INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIAN MACHINERY PRICE DATA
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Price guides

Excavator Price Guides

29 machines covered. 8 models currently carries a clearly labelled estimate derived from a sourced new price. Verified market ranges replace estimates only after clearing our sample-size gate.

Excavators are the deepest used-equipment market in Australia, from sub-two-tonne minis that tow behind a ute to twenty-tonne-plus civil machines. Compact models turn over fastest — tradies and landscapers buy and sell them constantly — while mid-size and larger machines move through dealers and fleet disposals. Attachments, hours and undercarriage condition drive value at every size. Every verified market range below prints its basis, sample size and date; indicative estimates are labelled separately.

Live Guides

Bobcat E20z No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Cat 305 CR ≈ $42,000 modelled 8-year modelled reference · not sold data Cat 320 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Cat 336 ≈ $155,000 modelled 8-year modelled reference · not sold data Hitachi ZX17U-5 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt John Deere E18ZS No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt John Deere E210LC No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Kobelco SK135SR-7 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Kobelco SK17SR No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Kobelco SK200-11 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Kobelco SK55SRX No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Komatsu PC210LC-11 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Kubota KX080-3 ≈ $47,000 modelled 8-year modelled reference · not sold data Kubota U17-3 ≈ $13,000 modelled 8-year modelled reference · not sold data Kubota U25-3S ≈ $22,000 modelled 8-year modelled reference · not sold data Kubota U55-4 ≈ $34,000 modelled 8-year modelled reference · not sold data SANY SY135C No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt SANY SY16C No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt SANY SY215C No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt SANY SY35U No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt SANY SY50U No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Sumitomo SH145X-6 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Sumitomo SH235X-6 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Takeuchi TB216 ≈ $16,000 modelled 8-year modelled reference · not sold data Takeuchi TB257FR No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Takeuchi TB290-2 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Takeuchi TB350R No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Wacker Neuson EZ17 ≈ $17,000 modelled 8-year modelled reference · not sold data Yanmar VIO80-1 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt

By Brand

Cat price guidesJohn Deere price guidesKobelco price guidesKubota price guidesSANY price guidesSumitomo price guidesTakeuchi price guides

Excavator buyer’s guide

What size excavator do you need?

Excavators run from sub-1.7-tonne micros that fit through a gateway, up through 5–8-tonne midis that cover most residential and landscaping work, to 13–20-tonne machines for civil and drainage, and 20-tonne-plus for bulk earthworks and quarry duty. Match the machine to your heaviest regular job, not your biggest one-off — an oversized excavator costs more to buy, float and run every single day.

Buying used vs hiring

The rule of thumb: if you will use the machine more than roughly one week in three, owning usually beats hiring once you count delivery fees and downtime waiting on a hire yard. Below that, hire — you skip maintenance, registration and the resale gamble. Our buy-vs-hire calculator runs your own numbers, and the hire-rate pages show live day rates by class and city.

What to check on a used excavator

Hours for age first — a low-hour machine from light duty is worth a clear premium. Then the undercarriage (rubber tracks and pins are the expensive fixes), the hitch and bucket set, and an honest service history. Auction is the floor of the market; dealer and private sales recover most of the gap in exchange for time and effort.

Excavator FAQ

What is an excavator used for?
An excavator digs, trenches and moves bulk material — foundations, drainage, site prep and demolition. With the right attachment it also augers, breaks rock, grabs and grades, which is why it is the most versatile machine on most sites and the deepest used market in Australia.
What size excavator do I need?
Micros under 1.7 tonne fit tight access; 5–8-tonne midis suit most residential and landscaping work; 13–20 tonne handles civil and drainage; 20-tonne-plus is for bulk earthworks. Size to your heaviest regular job — an oversized machine costs more to float and run every day.
How much does it cost to hire an excavator?
Dry-hire day rates rise with size and vary by city. HeavyBook publishes live hire rates by excavator class and capital city, each shown with the number of sources behind it — see the hire-rate pages for current figures rather than a guessed range.
How much does a used excavator cost to buy?
It depends heavily on size, hours, attachments and where it sells. Each model guide on HeavyBook shows the current price range with the sample size behind it; a bare machine at auction sits at the bottom, a low-hour dealer unit with a full bucket set at the top.
Do I need a ticket to operate an excavator?
There is no national licence to operate an excavator itself, but a workplace almost always requires verification of competency (a VOC) and a construction white card, and lifting with the machine can trigger further requirements. Check your state WHS regulator and the site rules before you operate.
Can you drive an excavator on the road?
Not like a normal vehicle. An excavator does not meet standard registration rules, so public-road use runs under each state’s conditional registration scheme with strict conditions — NSW, for example, registers tracked excavators on the condition they are floated between sites, not driven. The upside: most states either exempt conditionally registered plant from stamp duty or charge a small flat amount. Check your state transport authority before you count on road use.
Can I finance a used excavator?
Yes — used equipment finance is widely available through brokers and lenders. HeavyBook’s equipment finance calculator gives an indicative monthly repayment across 1–7 years; it is indicative only and not financial advice. HeavyBook may receive a fee if you proceed with a broker we refer you to, and we never recommend a specific credit product.

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