What size excavator do I need? Used excavator prices by size in Canada
Insights · Published October 29, 2026 · By the Machinery One team · How we count
Buying the wrong size excavator is expensive both ways. Too small and the job takes forever. Too big and you pay for iron, fuel and a bigger trailer you don't need. This guide covers the size classes, what each one is for, and what Canadian dealers are asking for used machines in each class right now.
These are dealer asking prices, not sale prices. They come from used excavators listed by Canadian dealers on Machinery One as of October 29, 2026. Every machine we list asks at least $10,000. (How we count.)
The size classes, in plain terms
Excavators are sized by operating weight, in metric tonnes. Caterpillar's own guide to right-sizing an excavator splits them roughly like this (Caterpillar):
| Class | Approximate operating weight | Typical work (per Caterpillar) |
|---|---|---|
| Mini or compact | up to about 6 t | Tight spaces, landscaping, around existing buildings |
| Midi | about 7 to 10 t | More reach and dig depth, still for tighter sites |
| Standard | about 10 to 45 t | The most common size in commercial construction |
| Large | more than 45 t | Heavy construction, demolition, truck loading |
The model number usually tells you the size. It's a rule of thumb, not a spec: always check the operating weight on the machine's spec sheet.
What each size asks, used, in Canada
We estimated each listed excavator's size from its model number and grouped them. 880 of the 953 used excavators on Machinery One on October 29, 2026 had a usable size estimate, and 783 of those show a price.
| Size (estimated) | Listed | With a price | Median asking price | Middle half of prices | Median model year | Median hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 4 t | 96 | 82 | $53,950 | $45,925 to $69,938 | 2023 | 564 |
| 4 to 9.9 t | 164 | 146 | $89,900 | $75,109 to $119,900 | 2022 | 1,367 |
| 10 to 19.9 t | 129 | 107 | $154,900 | $104,950 to $205,950 | 2020 | 2,904 |
| 20 to 29.9 t | 242 | 221 | $154,900 | $97,000 to $241,700 | 2018 | 5,774 |
| 30 to 44.9 t | 176 | 164 | $189,450 | $86,650 to $280,450 | 2019 | 5,987 |
| 45 t and up | 73 | 63 | $169,000 | $109,000 to $390,000 | 2018 | 8,750 |
Source: Machinery One, dealer asking prices in CAD, October 29, 2026. Sizes are estimated from model numbers. Hours medians use only machines that list hours.
Read that table carefully. The medians for 10 to 20 t and 20 to 30 t are the same, and 45 t-plus machines ask *less* at the median than 30 to 45 t ones. That's not because big machines are cheap. It's because the bigger classes on dealer lots are older and have more hours. In the 45 t-plus class the median model year is 2018 and median hours are about 8,750; under 4 t, it's 2023 and 564 hours.
Compare like with like: size and age together
When you hold age roughly steady, the price climbs with size the way you'd expect.
Dealer asking prices in CAD, model year 2020 or newer. Source: Machinery One, October 29, 2026.
| Size (estimated) | 2020 or newer | 2015 to 2019 | 2014 or older |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 4 t | $61,495 (65) | $49,900 (14) | $46,000 (3) |
| 4 to 9.9 t | $109,450 (86) | $79,900 (42) | $59,900 (13) |
| 10 to 19.9 t | $202,900 (51) | $129,900 (35) | $80,000 (21) |
| 20 to 29.9 t | $252,450 (88) | $145,000 (62) | $89,500 (71) |
| 30 to 44.9 t | $292,000 (70) | $189,950 (44) | $77,250 (48) |
| 45 t and up | $504,000 (14) | $197,500 (21) | $101,450 (28) |
Median asking price, with the number of priced machines in brackets. Groups with fewer than about 20 machines are too thin to lean on. A few machines have no model year and are left out of this table.
Two things stand out:
- Age cuts deeper on bigger machines. A 2014-or-older 20 to 30 t excavator asks a median $89,500, within about $20,000 of a 2020-or-newer 4 to 10 t machine at $109,450. If your work truly needs a standard-size machine and your budget is around $100,000, an older big machine and a newer small one cost about the same. The question is which one fits the job.
- Small machines hold their asking price. In the under-4 t class, the gap between a 2020-or-newer machine and a 2015 to 2019 one is about $11,600 at the median. In the 20 to 30 t class it's about $107,000. (Small samples in the older mini groups, so treat this as a pattern, not a rule.)
Who makes what, by size
The brand mix shifts with size. These are counts of listed machines in each class on Machinery One today (October 29, 2026). Our dealer mix leans John Deere, so this is what's listed here, not the whole Canadian market.
- Under 4 t: John Deere 37, Caterpillar 25, Yanmar 13, Kubota 10
- 4 to 9.9 t: John Deere 46, Caterpillar 44, Kubota 23, Yanmar 15
- 10 to 19.9 t: Caterpillar 56, John Deere 31, Hitachi 14, Komatsu 8
- 20 to 29.9 t: John Deere 88, Caterpillar 38, Komatsu 38, Hitachi 36
- 30 to 44.9 t: John Deere 77, Caterpillar 29, