Feature
Bobcat Skid-Steer Weights by Model—and What to Add Before Hauling
By Dale Corrigan · · 14 min read
The short answer: about 2,900 to 10,237 pounds across cited models
The Bobcat wheeled skid steers covered here range from a reported operating weight of 2,892 pounds for the S70 to approximately 10,237 pounds for the S850. This is a third-party planning range for selected S-series models—not an official or exhaustive range for every current and historical Bobcat skid steer.
Within the cited range:
- Bobcat S70: 2,892 pounds, or about 1.45 short tons
- Bobcat S66: 7,154 pounds, or about 3.58 short tons
- Bobcat S86: 9,728 pounds, or about 4.86 short tons
- Bobcat S850: approximately 10,237 pounds, or about 5.12 short tons
The S70 is the lightweight example, the S66 falls near the middle of this selected list, and the S86 and S850 illustrate the upper end. The complete set of model figures comes from DOZR’s skid-steer specification guide.
These numbers are operating weights. They should not automatically be treated as bare-machine weights, shipping weights, certified-scale measurements or total loaded-trailer weights. The exact meaning depends on the equipment and allowances included in the specification.
If you know the loader’s model, use its model-specific figure rather than a brand-wide average. Even then, confirm that the published assumptions match the machine’s model year, configuration and installed attachment before using the number for transportation planning.
Bobcat skid-steer operating-weight chart by model
This chart is limited to wheeled Bobcat S-series skid-steer loaders. It does not include T-series compact track loaders.
The operating weights are reported in a third-party equipment-rental specification table. Short tons are calculated by dividing pounds by 2,000 and rounding to two decimal places. That conversion makes the figures easier to compare, but it does not make the original specifications more precise.
| Model | Third-party-reported operating weight | Approx. short tons | Source or verification note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bobcat S70 | 2,892 lb | 1.45 tons | DOZR figure; also listed by an authorized Bobcat dealer |
| Bobcat S450 | 5,370 lb | 2.69 tons | DOZR specification-table figure |
| Bobcat S510 | 6,208 lb | 3.10 tons | DOZR specification-table figure |
| Bobcat S590 | 6,765 lb | 3.38 tons | DOZR specification-table figure |
| Bobcat S62 | 6,886 lb | 3.44 tons | DOZR specification-table figure |
| Bobcat S64 | 6,974 lb | 3.49 tons | DOZR specification-table figure |
| Bobcat S66 | 7,154 lb | 3.58 tons | DOZR figure; also listed by an authorized Bobcat dealer |
| Bobcat S650 | 8,061 lb | 4.03 tons | DOZR specification-table figure |
| Bobcat S76 | 8,615 lb | 4.31 tons | DOZR specification-table figure |
| Bobcat S740 | 8,792 lb | 4.40 tons | DOZR specification-table figure |
| Bobcat S770 | 9,314 lb | 4.66 tons | DOZR specification-table figure |
| Bobcat S86 | 9,728 lb | 4.86 tons | DOZR figure; also listed by an authorized Bobcat dealer |
| Bobcat S850 | 10,237 lb | 5.12 tons | Third-party figure; verify the applicable configuration |
The authorized-dealer source separately lists the same operating weights for the S70, S66 and S86. That agreement provides useful corroboration, but it does not turn the wider table into an official Bobcat specification set.
Several points matter when using the chart:
- The model spread is substantial. The reported S850 figure is more than three times the S70 figure, so “a Bobcat skid steer” is not specific enough for a hauling calculation.
- Similar-looking machines can have different operating weights. Use the complete model designation rather than estimating from appearance.
- The tons column is only a conversion. For example, 10,237 pounds equals 5.1185 short tons mathematically, shown as 5.12 tons for readability.
- The values are planning references, not scale tickets. Installed equipment, attachments and operating-weight assumptions can change the weight relevant to a particular machine.
- The table does not establish lineup status. It should not be used to label any model current, discontinued, lightest ever produced or heaviest ever produced.
For a preliminary estimate, select the exact model row and investigate what the source includes in operating weight. For a consequential hauling decision, give priority to the official specification sheet or operator manual that matches the machine’s serial number and configuration.
Operating weight is not lifting capacity or shipping weight
Operating weight is an in-use specification for the loader.
