Used Heavy Equipment Pricing Guide: What Every Machine Is Worth in 2026

Last updated: March 2026

Knowing what used heavy equipment is actually worth saves you from overpaying as a buyer or leaving money on the table as a seller. Here in Sacramento and across the U.S., we've watched construction equipment prices shift dramatically over the past two years. The pandemic-era supply crunch has eased, but used iron still trades well above pre-2020 levels.

The global construction equipment market reached $210.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at 5.2% CAGR through 2032 (Fortune Business Insights, 2024). That demand keeps the used market healthy. But individual machine values vary wildly based on brand, hours, condition, and timing.

This guide covers current used heavy equipment prices for every major category, the factors that push values up or down, and how fast different machines depreciate. We've pulled data from auction results, dealer listings, and direct sales to give you numbers you can actually use.

What Does Used Heavy Equipment Cost in 2026?

Used construction equipment prices span from about $8,000 for a warehouse forklift to over $500,000 for a large hydraulic excavator or mobile crane. According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM, 2025), used equipment transaction volume rose 6% year-over-year in North America, signaling stable demand across categories.

The table below summarizes current pricing ranges for every major equipment type. These ranges reflect machines in fair to good condition with typical hours for their age. Premium machines with low hours and documented service records trade at the high end. Beat-up iron with overdue repairs trades below these ranges.

Prices reflect Q1 2026 market conditions for machines in fair to good condition. Individual values vary based on hours, service history, attachments, and regional demand. Sources: Ritchie Bros auction results, Machinery Trader dealer listings, direct sale data.

How Much Are Used Excavators Worth?

Excavators are the most traded equipment category, representing roughly 30% of all used construction equipment sales globally (Ritchie Bros, 2024 Annual Report). Used excavator prices range from $18,000 for a compact mini-excavator to over $450,000 for a large production machine.

Mini excavators (under 10 tons) are the hottest segment. A 2018-2022 Cat 305.5 with 2,000-4,000 hours typically sells for $38,000-$55,000. Kubota's KX040 and U35 models trade in the $25,000-$42,000 range at similar hours. Deere's 35G and 50G sit between the two.

Mid-size excavators (20-35 tons) command $55,000-$175,000. The Cat 320 remains the benchmark. A 2019 Cat 320 GC with 4,000 hours sells for $120,000-$145,000 on the open market. The comparable Komatsu PC210 trades 5-10% lower. Volvo EC220 and Hitachi ZX200 fill similar price brackets.

Large excavators (35+ tons) are where prices really climb. A Cat 349 or Komatsu PC490 with under 6,000 hours can trade above $300,000. At 10,000+ hours, those same machines drop to the $150,000-$200,000 range. For a full breakdown of excavator pricing by model and brand, see our full excavator pricing breakdown.

Excavator Prices by Brand

“Low hours” = under 3,000 hrs. “High hours” = 6,000+ hrs. Prices for 2017-2023 models in fair to good condition. Data from Ritchie Bros, IronPlanet, and Machinery Trader listings.

Used Skid Steer Prices by Brand and Hours

Used skid steers range from $12,000 to $55,000 depending on size, brand, and hours. Bobcat owns roughly 40% of the U.S. skid steer market (Statista, 2024), and their resale demand matches that dominance.

Bobcat S650 and S770 are the volume leaders on the secondary market. A 2019 S650 with 2,500 hours trades in the $28,000-$36,000 range. Cat's 262D3 commands a slight premium at similar hours, usually $31,000-$40,000. Why? Parts availability and fleet integration with existing Cat iron.

Kubota's SSV75 and SSV65 have gained resale ground over the past two years. They trade 10-15% below Bobcat equivalents but have narrowed that gap. Deere's 330G and 332G hold steady in the mid-range. New Holland's skid steers consistently trade at the low end of comparable models.

One thing to understand about skid steers: they accumulate hours fast. A machine running 1,200 hours per year isn't unusual. That means a 5-year-old Bobcat with 5,000+ hours is common, and buyers price accordingly. What matters most is whether the hour meter reading matches the machine's overall wear. A clean skid steer at 3,500 hours is worth far more than a neglected one at 2,000.

