Look Up Your Equipment's Value
Select your equipment type to see model-level price estimates and spec comparisons. Ranges are HeavyDutyYard estimates, not market data.
Most-Searched Models
Jump straight to the specific machines buyers look up most — full specs, current market value, and a cash-offer request on each.
- Volvo EC220 excavator specs & price$35K–$135K
- Volvo ECR145 (145) excavator for sale$25K–$165K
- Caterpillar 320 (20-ton) excavator for sale$85K–$185K
- John Deere 200G excavator for sale
- Komatsu PC200 excavator for sale$17K–$77K
- Caterpillar 236D skid steer loader for sale$12K–$30K
- Caterpillar 272D skid steer loader for sale$12K–$36K
- Caterpillar 150 motor grader (183 HP) for sale$60K–$135K
- John Deere 672GP motor grader (195 HP) for sale$58K–$130K
How Equipment Value Is Determined
There are six factors that determine what a used machine will actually trade for. Unlike cars, where mileage and year cover most of it, heavy equipment valuation requires understanding how these factors interact — a low-hour machine from a lesser brand often trades below a higher-hour CAT or Deere.
Operating Hours — The Primary Driver
Hours are the most important single variable in equipment valuation — more than age, more than appearance. The engine, hydraulics, and undercarriage all wear in proportion to use, and buyers price that risk directly. Here's how the depreciation curve typically plays out for most classes of construction equipment:
Percentages are HeavyDutyYard estimates of value kept versus a low-hour machine, not market data. Machines at 8,000+ hours often face imminent major repairs (engine overhaul, undercarriage replacement), which buyers price in aggressively. A CAT 320 shows it: our estimated range at 2,000–5,000 hours sits well above the range for the same machine at 8,000+ hours.
Year & Generation — Emissions Tier Matters
Tier 4 Final compliance (generally 2014+) carries a meaningful premium because many job sites — ports, airports, government contracts, and California/northeastern states — restrict or ban pre-Tier 4 equipment. A 2016 machine in the same hour bracket as a 2010 will fetch more, even with identical condition, simply because it can work in more places. Tier 3 machines (roughly 2008–2014) are not worthless — but their addressable buyer pool is narrower.
Brand — CAT, Deere, Komatsu Lead Resale
Caterpillar, John Deere, and Komatsu consistently command the strongest used values. This isn't solely about build quality — it's about ecosystem. Parts are available at dealers nationwide. Technicians know the machines. Fleet managers at large contractors prefer them because they fit into existing service contracts. That deep demand pool keeps prices elevated even at high hours.
Off-brand or discontinued model lines usually trade below CAT/Deere comparables at the same hours and condition. If you're evaluating a purchase and resale value matters, brand selection at acquisition time has a real long-run cost.
Condition — Mechanical Beats Cosmetic
Cosmetic wear — faded paint, dings, worn seat cushions — is priced in and rarely kills a deal. Mechanical issues have a direct dollar impact: bad hydraulics, blown turbo, cracked undercarriage, or a cooling system problem will cost significantly more in offer reduction than the repair would. Documented service records take guesswork out of the price. If you have dealer maintenance logs, pull them before submitting your machine — they translate directly to a higher offer.
Configuration & Attachments — Bundle for Best Value
Thumbs, couplers, multiple buckets, and auxiliary hydraulic packages add real value when sold with the machine, more on larger machines. A hydraulic thumb on an excavator is one of the most asked-for options, and a coupler with several buckets widens the buyer pool further. Attachments sold separately usually bring less than they add when bundled with a machine in good condition.
Market Demand & Seasonality
Construction equipment is seasonal. Demand peaks February through May as contractors gear up for the build season, which is when buyer activity is strongest. Selling in November or December means a thinner buyer pool and more price-sensitive competition. Timing isn't always controllable, but it's worth knowing the spread. If you can hold a machine until Q1, it often pays.
Equipment Value by Type
Price ranges below are HeavyDutyYard estimates across all tracked models in each category. Ranges represent the full spread from entry-level to premium configurations — not a single machine's likely value. Click any type for model-level pricing.
| Type | Models | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Excavators | 93 | $11K – $850K |
| Skid Steers | 41 | $7K – $65K |
| Track Loaders | 23 | $11K – $78K |
| Backhoes | 21 | $11K – $130K |
| Bulldozers | 28 | $24K – $2.0M |
| Wheel Loaders | 15 | $35K – $700K |
| Forklifts | 23 | $4K – $65K |
| Dump Trucks | 6 | $256K – $950K |
| Cranes | 25 | $36K – $2.1M |
| Motor Graders | 15 | $45K – $400K |
| Telehandlers | 22 | $12K – $195K |
| Compactors | 31 | $15K – $190K |
| Flatbed Trailers | 25 | $6K – $48K |
| Dump Trailers | 26 | $5K – $60K |
| Lowboy Trailers | 23 | $3K – $140K |
| Gooseneck Trailers | 19 | $4K – $35K |
| Reefer Trailers | 13 | $4K – $60K |
| Enclosed Trailers | 14 | $1K – $18K |
Ranges. Individual machine value depends on hours, condition, brand, and configuration.
Why There's No “Blue Book” for Heavy Equipment
When contractors search for a “heavy equipment blue book value,” they're looking for the same thing car buyers get from Kelley Blue Book or NADA — a trusted, publicly available reference that tells you what a machine is worth. That guide does not exist for construction equipment.
