Construction equipment cost guide
Quick answer
Construction equipment costs vary widely: skid steers run roughly $40K–$80K new, mini-excavators $30K–$50K, full-size excavators $100K–$250K+, dump trucks $40K–$120K used, and cranes from several hundred thousand into the millions. Used machines cost far less.
Financing spreads these costs over the machine's working life, and Section 179 can let you deduct the full price the year you buy.
Before you finance a machine, it helps to know what it should cost. Here's a realistic range by type, plus how financing changes the picture.
These are general new-equipment ranges; used machines come in well below, which is where most growing contractors buy.
Key takeaways
- → Prices range from ~$30K for a mini-excavator to seven figures for a crane.
- → Used machines cost a fraction of new and finance on similar terms.
- → Financing preserves cash; the equipment secures the loan.
- → Section 179 can deduct the full price even when financed.
Typical equipment price ranges (new)
| Machine | Typical new price |
|---|---|
| Skid steer | $40,000–$80,000 |
| Mini-excavator | $30,000–$50,000 |
| Full-size excavator | $100,000–$250,000+ |
| Dump truck | $100,000+ new ($40K–$120K used) |
| Crane | $300,000 to several million |
Dig into specifics on the excavator, skid steer, dump truck, and crane financing guides.
New vs used: the cost trade-off
Used equipment is almost always the better value. A low-hour used machine costs a fraction of new and finances on close to the same terms, while you skip the brutal first-year depreciation — more in our used equipment guide.
What you'll actually pay with financing
The sticker price isn't your monthly cost. With financing, you put a fraction down and spread the rest over two to seven years. Estimate the payment with our loan calculator.
Then factor in taxes. The Section 179 deduction can write off the full purchase price the year you place the machine in service, lowering the real after-tax cost.
Finance the machine
Once you know the price and the payment, line up financing. eBoost Partners finances new and used equipment through its construction business financing.