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Mini excavators pricing

Predictably, mini excavator prices follow overall size pretty closely. The more horsepower and dig depth you need, the more you'll pay. Overall, new compact excavators can range from just under $20,000 to around $90,000 for the biggest machines. Before you lock up your checkbook, though, compare these prices to full-sized excavator prices, which start at $120,000 and can hit half a million.

Here are some typical price ranges for popular sizes of mini excavators.

• 4' to 5' dig depths: $20,000 - $30,000. These mini machines will have around 10 HP and weigh less than a ton. They're best for use in the most restrictive environments.
• 10' to 11' dig depths: $30,000 - $45,000. This popular size range can handle many of the most common jobs in construction, landscaping, and demolition. Commonly rated around 25 HP.
• 12'+ dig depths: $75,000 to $90,000. The oxymoronic big mini excavators push the prices sky high, but have performance to match. 12' dig depths are just shy of the standard 14' for full size excavators, and 40 to 50 hp engines provide the power to take on the largest jobs.

As with skid steer loaders, you'll usually get one standard digging bucket with your excavator. Different sizes or types of buckets can usually be added for under $1000. More complex attachments, such as hydraulic hammers or thumbs, are more like $5000 or $8000. If your excavator doesn't come standard with a quick coupler, expect to pay $4000 to $6000 to add one.

It's worth investigating rental options. You can rent a mini excavator for $120 to $180/day, or about $1000 per month. This is a much better financial option than investing in a machine that you won't use regularly. You can also rent one as an addition to an existing fleet of vehicles, allowing you to speed up a job to meet deadlines.

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.