What to Look for When Buying a Skid Steer

When buying a skid steer, most people focus on lift capacity and hydraulic flow, and for good reason. These two things directly affect what the machine can handle and how well it runs attachments.

Lift Capacity
Lift capacity determines how much weight your machine can safely handle. If you're moving pallets, logs, or heavy material, this matters more than anything. If you go too small here, you’ll feel it pretty quick.

Standard Flow vs High Flow Hydraulics
This is where a lot of buyers get tripped up.

Standard flow is perfectly fine for most residential use. If you're grading driveways, moving dirt, or doing light work around your property, you do not need high flow.

High flow is built for speed and productivity. If you're running a business and using attachments like mulchers, augers, or brush cutters, high flow lets those attachments run faster and more efficiently.

More speed means more work done in less time, which means more money made.

That said, a lot of attachments can run on standard flow, but they will not perform at their full potential.

The Bottom Line
If you're a homeowner or doing occasional work, a standard flow machine will save you money and still get the job done.

If you're using your machine to make money, high flow is usually worth the investment.