The reasons are structural. The car market is a mass consumer market with standardized configurations and massive transaction volume. Heavy equipment has:
- Extreme configuration variability — two CAT 320s with the same hours can differ by $30,000+ depending on attachments, cab, undercarriage, and service history
- Thin transaction volume — even the most common models sell a fraction of what a Toyota Camry sells, making statistical averages less reliable
- Geographic price variation — equipment commands meaningfully different prices in California, Texas, the Midwest, and export markets
- Condition sensitivity — a machine used in quarrying vs. finish grading work at the same hours will have very different actual remaining life
The Tools That Exist
Post-sale auction data. Free but requires registration. Useful for trend data — doesn't account for machine-specific condition.
Dealer-facing analytics platform. Strong data on auction trends and residual values. Not publicly available.
Subscription-based appraisal data used by banks, insurers, and fleet managers. Industry standard for financing and insurance.
Dealer and lender facing. Provides wholesale and retail values used in financing underwriting. Not publicly accessible.
HeavyDutyYard as a free alternative:The price ranges on this site are checked against public auction results and dealer listings. The model pages show used price ranges by model. No registration, no subscription, no “request a demo.” Browse excavators, skid steers, bulldozers, wheel loaders, and more — or submit your machine for a firm cash offer.
Get a Real Number for Your Machine
Pricing data gives you context. A real offer gives you a number you can act on.
Submit your equipment details — make, model, year, hours, condition, any known issues — and we'll reply within one business day: a cash offer on some machines, otherwise a free moderated marketplace listing. There's no obligation either way.
Submit Details
Make, model, year, hours, condition. Takes 2 minutes. Photos optional.
Get a Reply
Within one business day: a cash offer on some machines, otherwise a free listing.
Terms in Writing
If we buy, price, payment and pickup are agreed in writing, and we coordinate transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about heavy equipment valuation, depreciation, and pricing tools.
Is there a blue book for heavy equipment?
No. Unlike cars (which have Kelley Blue Book and NADA Guides), there is no single standardized valuation guide for heavy equipment. The closest equivalents are Ritchie Bros Price Results (post-auction sale data, requires registration), Rouse Analytics (dealer-only subscription), Equipment Watch (subscription, $300–$500/mo), and Iron Solutions (dealer-facing). HeavyDutyYard provides free pricing data compiled from public auction results and dealer listings — no registration required.
How do I find out what my equipment is worth?
Start with the equipment type pages on HeavyDutyYard — each model page shows a HeavyDutyYard estimate price range by hours and condition. For a firm number, submit your machine's details (make, model, year, hours, condition) and we'll reply within one business day, with a cash offer if it's a machine we buy.
What is the best way to value used heavy equipment?
The most accurate method is comparable sales — what did the same or similar machines sell for at auction recently? Ritchie Bros and IronPlanet publish post-sale results, but access requires registration. Dealer asking prices usually run above where machines actually trade. A free starting point is the estimated price range on each HeavyDutyYard model page and, for a firm number, request a direct offer from a buyer.
How much does heavy equipment depreciate per year?
Heavy equipment depreciates fastest in the first 3–5 years, then levels off. As a HeavyDutyYard rule of thumb (not market data), most machines lose 15–25% of their value a year in the first three years, slowing to 8–12% a year by years 5–7. By year 10+, value is driven more by hours and condition than age. CAT, Deere, and Komatsu depreciate slower than off-brand machines because resale demand stays deeper at higher hours.
What brand of equipment holds its value best?
Caterpillar, John Deere, and Komatsu consistently hold the strongest resale values. The reason isn't build quality alone — it's parts availability, dealer network density, and fleet manager preference. Contractors buying used machines know they can source CAT parts at any dealer nationally. Off-brand or discontinued models trade at a 20–35% discount to comparable CAT/Deere machines, even at similar hours and condition.
Do hours or age matter more for equipment value?
Hours matter more than age in most cases. A 2010 machine with 2,500 hours will often sell for more than a 2015 machine with 9,000 hours. Hours reflect actual wear on the engine, hydraulics, and undercarriage — age alone doesn't. The exception is emissions compliance: machines pre-2008 (Tier 3 and earlier) face job-site restrictions at ports, government projects, and urban work zones, which can override the hour-based premium.
How do attachments affect equipment value?
Attachments add real value — typically $2,000–$15,000 depending on type and machine size. A hydraulic thumb on an excavator adds $3,000–$8,000 to the machine's value. A coupler system with multiple buckets can add $5,000–$12,000. Attachments that are model-specific are worth more because buyers know they fit. Generic attachments sold separately often underperform what they'd add bundled with the machine.
Where can I get a free equipment valuation?
HeavyDutyYard provides free pricing data by equipment type and model — no login required. For a specific machine, send us the details and we'll reply within one business day, with a cash offer if it's a machine we buy. Ritchie Bros also publishes auction results for free on their site (post-sale data only). Equipment Watch and Iron Solutions offer subscription-based valuations used by dealers and banks.
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How These Figures Are Built
Price ranges, hour-band percentages and depreciation rates on this page are HeavyDutyYard estimates built from public auction results and dealer listings. They are not market data or an appraisal; check the model page for the range we publish and the hours checker for sourced machine-life benchmarks. For a model-by-model price list rather than how value is worked out, see the used heavy equipment pricing guide.