One rental-company explanation says operating weight can include the base machine, fuel, operator and attachments. That description helps explain the term, but it does not establish that every model table uses identical assumptions. The definition attached to the exact specification remains controlling.
Do not automatically assume a published operating weight includes:
- A full tank of fuel
- A particular operator allowance
- A bucket or other attachment
- Optional cab or hydraulic equipment
- Counterweights
- A particular tire configuration
Operating weight is also different from rated operating capacity. Operating weight describes how much the machine weighs under the stated assumptions. Rated operating capacity describes its load-carrying capability under specified conditions.
The Bobcat S770 illustrates the distinction: an authorized dealer lists a 9,314-pound operating weight and a 3,350-pound rated operating capacity. The 3,350-pound figure is a capacity specification, not an alternative weight for the loader itself (Bobcat of Huntsville).
Other terms answer different questions:
- Operating weight: The machine’s weight under a stated in-use configuration.
- Attachment weight: The weight of the bucket, breaker, cutter, forks or other installed tool.
- Cargo placed on the trailer: The loader and everything else carried by the trailer.
- Loaded-trailer weight: The trailer’s own actual weight plus all cargo and trailer-mounted equipment.
- Combined vehicle-and-trailer weight: The tow vehicle and loaded trailer together.
- Certified-scale weight: A measurement of the particular machine or combination presented at the scale.
Do not transfer one publisher’s assumptions about fuel, operator allowances or attachments to a figure from another source. Read the definition accompanying the exact model specification and check whether the machine in front of you matches that configuration.
Why the actual weight can differ from a published number
The cited S70 weighs 2,892 pounds, while the S86 and S850 figures are near or above 10,000 pounds. Machines sharing the same model designation can also differ from a general table value.
Variables that may affect the weight relevant to operation or transport include:
- Installed attachment
- Optional equipment
- Fuel level
- Cab and hydraulic configuration
- Tires
- Counterweights
- Accessories or supplies carried in the cab
- Other installed machine equipment
Tires and counterweights are configuration examples, not fixed additions. Their effect should be established from the equipment installed on the individual loader rather than estimated with a generic allowance.
Model year can also matter when locating the correct documentation. Model year or optional equipment should not, however, be declared the cause of a particular discrepancy unless matching documentation establishes that connection.
Before looking up a specification, record:
- The complete model designation
- The model year, if known
- The serial number
- The exact attachment installed
- Visible optional equipment or counterweights
- The approximate fuel level
- Whether you need the machine weight, trailer cargo weight, loaded-trailer weight or combined vehicle-and-trailer weight
The serial number is especially useful when several versions of a model exist.
Published operating weights are therefore planning inputs, not guaranteed readings for individual machines. For example, VeriTread qualifies its 5,808-pound S175 listing by saying specifications can vary with machine configuration and attachments (VeriTread’s S175 specification).
A general table may be sufficient for comparing possible rental models. Transportation planning demands a more complete accounting of the loader, installed attachment and trailer as they will actually travel.
How much attachments can add
An attachment can add hundreds of pounds before the loader carries any soil, brush, debris or other material. An authorized Bobcat dealer provides these examples:
- 36-inch dirt bucket: 168 pounds
- Hydraulic breaker: 659 pounds
- 44-inch Brushcat rotary cutter: 932 pounds
These are examples for particular attachments, not universal bucket, breaker or cutter weights. Attachment size, model and configuration can change the figure (Bobcat of Huntsville).
Combining the cited loader and attachment figures produces these illustrations:
| Example combination | Calculation | Illustrative combined weight |
|---|---|---|
| S70 plus cited 36-inch dirt bucket | 2,892 + 168 | 3,060 lb |
| S66 plus cited hydraulic breaker | 7,154 + 659 | 7,813 lb |
| S86 plus cited 44-inch rotary cutter | 9,728 + 932 | 10,660 lb |
These totals combine separately reported figures. They are not guaranteed loaded-machine weights, and the supplied evidence does not establish that every example attachment is approved for or compatible with every paired loader.
Avoid double-counting. If the loader’s published operating weight already includes a specified bucket, adding that bucket again will overstate the estimate. If the operating-weight definition excludes the attachment, omitting the installed tool will understate it.
Attachment weight is also different from the weight of material held by the attachment:
- An empty bucket contributes its own attachment weight.
