What Determines the Value of Heavy Machinery?

Two excavators of the same model and year can be worth very different amounts. This guide explains the main factors that determine the value of used heavy machinery, so that sellers can prepare and understand what a buyer is looking for.

Manufacturer, model and year

The brand and model set the starting point. Well-known manufacturers with strong parts and service support are easier to resell. Popular sizes, such as 20-tonne excavators, usually have more buyers than unusual sizes. The model year matters because it affects technology, emissions equipment and parts availability.

Operating hours

The hour meter shows how long the engine has worked. Lower hours generally mean more remaining life, but hours are only part of the story. How the hours were accumulated matters: a machine that idled a lot is different from one that worked at full load in rock. A photograph of the hour meter with the machine running is the best evidence.

Wear on key components

• Tracked machines: undercarriage (track chains, rollers, idlers, sprockets)
• Wheeled machines: tyre condition and remaining life
• Excavators and loaders: pins, bushings and bucket wear
• All machines: hydraulic cylinders, hoses, pumps and leaks
• Engine: smoke, noise, power, oil and coolant condition

On many machines the undercarriage or tyres are the biggest single cost of the next few years, so their condition can change the price more than a few hundred hours either way.

Maintenance records

A documented service history reduces the buyer's risk. Receipts for oil changes, filters, hydraulic oil and major repairs show that the machine was looked after. For cranes and lifting equipment, certificates of examination and load tests are particularly important.

Attachments and specification

Buckets of different widths, hydraulic breakers, quick couplers, thumbs, tilt rotators, rippers and special tyres add value when they are included and in good condition. Cab features such as air conditioning, cameras and monitoring systems also matter.

Location, transport and market demand

A machine that is easy to access and transport is easier to buy. Market demand changes with construction activity, and some machine types are in demand more than others at different times. These factors move prices in ways that sellers cannot control, which is why valuations are always tied to a particular moment.

How to prepare your machine for sale

• Take photos: full machine, front, rear, cabin, operating components, hour meter
• Collect service records and certificates
• Wash the machine so that leaks and cracks are visible
• List the attachments included
• State honestly any known faults

To submit your machine, use the machinery form, or look at our pages on selling an excavator, a crane or a wheel loader.