INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIAN MACHINERY PRICE DATA
VERIFIED MONTHLY · NO DEALER PAYS TO CHANGE A NUMBER

Excavator · 1.7 tonne · indicative used estimate

Kubota U17-3 Excavator Price Guide

A broad indicative used-price band for the Kubota U17-3, modelled from a sourced new price and HeavyBook’s disclosed excavator depreciation curve. It is not verified sold data; age, hours and condition decide where a real machine lands.

Operating class
1.7 t
Engine
Kubota D902, 11.3 kW (15.1 hp net)
Dig depth
2.31 m
Tail swing
Zero tail swing
Track width
990 mm retracted, variable to 1,240 mm
Operating weight
1,675 kg (canopy)
Used pricing Verified range pending

We don't have a verified used price range for the Kubota U17-3 right now.

The transparent estimate below is a modelled reference from a sourced new price. It is deliberately separate from verified market ranges and never counts as market evidence.

Indicative new price
$29,950
Indicative new price for the current Kubota U17-3 (canopy, quick hitch, bucket set), ex-GST. Configurations vary.

Know what one of these sold for? Send us the price — it's how the guide gets rebuilt.

Modelled guide · not sold data

Used — indicative estimate

14-year working reference $7,000 Older modelled point
8-year mid-life reference $13,000 Central modelled point
3-year low-hour reference $22,000 Newer modelled point

This is a broad modelled estimate, not a verified market range. It starts with the sourced indicative new price of $29,950 and applies HeavyBook’s declared depreciation curve for excavators at the reference ages shown above. A real machine can sit outside it because of hours, condition, attachments and location. See the method →

The U17-3 sits at the compact end of Kubota's excavator range and is one of the most commonly traded machines in its class in Australia. Typical buyers are owner-operators, landscapers, plumbers and small civil contractors who need a zero-tail-swing machine with a retractable undercarriage for tight-access work between houses and fence lines. Used examples are usually canopy machines sold with a set of buckets, and many carry a quick hitch or breaker piping; ex-hire stock is common alongside privately owned units. Supply is concentrated along the eastern seaboard. Pricing spreads widely: late-model, low-hour machines with fresh tracks command a clear premium over worked ex-hire units, so hours and undercarriage condition matter more than build date. Strong brand demand means well-kept examples sell quickly and hold value.

What a Kubota U17-3 is used for

The Kubota U17-3 is a compact zero-tail-swing mini excavator — the go-to size for landscapers, plumbers and hire fleets working in tight residential access.

  • Landscaping and backyard earthworks
  • Pool and spa excavation on tight sites
  • Trenching for water, gas and electrical services
  • Footings and small retaining walls
  • Working hard against fences and buildings, where zero tail swing earns its keep
  • Light demolition and clean-up with a breaker or grab

Modelled guide · not sold data

Indicative depreciation path

A broad working-machine path from the sourced indicative new price. It uses HeavyBook’s disclosed excavator curve, not observed Kubota U17-3 resale results.

Indicative value path for Kubota U17-3 A modelled curve from $29,950 new to $7,000 at the 14-year working reference. $29,950New$22,0003 yr$13,0008 yr$7,00014 yr

Swipe the chart to compare every reference age →

Curve basis90% retained / year
Starting point$29,950 indicative new
Use it forBroad planning only

This curve compounds a category assumption and rounds to the nearest thousand. Hours, condition, configuration and location can move a real machine outside it. See and challenge the method →

What Moves the Price

Adds the most

Hitch + bucket set

A hydraulic hitch with a proper bucket set is the single biggest add. Machines sold bare consistently land at the low end of the range.

Clear premium

Low hours for age

Well under average annual hours reads as a weekend machine. Buyers pay a visible premium over the same year at contractor hours.

The floor

Auction vs dealer

Auction is the floor of the market. Dealer and private sales recover most of the gap — at the cost of time and effort.

Priced off the top

Tracks & condition

Worn rubber tracks and tired pins get quoted straight off the asking price — buyers price the fix before they price the machine.

Need it for one job, not the yard?

Dry-hire day rates for a Mini Excavator 1.7t are published city by city — every rate with its source count.

