Backhoe loaders pricing

For all the advantages backhoe loaders offer, you can expect to pay quite a bit. New backhoe loaders carry hefty price tags, but they offer a return on investment by reducing the time it takes to get your jobs done.

On the small end, compact backhoes that can dig about 6' to 8' deep start at around $12,000 for a no-frills model, and jump to $20,000 to $30,000 for 9' to 10' dig depths. The most common models on construction jobsites are usually the 14' dig depth loaders. These familiar models go for $50,000 to $70,000. For 15' digging, you'll see prices from $75,000 to $90,000, and even larger machines are available for $100,000 or more.

Those price ranges are pretty wide to account for both differences in pricing for different brands, and for the various upgrades and options boasted by some models. If you want a model with 4 wheel drive, improved suspension, and a sideshifting mast, you'll find your costs adding up.

And as with mini excavators and skid steer loaders, there is also the matter of attachments. You'll pay $500 to $1000 or more for larger buckets, clamshell buckets, or 4 in 1 buckets. More complex attachments, such as hydraulic hammers or thumbs, are more like $5000 or $8000. If your loader doesn't come standard with a quick coupler, expect to pay $4000 to $6000 to add one.

Rental houses can usually provide a backhoe loader for temporary use. For between $200 and $500 per day or $500 to $1500 per month, you can rent a backhoe loader for your short-term needs.

You get what you pay for
When buying heavy equipment, it's important to think about the long-term results you're going to get from it. You've got to get a machine you can depend on day in and day out for years to come. Part of that reliability comes from the manufacturer: well-known brand names are often more expensive, but they also come with higher overall quality.

Try to resist the urge to save as much as you can. "Saving" a few hundred dollars on your purchase isn't going to seem so good if the machine wears out in just a couple of years, or if it breaks down, leaving you with workers who can't do their jobs and a schedule that's slipping behind.

Another important component is the maintenance plan. Simply put, if you can't afford the maintenance, you can't afford the vehicle. Whether that means paying your own mechanic or buying a service plan from the dealer, make sure you figure that cost into your overall purchase price.