On 18 September 2026, median used excavator asking prices on Asset Scanner ran from $31,500 for a 1.5 tonne mini to $280,000 for a 40 tonne and over machine, across 346 priced dealer listings. Size moves the price most. In between, the median was $52,500 for a 3 tonne machine, $69,500 for a 5 tonne, $114,000 for a 13 tonne and $160,000 for a 20 tonne. These are asking prices, and GST treatment varies by listing.
These are medians of advertised prices, not estimates or survey figures. They come from the asking prices on active excavator listings from Australian dealers on Asset Scanner, grouped by operating weight. This guide sets out the numbers for every size class, explains what pushes a machine to the top or bottom of its range, and shows what the repayments look like if you finance one. The method is set out further down, and you are welcome to cite the figures.
Excavator prices by size (September 2026)
The table shows used machines, because that is where most of the market is. The typical range is the middle half of asking prices in each size class, so a quarter of machines are advertised below it and a quarter above it.
| Size class | Operating weight | Middle half (25th to 75th percentile) | Median used price | Listings in sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 tonne | 1.5 to 2.5 t | $30,500 to $32,000 | $31,500 | 11 |
| 3 tonne | 2.5 to 4 t | $47,500 to $62,500 | $52,500 | 26 |
| 5 tonne | 4 to 6.5 t | $55,000 to $74,500 | $69,500 | 51 |
| 8 tonne | 6.5 to 10 t | $82,000 to $109,000 | $98,500 | 45 |
| 13 tonne | 10 to 16 t | $94,500 to $147,500 | $114,000 | 68 |
| 20 tonne | 16 to 25 t | $89,500 to $198,000 | $160,000 | 47 |
| 30 tonne | 25 to 35 t | $105,500 to $183,500 | $164,000 | 59 |
| 40 tonne and over | 35 t and over | $154,000 to $347,500 | $280,000 | 39 |
Asking prices on active Australian dealer listings on Asset Scanner as at 18 September 2026. Figures are rounded to the nearest $500. Asking prices are advertised prices, not sale prices, and some include GST while others do not, so check each listing.
Two things stand out. First, price climbs by roughly $17,000 to $21,000 for each step from 1.5 to 3 to 5 tonnes, keeps climbing to 20 tonnes, then flattens between 20 and 30 tonnes. A used 30 tonne machine is advertised for about the same money as a used 20 tonne machine, which may reflect older, higher hour machines in the large classes. This guide does not analyse hours or age, so treat that as a likely explanation, not a measured one. Second, the ranges generally widen as machines get bigger. A 1.5 tonne mini is close to a commodity, and that class is also the smallest sample in the table at 11 listings, which is why its range is so tight. A 20 tonne machine can be advertised under $90,000 or near $200,000, depending on hours, age and condition.
Live on Asset Scanner
Used 5 tonne class excavators on dealer lots now
4 to 6.5 tonne machines from dealers today. Live stock, separate from the 18 September sample.
Finance by Equifund
about $321/week
On the $69,500 median asking price from this guide's tables, 7.5% p.a. over 5 years, no deposit. Indicative only, not a quote.
A broker calls you back within 30 minutes, 8am to 6pm weekdays. After hours, use the form.
Finance arranged by Equifund Financial Group, a related party of Asset Scanner. Disclosure
If you are not sure which size you need, start with what size excavator do I need or the longer excavator sizes explained guide, then come back to the prices.
New versus used excavator prices
You would expect new to cost more than used. In the small sizes, the advertised prices say otherwise.
| Size class | Median new price | Middle half (25th to 75th percentile) | New listings in sample | Median used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 tonne | $28,000 | $26,000 to $33,000 | 15 | $31,500 |
| 3 tonne | $40,000 | $38,000 to $46,000 | 10 | $52,500 |
| 5 tonne | $56,000 | $50,000 to $66,500 | 10 | $69,500 |
Asking prices on active Australian dealer listings on Asset Scanner as at 18 September 2026, rounded to the nearest $500. Size classes with fewer than 8 new listings are left out.
