Excavator Pricing For New, Used, and Rental Excavators

Excavators are one of the most expensive pieces of construction equipment you can buy. New full-sized excavators can cost $100,000 to $500,000 and more. Those costs send many buyers looking for used machines, but even used excavators can cause sticker shock. See what other BuyerZone users have paid for both new and used excavators.

The most common sizes, around 15 to 20 metric tons (33,000 to 44,000 pounds), typically range from $120,000 to $200,000 new; 10- to 15-ton machines can be from around $90,000 to $150,000; and 30- to 40-ton excavators may go for $250,000 to $350,000.

You'll usually get one bucket included with your purchase, so make sure you get one that matches your primary application. New buckets in additional sizes can cost between $700 and $5,000, depending on the size and intended use. Powered attachments like thumbs and hydraulic hammers can cost $5,000 to $10,000.

Used excavators
Considering the substantial cost of new excavators, buying used machines can be a smart way to save money. Life spans of up to 8,000 or 10,000 hours are typical, and many used models are available with plenty of reliable operating life ahead of them.

That doesn't mean a used excavator will be cheap, though. Two- to three-year-old models with 1,000 hours of use on them can cost about 25% less than new models, but even that discount would only bring a 20-ton excavator down from $250,000 to $187,500.

Be careful of heavily discounted excavators. While older excavators with more wear can be found for as much as 50% off new prices, the reliability and expected life spans of these models really start to suffer. A $30,000 excavator may offer short-term savings but won't provide the performance you expect in the long run.

When evaluating used machines, demos are even more important than they are with new machines. Pay attention to the overall feel: do the tracks run freely in both directions? Do the boom and stick respond well to the controls? Are rotation and travel smooth and consistent?

Don't be impressed by a fresh coat of paint – while that can mean the dealer is paying attention to detail, it can also sometimes mean they are hiding other problems. Look for fresh welds and other signs of repair.

Inspect the undercarriage and bushings for excessive wear, rust, and shoddy repair work. Look at the hydraulic seals for signs of leaks or other problems, and check the engine for signs of neglect (cracking hoses, worn belts, etc.).

Excavator Rentals
Renting is a great way to gauge the power of an excavator without committing to a purchase. It can also be a smart course if you only need to use one sporadically. Excavator rental prices can range from 20,000 to 40,000 lbs can be $3,000 to $5,000 per month, while machines from 40,000 to 75,000 lbs are typically $5,000 to $8,000 per month.

Maintenance
Most dealers will offer a range of maintenance contracts and/or extended warranties to choose from. If you're buying a new excavator, these generally aren't worth the cost: you can do the basic preventative maintenance yourself, and the manufacturer's warranty will cover the rare mechanical breakdown.

If you're buying a used excavator, the extra protection of a maintenance contract can be a better value. Just having expert technicians inspect and lubricate the machine once or twice per year can help prevent small defects from developing into larger problems.