Bulldozer, Loader, and Backhoe Pricing

These three categories cover the core earthmoving fleet, and pricing varies dramatically by size class. Caterpillar commands the strongest resale across all three. According to a 2024 Rouse Analytics residual value study, Cat D6 dozers retain 58% of their original value at 5,000 hours, compared to 48% for comparable Komatsu D65 models (Rouse Analytics, 2024).

Bulldozers

Used bulldozer prices range from $35,000 for an older small dozer to $350,000+ for a large production Cat D8 or D9. The Cat D6 is the highest-volume used dozer on the market. A 2018-2022 D6 with 3,000-5,000 hours typically sells for $160,000-$220,000. Komatsu's D65 trades 10-15% lower at comparable specs. Deere's 750K and 850K hold mid-range values.

Undercarriage condition matters more on dozers than almost any other equipment type. A dozer needing a full undercarriage rebuild ($25,000-$50,000 depending on size) will trade at a steep discount. Buyers check the undercarriage first and the engine second. That's a consistent pattern in our experience.

Wheel Loaders

Used wheel loaders span $30,000-$250,000. The Cat 950 and 966 are the market benchmarks. A 2019 Cat 950M with 4,000 hours sells for $135,000-$165,000. Komatsu WA320 and WA380 models trade $95,000-$145,000 in the same bracket. Volvo L90 and L120 hold value well in the mid-range. Loader tires are a hidden cost: a new set of four can run $8,000-$20,000, and buyers discount tired rubber aggressively.

Backhoes

The backhoe market sits in the $15,000-$75,000 range. Cat's 420 and 430 series lead resale. Deere 310L and 410L trade competitively. Case 580 and JCB 3CX fill the mid-market. What makes backhoes distinct is their versatility. A backhoe with an extending boom, 4WD, and a quality bucket package sells for $5,000-$10,000 more than a base configuration. But even a well-equipped backhoe tops out around $75,000 on the used market — the price ceiling is lower than most other categories.

What About Cranes, Telehandlers, and Forklifts?

Specialty equipment follows different pricing patterns than earthmoving iron. The crane market is particularly concentrated. According to Crane Hotline (2025), used mobile crane prices increased 8% year-over-year as infrastructure spending pushed demand higher.

Cranes

Used crane pricing is the widest range on this list: $75,000-$500,000+. A 30-ton Grove RT530 trades for $90,000-$140,000 at mid-life hours. Larger Manitowoc and Liebherr all-terrain cranes can exceed $400,000 even at 5,000+ hours. Crane values depend heavily on boom length, load charts, and certification status. An out-of-certification crane takes a 20-30% hit because the buyer faces $10,000-$25,000 in inspection costs.

Telehandlers

Telehandlers range from $25,000 to $95,000 used. JLG and Genie dominate the rental fleet resale market, which means there's a steady supply of 3-5 year old machines hitting the market after their rental cycle ends. A 2020 JLG 1055 with 3,000 hours typically trades for $55,000-$70,000. Cat's TH407 and Bobcat's TL43.80 sit in the $45,000-$65,000 range. Ever wonder why the telehandler market stays so predictable? It's the rental cycle. Large rental companies turn their fleets every 3-5 years, creating a consistent wave of supply.

Forklifts

Used forklifts trade from $8,000 to $45,000. Toyota leads the market by volume and resale value. A Toyota 8FGU25 (5,000 lb capacity) with 4,000 hours sells for $15,000-$22,000. Hyster and Cat sit in similar brackets. Electric forklifts (typically warehouse use) trade lower than propane or diesel models, partly because battery replacement costs ($5,000-$12,000) hang over older units.

Used Trailer Prices: Lowboy, Flatbed, and Dump

Trailers depreciate more slowly than powered equipment because they don't have engines, hydraulics, or drivetrains to wear out. The National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC, 2024) reports that well-maintained trailers retain 60-70% of their value after 10 years, far above most powered equipment.

