow than your machine delivers.

Step 2: Define your material. If you screen dry topsoil and fill dirt, a standard vibrating bucket will work fine. If you deal with wet, clay-heavy, or variable material, invest in a rotary or star-disc design.

Step 3: Match the size. Choose a bucket width and weight that your skid steer can handle safely. Do not oversize the bucket. An overloaded machine is dangerous and wears out faster.

Step 4: Set your budget. If screening is occasional, a mid-range bucket in the $8,000 to $12,000 range is a sound investment. If you screen daily, spending more on a premium brand pays back in durability and lower downtime.

Step 5: Think about where you are headed. If your screening volume is growing and you expect to outgrow a skid steer screening bucket within a year or two, consider whether a small standalone screener makes more sense as a first purchase. A shaker screen or small trommel can process three to ten times the volume of a screening bucket and produces a more consistent product. We sell both, and we are happy to walk you through the comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What GPM does a skid steer screening bucket need?

Most skid steer screening buckets require 15 to 30 GPM of auxiliary hydraulic flow. Standard-flow skid steers typically produce 15 to 22 GPM, which is adequate for many screening buckets. High-flow buckets that require 25+ GPM need a high-flow skid steer or a hydraulic upgrade. Always check the bucket manufacturer's specifications against your machine's auxiliary flow rating before purchasing.

Can I use a screening bucket on a Bobcat?

Yes. Most screening buckets use a universal skid steer quick-attach plate that fits Bobcat and other major skid steer brands. The key factor is not the brand of skid steer but the machine's auxiliary hydraulic flow and lift capacity. Check your specific Bobcat model's specs to make sure the screening bucket you are considering is compatible. Bobcat offers both standard and high-flow hydraulic configurations depending on the model, so verify which one your machine has.

How many yards per hour can a skid steer screening bucket process?

Typical throughput ranges from 10 to 25 cubic yards per hour, depending on material type, moisture content, screen opening size, and operator technique. Dry, free-flowing topsoil screens at the higher end of that range. Wet or clay-heavy material drops production significantly. For comparison, a small standalone trommel screen processes 30 to 80 cubic yards per hour, and larger trommels handle 100 to 600+ cubic yards per hour.

Is a screening bucket worth it for a small landscaping business?

For many small landscaping operations, a skid steer screening bucket is one of the best equipment investments available. If you already own a skid steer, you add screening capability for $6,000 to $20,000 instead of $50,000+ for a standalone screener. Screening 50 to 100 cubic yards of topsoil per week is well within a screening bucket's capacity. The screened product sells for $15 to $25 more per cubic yard than raw material, so the bucket can pay for itself within a few months of regular use.

What is the difference between a vibrating screening bucket and a rotary screening bucket?

A vibrating screening bucket uses a hydraulic motor to shake a flat mesh screen. Material falls through the mesh openings as it vibrates. This design is simpler, less expensive, and works well with dry, free-flowing material. A rotary screening bucket uses rotating drums, blades, or star discs to tumble and separate material. Rotary designs handle wet, sticky, and clay-heavy material much better than vibrating designs because the rotation is self-cleaning. Rotary buckets cost more but offer greater versatility across a wider range of material conditions. Read our full screening bucket vs trommel screen comparison for more detail on when each tool is the right fit.

When should I upgrade from a screening bucket to a standalone screener?

When your screening volume consistently exceeds 20 to 25 cubic yards per hour, or when you find yourself screening for more than half of your working day, a standalone screener will improve your productivity and product quality. Screening buckets are excellent entry-level tools, but they top out at roughly 150 to 200 cubic yards per full working day. A small shaker screen or trommel can double or triple that output with one operator. If you are at that crossover point, call us at 770-433-2670 and we can help you evaluate the upgrade.

Ready to Talk Screening Buckets?

We sell screening equipment at every scale, from skid steer screening buckets to full production trommel plants. If you are just getting started with screening, a bucket attachment for your existing skid steer is a smart, low-risk way to begin. And when your volume outgrows the bucket, we carry shaker screens and trommel screens that scale with your business.

Call 770-433-2670 or email Sales@grindercrusherscreen.com. Tell us what machine you are running, what material you need to screen, and how much volume you expect. We will give you a straight recommendation.