Mini Excavator Prices in 2026: What Is a Bobcat, Kubota, or Cat Worth?

Mini excavators are the most traded category of used construction equipment. They show up on every residential job, utility project, and landscaping site. They hold value well. And because buyer demand is broad, you have real options when it comes time to sell or trade.

Here is what the market looks like in 2026, and what the key factors are that push a specific machine above or below the ranges below.

What Drives Mini Excavator Value

In order of impact:

1. Hours: The single biggest factor. Average usage is 500-700 hours per year for a commercial machine. Under 2,000 hours on a 4-year-old machine is low. Over 5,000 hours on the same machine is high and buyers price the risk accordingly.
2. Brand: Bobcat, Kubota, and Cat carry resale premiums of 10-20 percent over lesser-known brands. John Deere and Komatsu sit close behind. The dealer network and parts availability behind a brand shows up in what buyers pay at resale.
3. Zero-tail-swing (ZTS): A ZTS machine (where the counterweight stays within the track width) adds $2,000-$5,000 over a conventional tail-swing model. Residential contractors and landscapers need to work in tight spaces, and they pay for that capability.
4. Cab vs. canopy: An enclosed cab with HVAC adds $4,000-$8,000 to resale value. In the Southeast market especially, a cab machine moves faster and brings more money.
5. Condition of hydraulic thumb: A factory or aftermarket hydraulic thumb in good working order adds $2,000-$4,000. It is the most common attachment on residential minis and most buyers want it.
6. Track condition: Rubber track replacement runs $1,500-$3,500 for mini excavators. Worn tracks show up in offers. If your tracks have less than 30 percent remaining, buyers will call it out and subtract the replacement cost.

2026 Mini Excavator Prices by Model

The ranges below are for machines in good condition with average hours for their age. See the footnotes for what adjusts the number up or down.

Bobcat E-Series

Model	Operating Weight	2-3 Years Old	5 Years Old	8+ Years Old
Bobcat E20	4,400 lbs	$24,000-$30,000	$18,000-$23,000	$12,000-$16,000
Bobcat E35	7,700 lbs	$32,000-$40,000	$24,000-$30,000	$16,000-$22,000
Bobcat E50	11,600 lbs	$42,000-$52,000	$32,000-$40,000	$21,000-$28,000
Bobcat E55	12,100 lbs	$48,000-$58,000	$36,000-$44,000	$24,000-$31,000

Kubota U-Series and KX-Series

Model	Operating Weight	2-3 Years Old	5 Years Old	8+ Years Old
Kubota KX040-4	8,800 lbs	$38,000-$46,000	$28,000-$35,000	$18,000-$24,000
Kubota U55-4	12,100 lbs	$44,000-$54,000	$34,000-$42,000	$22,000-$29,000

Caterpillar 300-Series

Model	Operating Weight	2-3 Years Old	5 Years Old	8+ Years Old
Cat 305 CR	11,200 lbs	$36,000-$44,000	$27,000-$34,000	$17,000-$23,000
Cat 308 CR	17,700 lbs	$58,000-$72,000	$44,000-$56,000	$28,000-$38,000

John Deere G-Series

Model	Operating Weight	2-3 Years Old	5 Years Old	8+ Years Old
John Deere 17G	3,750 lbs	$20,000-$26,000	$15,000-$20,000	$10,000-$14,000
John Deere 35G	7,900 lbs	$34,000-$42,000	$26,000-$32,000	$17,000-$22,000
John Deere 50G	11,600 lbs	$46,000-$56,000	$35,000-$43,000	$23,000-$30,000

All ranges assume good condition, average hours for age, canopy (not cab), no hydraulic thumb. Add $2,000-$5,000 for ZTS configuration. Add $4,000-$8,000 for enclosed cab with HVAC. Add $2,000-$4,000 for hydraulic thumb in good condition.

Bobcat vs. Kubota: Which Holds Value Better?

In the 3-6 ton class, Bobcat and Kubota are the two most traded brands. Here is the honest comparison:

• Bobcat has the largest dealer network in the compact equipment segment and the broadest brand recognition. The E35 and E50 are the most commonly traded minis in North America. High demand from the buyer pool supports pricing.
• Kubota carries a strong reliability reputation and a loyal buyer base, especially in the agricultural and light construction markets. Kubota KX and U-series machines often sell at or above Bobcat prices in the Southeast.
• Cat carries the standard brand premium you see across all Cat equipment: typically 10-15 percent above Bobcat and Kubota for the same size class. Cat buyers pay for parts availability and dealer coverage.
• John Deere sits slightly below Cat in resale but above most competitors. Strong in markets where Deere dealer density is high.

At the end of the day, any of the four brands will hold value well compared to lesser-known makes. The real money is made or lost on condition and hours, not brand.

The Zero-Tail-Swing Premium

If you are selling a conventional tail-swing machine in a market where contractors do a lot of residential and fence-line work, the ZTS premium is real. Buyers who need it will pay $3,000-$5,000 more for a machine that can swing freely next to a wall or curb without damaging property.

If your machine is conventional tail-swing and you have a choice of buyers, target contractors doing open-site work (ponds, drainage, land clearing) where ZTS does not matter. They will not discount you for it.

Trade-In vs. Private Sale for Minis

Mini excavators are one of the best equipment types to sell privately. The buyer pool is enormous: landscapers, rental companies, utility contractors, hobby farmers, and weekend warriors. You are not looking for a specialty buyer the way you are with a 30-ton excavator or a motor grader.

• Dealer trade-in: 60-72 percent of fair market value. Fast and simple. On a $40,000 Kubota KX040, that is $11,000-$16,000 less than you could get on the private market.
• Private sale: 85-100 percent of fair market value. Mini excavators typically sell within 1-3 weeks at the right price on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and MachineryTrader. The audience is there.
• Auction: 75-88 percent of fair market value. Decent for minis at regional auctions where contractor attendance is high. The big online auction platforms have strong mini excavator buyer pools.

For most sellers, private sale is worth the extra effort on minis. The hold period is short, the buyer pool is deep, and you typically recover $5,000-$12,000 more than a dealer trade-in.

Get Your Mini Excavator Valued in 60 Seconds

The ranges above are a starting point. Your specific machine's value depends on actual hours, track condition, attachments, and your regional market. For a number that factors all of it in, run a free valuation on EquipBook. It covers all major mini excavator brands and models and gives you trade-in, private party, dealer retail, and cash offer values.

If you need a condition report to support a sale, a lending package, or a trade-in negotiation, the EquipBook Inspect ($99, same-day from your phone photos) documents condition across every major system and gives you a written grade you can show to any buyer or lender.