Brisbane$218/day · 4 sources · verified 5 July 2026Melbourne$220/day · 5 sources · verified 5 July 2026Perth$300/day · 3 sources · verified 5 July 2026Sydney$227/day · 3 sources · verified 5 July 2026
See hire rates →

Estimate Finance for a Kubota U17-3

Start with the current guide price, then adjust the amount, payment frequency, term and the annual rate you have been quoted.

Estimate repayments →

HeavyBook may receive a fee if you proceed with a broker we refer you to.

Bought or sold a Kubota U17-3?

Tell us what it went for — sixty seconds, anonymous. Every submission is reviewed as potential evidence for a future verified range.

Add this machine’s price →
◉ Price watch

Watch U17-3 prices

Leave an email. When a verified range changes, HeavyBook reviews the update and sends one note — no schedule, and unsubscribe any time.

▤ Free checklist

Pre-purchase inspection checklist

The checks that separate a good buy from a money pit — pins and bushes, tracks, service history red flags. Requests are reviewed and emailed manually.

U17-3 Price FAQ

How much is a used Kubota U17-3 worth in Australia?
HeavyBook's indicative used-price estimate spans $7,000–$22,000, with $13,000 as the 8-year mid-life reference. The low and high points use 14-year and 3-year reference ages. This is modelled from a sourced new price and a declared category depreciation curve — not verified sold data. Age, hours, condition, attachments and location can move a real machine outside the band.
Is this estimate based on real sold prices?
No. It is a transparent modelled reference while verified sold-price data is unavailable. HeavyBook keeps it visually separate from market ranges, publishes the assumptions, and never uses it as an offer, valuation or sample-sized market figure.
What is a Kubota U17-3 used for?
The Kubota U17-3 is a compact zero-tail-swing mini excavator — the go-to size for landscapers, plumbers and hire fleets working in tight residential access.
How much does a Kubota U17-3 weigh?
The Kubota U17-3 has an operating weight of 1,675 kg (canopy).
What engine is in a Kubota U17-3?
The Kubota U17-3 is powered by Kubota D902, 11.3 kW (15.1 hp net).
How deep can a Kubota U17-3 dig?
The Kubota U17-3 has a maximum dig depth of 2.31 m.
How much is a new Kubota U17-3?
A new Kubota U17-3 is around $29,950 ex-GST (Indicative new price for the current Kubota U17-3 (canopy, quick hitch, bucket set), ex-GST. Configurations vary.). Used examples list for less; HeavyBook's equipment finance calculator estimates the monthly repayment on either.
Where do used Kubota U17-3s sell in Australia?
Used U17-3s reach the Australian market through three main channels: dealer trade-ins from the Kubota network, ex-hire fleet exits as rental companies cycle their compact stock, and auction houses such as Grays and Pickles where fleet disposals land in volume. Private sales are common at the owner-operator end. Supply is steady and concentrated along the eastern seaboard — this is one of the most numerous mini excavators in the country — so buyers can afford to be selective on condition rather than chasing the first available machine.
What makes one U17-3 worth more than another?
Hours for age matter most, then attachments — a hydraulic hitch with a proper bucket set lifts the price, and machines sold bare sit at the low end. Track condition, service history and where it sells (dealer, private or auction) move the rest.

Buying a Kubota U17-3

What to check before you buy

  • Track condition and idler wear, the costliest single item on a machine this size
  • Quick-hitch type and whether the bucket set matches it
  • Auxiliary hydraulic circuits if you intend to run a breaker or auger
  • Slew bearing play and boom pin slop, which betray hard hire-fleet life
  • Service history against the hour meter — ex-hire machines accumulate hours fast

Check it is not encumbered

A search shows whether someone else has registered a security interest over the machine — a financier who can repossess it after you have paid the seller — and whether it has been reported stolen or written off. It does not tell you what is owed, and it is not a valuation.

Tracked excavators sit right on the boundary of the motor-vehicle test, so do not rely on a serial search alone. Run both searches — by serial or chassis number, and against the seller.

Search the Personal Property Securities Register. The register publishes a case study on buying heavy construction equipment privately.