The likely reason is brand mix. Many new excavators advertised under 6.5 tonnes are lower priced imported brands, while many used machines in the same sizes are Caterpillar, Yanmar, Kubota and Komatsu units. A late model premium brand mini with low hours is often advertised for more than a brand new value brand machine of the same size.
Neither is the wrong choice. It comes down to how you will use it:
- Daily commercial work: a late model used machine from a major brand usually wins on resale value, parts supply and dealer support.
- Occasional or farm use: a new value brand machine gives you a warranty and zero hours for less money up front. Resale value may be lower and parts supply can vary, so ask the dealer.
- New from a major brand: list prices are often not advertised at all. Expect to pay well above the used figures in the first table, and ask the dealer for a written quote.
For brand by brand detail, see Kubota vs Yanmar mini excavators and Caterpillar vs Komatsu excavators. Whether you want a late model used machine or a new one, browse used excavators for sale or new excavators for sale.
What the repayments look like
Many excavators in Australia are bought with finance. A chattel mortgage is a common structure: you own the machine from day one and the lender holds security over it. These examples use the median used prices from the first table.
| Size class | Median used price | Indicative weekly repayment |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 tonne | $31,500 | $145 |
| 3 tonne | $52,500 | $242 |
| 5 tonne | $69,500 | $321 |
| 8 tonne | $98,500 | $455 |
| 13 tonne | $114,000 | $526 |
| 20 tonne | $160,000 | $738 |
| 30 tonne | $164,000 | $757 |
| 40 tonne and over | $280,000 | $1,292 |
Indicative only. Calculated at 7.5% p.a. over 5 years on the full price with no deposit and no balloon payment. The actual rate depends on your credit and asset profile. Repayments are weekly, paid in arrears, and calculated on the median asking price shown, whether or not that price includes GST. This is an illustration, not a quote or an offer of finance.
A useful test: a 5 tonne excavator at about $321 a week needs to earn more than that each week, plus running costs, to pay its way. If you are hiring the same size machine most weeks of the year, compare your annual hire bill with roughly $1,390 a month, or $16,700 a year, in repayments, plus running costs, for a machine you own at the end. If you only need one for a few weeks a year, hiring is likely to work out cheaper, but this guide holds no hire price data, so get a hire quote to compare. Our lease vs buy guide covers the decision in more detail.
To see real numbers for your situation, request an excavator finance quote, or read the complete guide to equipment finance first.
More on buying and owning an excavator
What moves an excavator's price
Inside each size class, five things decide whether a machine sits at the bottom or the top of the range.
- Hours. Usually the biggest factor after size. As a rough guide, under 2,000 hours is low for a mini excavator, and past 6,000 to 8,000 hours buyers start pricing in pumps, pins and bushes, and final drives.
- Brand. Caterpillar, Komatsu, Hitachi, Kubota and Yanmar hold value well because parts and service are available almost everywhere in Australia.
- Undercarriage condition. Tracks, rollers, idlers and sprockets are the most expensive wear items on the machine. A worn undercarriage on a 20 tonne excavator is a five figure repair, so inspect it or ask for a measured wear report.
- Attachments and hitch. A tilt hitch, a full bucket set, a ripper or an auger drive can add thousands to the asking price. Compare machines with the same kit.
- Cab and specification. Enclosed air conditioned cabs, zero tail swing, rubber or steel tracks and auxiliary hydraulic lines all shift the price.
Our complete guide to buying an excavator has a full inspection checklist. To check one specific machine against the market, the free valuation tool returns an asking price range for a make, model and year from comparable live listings. It takes about 60 seconds and asks for no contact details.
What the purchase price does not include
- Transport. Anything over about 5 tonnes needs a float or a plant truck. Interstate delivery of a large machine can run into the thousands.