- Soil or debris in the bucket is additional material.
- A breaker contributes its equipment weight even though it is not carrying material.
- A rotary cutter’s stated weight does not automatically account for debris caught on it.
For an empty-machine transport estimate, inspect and clean out the attachment rather than assuming no material is present. Use the attachment identification plate or matching specification sheet to find the weight of the exact model and size installed.
Compatibility must be verified separately from weight arithmetic. Follow the applicable machine and attachment documentation rather than inferring compatibility from the fact that two weights can be added together.
Calculate the complete transport load—not just the loader weight
Transportation planning involves several related totals. Keeping them separate prevents confusion between trailer payload, loaded-trailer weight and combined vehicle-and-trailer weight.
Calculate the cargo carried by the trailer
Start with the items actually placed on or carried by the trailer:
Loader + attachment not already included in the loader figure + securement equipment + accessories + other cargo = cargo carried by the trailer
The attachment caveat belongs inside the formula: do not add an attachment twice if the chosen operating-weight specification already includes it.
Calculate the loaded-trailer weight
The trailer’s own weight is not payload. Add it separately:
Actual trailer weight + cargo carried by the trailer = loaded-trailer weight
This is why a trailer’s total rating cannot be treated as available cargo capacity. The trailer itself consumes part of the total.
A conceptual payload calculation is:
Available payload = applicable trailer rating − actual trailer weight
Do not assume an advertised empty weight exactly represents an individually equipped trailer.
Calculate the combined vehicle-and-trailer weight
If the question concerns the complete towing combination, include the tow vehicle:
Actual tow-vehicle weight + loaded-trailer weight = combined vehicle-and-trailer weight
This total is different from trailer cargo and loaded-trailer weight. Each answers a different question and must be assessed against the documentation applicable to that component or combination.
A third-party transport guide likewise emphasizes considering attachments and transportation requirements rather than looking only at the machine’s operating weight (Skid Steers Direct).
Check the documented ratings for the complete setup
Review the applicable documentation for the:
- Tow vehicle
- Hitch and related components
- Trailer
- Trailer axles
- Tires and wheels
- Coupler
- Securement equipment
This article cannot validate a particular trailer or tow-vehicle combination. It also cannot establish which transportation rules apply in a particular location. Consult the relevant equipment and vehicle manuals and confirm legal requirements with the appropriate authorities before travel.
No single trailer class or towing recommendation fits every loader in the chart. The reported S70 and S850 operating weights differ by more than 7,000 pounds before the trailer, attachments and other cargo are added.
Resolve uncertainty instead of inventing a margin
If the operating-weight definition is unclear, do not treat the table value as a precise upper limit. Determine whether it includes an attachment, fuel, operator allowance or other equipment.
There is no evidence here for a universal percentage margin that can be applied to every machine and hauling combination. The better response to uncertainty is to identify the exact configuration, consult the matching documentation and obtain an actual loaded weight when necessary.
When to use a certified scale
- Installed attachments
- Optional equipment
- Fuel and carried supplies
- Trailer accessories
- Other cargo
- The individual trailer’s actual weight
Follow the scale operator’s instructions for the measurement you need. A scale reading provides the actual weight presented at the scale, but it does not replace the need to check the documented limits of the tow vehicle, trailer and related components.
Do not mix S-series skid steers with T-series track loaders
The model chart in this article covers wheeled S-series skid-steer loaders. Bobcat T-series machines such as the T450 and T595 use tracked undercarriages and are compact track loaders rather than wheeled skid steers.
One third-party guide lists the T450 at approximately 6,424 pounds and the T595 at approximately 8,022 pounds, but those figures should not be added to an S-series skid-steer-only range (Skid Steers Direct).
Mixing the two machine types can create several errors:
- A T-series weight may be applied to a wheeled loader.
- A tracked model may distort a general Bobcat skid-steer average.
- A transport estimate may begin with the wrong machine specification.
- Assumptions may be transferred between different equipment categories.
The basic physical distinction is that the skid-steer loaders in this chart run on wheels, while compact track loaders run on tracks.