Lowboy trailers ($15,000-$75,000) are the workhorses of the equipment hauling world. A 50-ton Talbert or Trail King in good condition with a solid deck fetches $35,000-$55,000 after 5-8 years. Flatbed trailers ($8,000-$35,000) are the simplest to value. Deck condition, tire life, and DOT compliance tell most of the story. Dump trailers ($10,000-$50,000) trade based on payload capacity and body condition. Rust-through on a dump body kills value fast.

Trailer pricing revolves around structural integrity, not hours. Has it been hauling overweight loads? Is the frame cracked or bent? Do the brakes pass DOT inspection? These questions drive more value variance than age alone.

What Drives Equipment Prices Up or Down?

Eight factors determine what any piece of used equipment will actually trade for. According to Equipment Watch (2025), operating hours account for 35% of the variation in used equipment pricing, making it the single most influential variable.

A fleet manager in Sacramento sold twelve machines through us last quarter. His highest-dollar unit was a 2020 Cat 320 with 2,800 hours and dealer service records — it sold for $142,000. His lowest was a 2012 Komatsu PC200 at 9,200 hours with no records, which traded for $48,000. Same general category. More than $90,000 of spread. The difference? Hours, brand, condition, and documentation.

How Fast Does Heavy Equipment Depreciate?

Heavy equipment depreciates on a declining curve: steep in years 1-3, then gradually flattening. Industry data shows the average piece of construction equipment retains about 50% of its original value at year five and roughly 33% at year ten (Equipment Watch, 2025). But those averages hide massive brand and category variance.

Bulldozers and motor graders depreciate the slowest because they accumulate hours slowly and their buyer base pays for known-good iron. Skid steers depreciate the fastest — high utilization rates and a lower price ceiling mean they lose 20-25% per year in the first three years. Cranes and specialty equipment fall somewhere in between, though crane values are heavily influenced by certification and boom condition.

For a detailed breakdown of depreciation rates by equipment type, tax vs. market depreciation, and when to sell before the curve steepens, see our full equipment depreciation guide.

Where to Get the Best Price When Selling

How you sell affects the price as much as what you sell. Ritchie Bros reports that their online auction channel now accounts for 65% of total transaction volume, up from 40% in 2019 (Ritchie Bros Annual Report, 2024). But volume and best price aren't the same thing.

Auction vs. Private Sale vs. Direct Buyer

Auctions are fast. Ritchie Bros and IronPlanet move iron in 30-60 days from consignment to cash. But sellers typically net 10-20% less than private sale prices after buyer premiums and fees. The auction house isn't free.

Private sales through Machinery Trader, Facebook Marketplace, or local connections capture the most value but take the most time. Expect 60-120 days for a mid-market machine. You'll field tire-kickers, handle logistics, and negotiate directly. Is it worth the effort? For a $150,000 machine, the 15-20% private sale premium means $22,000-$30,000 more in your pocket. For a $25,000 skid steer, probably not.

Direct-sale equipment buyers offer a third path. You get a firm cash offer (typically within 24-48 hours), free pickup, and no fees. The trade-off is the offer price sits between auction and retail — but you eliminate the 60-120 day holding cost, listing hassles, and transaction risk. For fleet managers selling multiple units, the speed and certainty often outweigh the per-unit price difference.

We've found that contractors who need to move iron fast — lease returns, downsizing, project completions — tend to favor the direct buyer route. Those who have time and a clean machine with good documentation get the best return from private sale. For everything in between, there are auctions. Read our full comparison of selling channels for a detailed breakdown, or check out the step-by-step seller's guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about used heavy equipment pricing, depreciation, and valuation.

Know Your Numbers Before You Buy or Sell

The used heavy equipment market moves fast, and the difference between a good deal and a bad one often comes down to knowing the real numbers. Use this guide as your starting point. Check model-level pricing on our equipment value guide. Understand how depreciation works before timing a purchase or sale.

For specific machines, browse Cat excavators, Komatsu excavators, or any of the 400+ models we track with real pricing data. And if you're ready to sell, you don't need an estimate — you need a real number.