Used Motor Grader Prices: Model-by-Model Pricing Guide

Last updated: April 2026

Used motor grader prices range from $15,000 for an older, high-hour small grader to over $350,000 for a late-model large unit with low hours. The average used motor grader transaction price sat around $85,000 in late 2025, per Machinery Trader listing data. That covers everything from a county road department Cat 120K maintaining gravel roads to a Cat 16M3 building highway subgrade.

Caterpillar dominates the used motor grader market with roughly 47% of used financed sales, per Equipment World data from the November 2024 through October 2025 period. John Deere holds second place, and Komatsu takes third. That market concentration means Cat models set the pricing benchmarks every other brand is measured against.

This guide breaks down used motor grader pricing by brand, model, and size class using real transaction data from Ritchie Bros, Machinery Trader, and Equipment Watch residual values. Whether you are buying your first grader or replacing one in a fleet, the pricing tables below give you a baseline to negotiate from. For broader pricing context, check the heavy equipment pricing guide.

Used Motor Grader Market in 2026

The used motor grader market saw 1,075 financed unit sales in the 12-month period ending October 2025 — down 15.2% from 1,267 units the prior year, per Equipment World. That decline tracks with the broader softening in used construction equipment demand as rental fleet de-fleeting slowed and new equipment lead times normalized after the post-pandemic surge.

Despite lower transaction volume, prices have held relatively firm. The average used motor grader price tag was $230,146 in January 2025, easing to $221,312 by September 2025 — a modest 3.8% decline over eight months. Cat took 15 of the top 20 highest-priced auction sales during this period, with Deere claiming the remaining five. That pricing resilience reflects the essential nature of graders in road construction and maintenance — there is no substitute machine for fine grading work.

A county road supervisor in Oklahoma described the current market this way: his department held off replacing two Cat 140K units in 2024 hoping prices would drop. By mid-2025, comparable 140K2 units with 6,000 hours were still trading at $85,000-$95,000 — only $5,000 less than a year earlier. He ended up buying both, accepting that grader values were not going to crater the way some predicted.

Motor Grader Size Classes and What They Cost

Motor graders divide into three size classes based on horsepower and blade width. Each class serves different applications, and the used pricing reflects that differentiation sharply. Understanding which class fits your work prevents overpaying for capacity you do not need — or undersizing and struggling with production rates.

• Small (125-155 HP, 12 ft blade): Municipal road maintenance, gravel road grading, driveway construction, small commercial site work. Used prices: $12,000-$90,000.
• Medium (155-225 HP, 12-14 ft blade): Highway maintenance, subdivision grading, airport runway work, base course shaping. This is the workhorse class that accounts for the majority of sales. Used prices: $18,000-$220,000.
• Large (225-310+ HP, 14-24 ft blade): Heavy highway construction, mining haul road maintenance, large earthmoving projects, mass grading. Used prices: $35,000-$450,000+.

Motor Grader Brands Compared: Cat vs Deere vs Komatsu vs Volvo

Four brands account for over 90% of the North American used motor grader market. Caterpillar leads by a wide margin, but each brand has specific strengths that matter depending on your budget, dealer proximity, and intended use.

Cat's market dominance in graders is stronger than in any other heavy equipment category. The 140 series alone outsells entire competing brand lineups. That installed base translates to the deepest parts availability, the most operator familiarity, and the most predictable resale market. For fleet buyers who need to trade machines regularly, that liquidity matters. For owner-operators who plan to run a machine for 15+ years, the 10-20% savings on a Komatsu or Volvo unit can make more financial sense.

Used Small Motor Grader Prices (125-155 HP)

Small motor graders handle municipal road maintenance, gravel road grading, and smaller commercial site work. These 125-155 HP machines run 12-foot blades and weigh 28,000-32,000 pounds. Used small motor grader prices range from $12,000 for an older Cat 12H with 15,000+ hours to $90,000 for a low-hour Deere 670GP.

The Cat 120 series is the benchmark in this class. A county highway department looking for a reliable gravel road machine can pick up a mid-hour Cat 120K for $30,000-$50,000 — a fraction of the $280,000+ price tag on a new Cat 120 GC. Read our depreciation guide for details on how graders lose value over time.

Small Motor Grader Pricing Table (125-155 HP)

Komatsu and Volvo small graders typically trade 10-15% below comparable Cat models at equivalent hours. The tradeoff is thinner parts availability and fewer operators with brand-specific experience. For an owner-operator who does their own maintenance, those savings add up. For a fleet running multiple machines across job sites, sticking with one brand simplifies parts inventory and mechanic training.

Used Medium Motor Grader Prices (155-225 HP)

The medium class is where most used motor grader transactions happen. These 155-225 HP machines run 12-14 foot blades, weigh 38,000-46,000 pounds, and handle the bulk of highway maintenance, subdivision grading, and commercial site preparation work. Used medium motor grader prices range from $18,000 for a high-hour Cat 140H to over $220,000 for a low-hour Deere 772GP.