Before comparing weights, check the model designation:
- S-series: Wheeled skid-steer loader for purposes of this chart
- T-series: Compact track loader; verify it using the applicable track-loader specification
- Other prefixes: Identify the machine category before using a skid-steer table
Why published weights conflict—and how to verify yours
Most figures in this comparison come from a rental marketplace, authorized dealer, equipment retailer or transport database—not from a current Bobcat corporate specification sheet matched to an individual serial number.
That does not make the tables useless. They can support preliminary comparisons, rough access planning and identification of the likely weight range. They should not outrank official, configuration-specific documentation when a mistake could affect transportation.
The unresolved S175 discrepancy
The Bobcat S175 is the clearest example of conflicting published figures:
- DOZR reports an operating weight of 6,220 pounds.
- VeriTread reports a standard operating weight of 5,808 pounds.
The difference is 412 pounds. The supplied evidence does not establish which figure applies to every S175 (DOZR’s skid-steer weight guide).
Configuration, model year and different specification assumptions are possible issues, but none is proven as the cause of this discrepancy. It would therefore be misleading to select either number and declare it the definitive weight of every S175.
Why the cited upper limit varies
The upper end also depends on which models a source includes. The authorized dealer’s selected skid-steer lineup runs from the 2,892-pound S70 to the 9,728-pound S86. Broader third-party tables include an S850 at approximately 10,237 pounds.
Those ranges are not necessarily contradictory; they describe different model sets. Neither one establishes an official universal range covering every current and historical Bobcat skid steer.
A practical verification sequence
When the weight matters:
- Identify the exact machine. Record the complete model designation.
- Record the serial number. Use it to locate documentation for the applicable version.
- Establish the model year if possible.
- Consult the matching official specification sheet or operator manual.
- Read the definition attached to the stated weight.
- List installed options and attachments.
- Determine whether the operating weight already includes an attachment, operator or fuel allowance.
- Calculate trailer cargo, loaded-trailer weight and combined weight separately.
- Obtain a certified-scale measurement when published specifications are insufficient.
Third-party tables are best treated as navigation aids. They identify an approximate range and the questions that still need to be resolved. Final transportation calculations should use documentation for the exact machine and, where necessary, an actual measurement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the lightest Bobcat skid steer in the cited model list?
The Bobcat S70 is the lightest skid steer in this selected S-series list, with a reported operating weight of 2,892 pounds, or about 1.45 short tons.
That statement applies only to the cited list. It does not establish that the S70 is the lightest Bobcat skid steer ever produced or the lightest model in every lineup.
How much does a Bobcat S70 skid steer weigh?
The cited operating weight for the Bobcat S70 is 2,892 pounds, approximately 1.45 short tons (DOZR’s model specification table).
Adding the cited 168-pound bucket produces an illustrative total of 3,060 pounds. Use that arithmetic only if the selected operating-weight figure does not already include the bucket.
Does Bobcat skid-steer operating weight include the bucket, fuel and operator?
It may, but you should not assume every published operating weight includes all three. Some third-party descriptions include fuel, an operator and an attachment, while other model tables do not state their assumptions clearly.
Use the definition attached to the exact specification. If it includes a specified bucket, do not add that bucket again. If it excludes the installed attachment, include the attachment separately.
How much does a Bobcat S175 weigh?
The available third-party sources conflict. One reports 5,808 pounds, while another reports 6,220 pounds (VeriTread).
Neither figure is universally definitive based on the supplied evidence. Identify the S175’s model year and serial number, consult the matching official documentation and verify the installed configuration. Use a certified scale if the actual transport weight is consequential.
Can I use operating weight alone to choose a trailer?
No. Operating weight is only one input.
Account separately for the loader, any attachment not already included, securement equipment, accessories, other cargo and the trailer itself. Then distinguish the cargo carried by the trailer from the loaded-trailer weight and the combined vehicle-and-trailer weight.
A model table cannot confirm that a particular towing setup complies with every applicable equipment limit or transportation requirement. Verify the exact machine and trailer configuration through the relevant manuals, documentation and actual weighing when needed.
The useful answer to “How much does a Bobcat skid steer weigh?” is model-specific: the cited wheeled S-series examples run from about 2,900 pounds for the S70 to approximately 10,237 pounds for the S850. For transportation, move beyond the chart and total the exact loader, installed attachment, trailer, securement equipment and other cargo, then verify the configuration through official documentation or an actual scale measurement.