- Attachments. Budget for the buckets, hitch and any hydraulic attachments the machine does not come with.
- Fuel. This is the largest running cost on mid size and large machines.
- Servicing and undercarriage. Scheduled servicing, track replacement and hydraulic hoses are all predictable costs. Set money aside from the first month.
- Insurance and registration. Lenders usually require comprehensive insurance on a financed machine. Conditional registration may apply if the machine travels on public roads, depending on your state.
Tax: the $20,000 instant asset write-off and an excavator
From 1 July 2026 the $20,000 instant asset write-off is permanent for small businesses with an aggregated turnover under $10 million. It only applies to an asset that costs less than $20,000, judged per asset, and the asset must be first used or installed ready for use in the income year, so the machine itself will rarely qualify. If your business uses the simplified depreciation rules, a machine costing $20,000 or more generally goes into the small business pool, depreciated at 15% in the first year and 30% each year after that. Attachments may be treated as separate assets and may qualify if each one costs less than $20,000. As at 28 September 2026, the ATO's page on the measure has the details, and the equipment finance guide covers the tax side of a chattel mortgage. This is general information, not tax advice, so talk to your accountant before you buy, because the right answer depends on your structure and turnover.
How to pay less for an excavator
- Compare across dealers and states. The same model can be advertised thousands of dollars apart. Browse all excavators for sale and filter by size and state, for example Queensland or New South Wales.
- Buy hours, not years. A five year old machine with 1,500 hours is often a better buy than a three year old machine with 5,000 hours.
- Get finance sorted first. A pre-approval gives you an indication of your budget and lets you move quickly when the right machine comes up.
- Look at the next size class. Because a used 30 tonne machine is advertised for about the same money as a used 20 tonne machine, a bigger machine sometimes costs little more than the one you planned to buy. Transport and running costs do rise, so do the sums on those too.
- Check the undercarriage before you negotiate. A measured wear report gives you a factual basis for the price you offer.
Methodology
The figures come from the active excavator listings advertised by Australian dealers on Asset Scanner on 18 September 2026. Each listing's operating weight was read from its model designation (a Kubota U55 is a 5.5 tonne machine, a Caterpillar 320 a 20 tonne machine) or from the weight stated in the listing, and listings whose weight could not be read, listings priced on application, and plant trailers filed as excavators were left out. The used table covers 346 priced listings across the eight classes; the new table covers the three classes with at least 8 priced new listings. Medians and quartiles are of asking prices, rounded to the nearest $500, and any class with fewer than 8 priced listings in a condition is not reported. Asking prices are advertised prices, not transaction prices. GST treatment varies by listing. Repayments use the site's illustrative 7.5% p.a. over 5 years with no deposit.
Cite this data. These figures are free to quote with a link to this page (CC BY 4.0). They are medians of live dealer asking prices, not survey estimates or sale records, and the date of the sample is stated in every table. Download the tables as CSV.
Suggested citation:
Asset Scanner (2026). How Much Does an Excavator Cost in Australia? Median asking prices from 346 priced used dealer listings, 18 September 2026. Asset Scanner, Australia. https://assetscanner.com.au/blog/how-much-does-an-excavator-cost-in-australia (accessed DD Month YYYY).
Related reading: What size excavator do I need?, The complete guide to buying an excavator, Loaders, skid steers and earthmoving equipment: a buyer's guide.
Key takeaways
- Median used excavator asking prices on Asset Scanner dealer listings on 18 September 2026 ran from $31,500 for a 1.5 tonne mini to $280,000 for a 40 tonne and over machine, across 346 priced listings. Size is the biggest driver of price.
- Many new excavators advertised under 6.5 tonnes are lower priced imported brands, which likely explains why their median asking price sits below late model used Kubota, Yanmar and Caterpillar machines.
- At an indicative 7.5% p.a. over 5 years with no deposit, a $69,500 excavator works out to about $321 a week. Your actual rate depends on your credit and asset profile.