The Cat 140 series is the single most traded motor grader in North America. Three generations are active on the used market: the 140H (production ended 2007, still widely available), the 140K/140K2 (2011-2018), and the current 140M/140M3 (2014-present). Each generation jump adds electronic controls, emissions compliance, and operator comfort — along with $15,000-$30,000 in used price premium at equivalent hours.

Medium Motor Grader Pricing Table (155-225 HP)

The Cat 140H remains the most popular entry-level medium grader for budget-conscious buyers. These machines were built in enormous numbers from 1995 through 2007, so parts are abundant and most shops know them inside out. A 140H with 8,000-10,000 hours and a straight frame runs $35,000-$55,000 — the most grading capability per dollar on the used market today. Just factor in that Tier 1 engines mean higher fuel consumption than current models and no DEF system to maintain.

Deere's 772G and 772GP (all-wheel-drive) compete directly with the Cat 140M. The GP models command a 10-15% premium over rear-wheel-drive versions due to their traction advantage in soft ground conditions. For contractors who work in clay soils or wet climates, that all-wheel-drive premium pays for itself in reduced stuck-machine downtime. Check our auction guide for strategies on buying medium graders at Ritchie Bros and other auction houses.

Used Large Motor Grader Prices (225-310+ HP)

Large motor graders serve heavy highway construction, mining operations, and major earthmoving projects. These 225-310+ HP machines run 14-24 foot blades, weigh 45,000-72,000+ pounds, and deliver the blade downpressure and ground speed needed for production grading on long stretches of highway or mining haul roads. Used large motor grader prices range from $35,000 for an older Volvo G970 with heavy hours to over $450,000 for a recent-model Cat 16M3.

The Cat 14M and 16M series dominate the large grader segment. These are fleet machines owned by large contractors and mining companies — which means they tend to come to market with complete service records and predictable maintenance histories. That fleet provenance makes buying a used large Cat grader somewhat less risky than buying owner-operator machines that may have seen deferred maintenance.

Large Motor Grader Pricing Table (225-310+ HP)

Large graders represent a significant capital commitment even on the used market. If you are evaluating whether to buy or rent, our renting vs buying guide walks through the breakeven analysis. Large graders rent for $350-$600 per day or $6,000-$12,000 per month — at 800+ annual hours of use, ownership math favors buying a used unit.

Motor Grader Depreciation and Resale Value

Motor graders depreciate more slowly than most heavy equipment categories. Per Equipment Watch residual value data, a Cat 140M retains approximately 50% of its MSRP after 10 years and 8,000 hours. That compares favorably to excavators (40-45% retention) and wheel loaders (42-48% retention) at equivalent age and utilization. The reason is straightforward: motor graders have fewer high-wear components than digging machines, and well-maintained units can run 15,000-20,000 hours before requiring major overhauls.

Brand matters more for grader resale than for most equipment types. Cat leads at approximately 50% retention after 10 years, followed by Deere at 46%. Komatsu graders retain roughly 39% over the same period — a gap that reflects the thinner used Komatsu grader market more than any build quality difference. For a detailed breakdown of how depreciation affects total ownership cost, read the heavy equipment depreciation guide.

The practical takeaway: if you are planning to trade a grader within 5-7 years, the Cat resale premium justifies the higher purchase price. If you intend to run a machine until it needs a major rebuild, buying a lower-priced Komatsu or Volvo reduces your total capital investment while delivering comparable work output during its productive years. Factor the Section 179 tax deduction into your purchase year economics as well — the 2026 deduction limit of $1.22 million covers any used grader purchase.

Motor Grader Operating and Ownership Costs

Total owning and operating costs for a medium motor grader run $42-$48 per hour, per Equipment World O&O cost analysis. That breaks down into ownership costs (depreciation, insurance, taxes) and operating costs (fuel, maintenance, repairs, tires). Fuel is the single largest variable cost at $9-$14 per hour, driven by the 3.1-5.0 gallons per hour consumption range for medium graders.

For a broader view of heavy equipment maintenance costs across all machine types, see our dedicated guide. Motor graders fall in the middle of the maintenance cost spectrum — cheaper than excavators and dozers (which take more hydraulic and undercarriage abuse) but more expensive than wheel loaders operating on improved surfaces.

Key maintenance milestones to budget for on a used motor grader:

• Circle and pinion rebuild (8,000-12,000 hrs): $3,000-$8,000. The circle is the heart of the grading system. Worn teeth and excessive play reduce grading precision and must be addressed.
• Transmission overhaul (10,000-15,000 hrs): $12,000-$25,000. The single largest repair expense on a motor grader. Powershift transmissions in Cat and Deere models require this at roughly 10,000-12,000 hour intervals.
• Cutting edges and end bits (every 200-800 hrs): $300-$1,200 per set. Frequency depends entirely on the material being cut — rocky ground eats edges 3-4x faster than clay or sand.
• Tire replacement (every 3,000-5,000 hrs): $1,500-$3,500 per tire. Motor grader tires are specialized and expensive. Budget for 6 tires on a tandem-drive machine.
• Hydraulic pump and valve overhaul (10,000-14,000 hrs): $4,000-$10,000. Graders rely on precise hydraulic control for blade positioning. When pumps lose pressure or valves start leaking internally, grading quality suffers before outright failure occurs.

