Sweeper Attachment for Skid Steer: Which Broom Type You Actually Need

A skid loader sweeper attachment is the attachment that gets bought last and used most. Job-site cleanup, contractor lots, municipal streets, barn alleys and winter salt all come back to a broom.

There are three genuinely different broom designs sold under the same "sweeper" label, and they are not interchangeable. Buying an angle broom for work that needs a pickup broom means you spend the day pushing dust into someone else's lot.

Pick the type first and the width second. Type is what decides whether the tool solves your problem at all.

The hopper is what you pay for. An angle broom is a motor and a brush core; a pickup broom adds a sealed hopper, a lift and dump circuit and usually a water spray kit.

Bristle material decides both sweeping performance and how quickly the broom wears out, and it is the spec most listings omit entirely.

This is where sweepers differ from most attachments. A broom is a continuous-duty hydraulic tool, so it draws flow the entire time it runs rather than in bursts like a grapple.

Standard-flow machines handle 60" and 72" angle brooms comfortably. Wide angle brooms and any pickup broom with a hopper generally want high flow, and running them on a marginal circuit means a slow brush and hot oil.

At a glance

  • Typical price range: $1,800 – $6,500
  • Common widths: 60", 72", 84"
  • Broom types: Angle, pickup, gutter
  • Hydraulic need: Standard flow (high-flow on wide pickup brooms)
  • Freight: Free when bought with a machine

The three sweeper types, and who each one is for

  • Angle broom — an open rotating brush that windrows debris to one side. Cheapest, simplest, best for pushing snow, dirt and gravel off pavement. No containment, so it raises dust.
  • Pickup broom — a brush plus a hopper that collects what it sweeps and dumps it like a bucket. Twice the price, and the only real option for contained cleanup and finished lots.
  • Gutter brush — a vertical side brush that reaches curb lines and edges an angle broom cannot. Usually added alongside one of the other two.

How much does a skid steer sweeper cost?

  • $1,800 – $2,800 — 60"–72" angle broom, hydraulic angle adjustment, standard flow.
  • $2,800 – $3,800 — 84" angle broom with heavy poly/wire bristle mix.
  • $4,200 – $6,500 — pickup broom with hopper, dump cylinder and water spray kit.
  • $400 – $900 — bolt-on gutter brush kit.

Bristle choice matters more than people expect

  • All-poly — gentle on finished concrete and asphalt, good for dust and light debris, wears fastest on rough surfaces.
  • Poly/wire combination — the general-purpose choice. Wire cuts packed material, poly carries the fines.
  • All-wire — aggressive, for packed mud, hardened salt and mill scale. Will mark soft asphalt.
  • Bristle wafers are individually replaceable on good brooms — confirm this before buying, or a worn brush means a whole new core.

Flow requirements — check before you buy

  • 60"–72" angle broom — standard flow, roughly 15–20 GPM.
  • 84" angle broom — high flow preferred.
  • Pickup broom with hopper — high flow, plus a case drain line on most units.
  • Tell us your machine model and we will confirm flow before you order.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a sweeper attachment for a skid steer?

A 60 to 72 inch angle broom runs about $1,800 to $2,800, an 84 inch angle broom $2,800 to $3,800, and a pickup broom with a collection hopper $4,200 to $6,500. A bolt-on gutter brush adds $400 to $900.

What is the difference between an angle broom and a pickup broom?

An angle broom windrows debris to one side and does not contain it, which is fine for snow, gravel and rough job-site cleanup. A pickup broom sweeps into a hopper you then lift and dump, which is what you need for finished lots, municipal work and anywhere the debris cannot simply be pushed aside.

Does a skid steer sweeper need high-flow hydraulics?

A 60 or 72 inch angle broom runs fine on standard flow at roughly 15 to 20 GPM. An 84 inch angle broom and any pickup broom with a hopper should be run on high flow, and most pickup brooms also need a case drain line.

What bristle type should I choose?

A poly and wire combination is the right default for most buyers. Choose all-poly if you sweep finished concrete and mostly fine dust, and all-wire only for packed mud, hardened salt or mill scale, since wire will mark soft asphalt.

Can I use a skid steer broom for snow?

Yes. An angle broom is often better than a blade for light and moderate snow because it clears down to the surface without scraping, leaves no windrow ridge to refreeze, and will not catch on expansion joints or manhole covers.

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