What to Inspect on a Used Motor Grader

Motor graders have specific failure points that differ from other heavy equipment. The grading-specific components — circle, moldboard, drawbar — do not exist on excavators or dozers, so generic inspection checklists miss them. Based on inspection guidance from Cat Used and Ritchie Bros, here is the essential motor grader inspection checklist:

1. Inspect the circle assembly. Put the circle through its full range of motion. Check for vertical play, uneven gear tooth wear, and shimming. An improperly maintained circle makes fine grading impossible and costs $3,000-$8,000 to rebuild.
2. Check the articulation joint. Look for cracks, leaks, and excessive play at the center pivot point. Articulation joint repairs are among the most expensive on a grader — budget $5,000-$15,000 if the joint shows significant wear.
3. Examine the frame for cracks and fishplates. Inspect both sides of the frame, especially near the drawbar mounting area. Fishplates — flat metal reinforcements welded over cracks — indicate prior structural failure. Walk away from any machine with frame cracks near the articulation point.
4. Assess cutting edge and moldboard condition. A cupped cutting edge (worn hollow in the center) needs immediate replacement ($300-$1,200). Check the moldboard surface for deep gouges or warping that would affect grade quality.
5. Test all hydraulic functions under load. Cycle every blade function: raise, lower, shift left, shift right, tilt, rotate. Listen for pump whine, watch for jerky movements, and check every cylinder rod for scoring or pitting.
6. Verify the hour meter reading. Cross-reference the meter reading against service records, tire wear, and seat condition. A machine showing 5,000 hours with completely worn operator controls and bald tires has likely been clocked.

Budget $500-$1,000 for a professional pre-purchase inspection. On a $60,000-$150,000 purchase, that is insurance against hidden problems. Be wary of common used equipment scams including hour meter tampering, undisclosed frame repairs, and phantom maintenance records.

Where to Buy a Used Motor Grader

The used motor grader market is concentrated among a smaller number of channels compared to compact equipment. Graders are specialized machines — you will not find many on Facebook Marketplace. Here are the primary buying channels:

• Auctions (Ritchie Bros, IronPlanet, GovPlanet). Auctions move the most used grader volume. Ritchie Bros alone handles hundreds of grader transactions annually. GovPlanet specializes in government surplus, including former county and state DOT graders — often the best-maintained machines on the market.
• Dealer used equipment programs (Cat Used, Deere MarketPlace). Manufacturer certified used programs offer warranty protection and multi-point inspections. The 15-25% price premium over auction prices buys documented condition reports and sometimes limited powertrain warranties.
• Machinery Trader and Equipment Trader. The largest online listing aggregators. Useful for price research across geographic markets and for connecting with dealers carrying specific models.
• Government surplus sales. County, state, and federal agencies sell retired graders through GovPlanet, Purple Wave, and local auction houses. These units typically have documented maintenance histories and were operated by trained operators on predictable schedules.
• Fleet liquidations and contractor closeouts. When large contractors downsize or exit markets, they de-fleet dozens of machines at once. These block sales offer the best prices per unit but require buying multiple machines or competing against fleet buyers.

For guidance on shipping costs, expect $3,000-$8,000 to transport a motor grader within the continental US. Medium and large graders require oversize load permits in most states due to blade width, which adds $500-$1,500 to transport costs.

Financing a Used Motor Grader

Used motor grader purchases in the $50,000-$250,000 range are almost always financed. Our equipment financing guide covers the full landscape, but here are the key points for grader buyers:

1. Manufacturer financing (Cat Financial, Deere Financial). Available through authorized dealers on certified used inventory. Rates typically run 5.9-8.5% for well-qualified borrowers with terms of 36-72 months. Cat Financial is the most active lender in the grader segment.
2. Equipment-specific lenders (LEAF, Balboa Capital, Crest Capital). These lenders finance used equipment from any source, including auction purchases. Rates are slightly higher (7-12%) but approval is more flexible on older machines with higher hours.
3. SBA loans. The SBA 7(a) program covers used equipment purchases. Rates are competitive but the application process takes 30-60 days — not ideal for auction buys that require payment within 5-10 business days.
4. Section 179 deduction. The 2026 limit of $1.22 million covers any used grader purchase. Deducting the full purchase price in year one can offset 25-37% of the cost at typical contractor tax rates, effectively reducing a $100,000 grader to $63,000-$75,000 net after tax savings.

Frequently Asked Questions About Used Motor Grader Prices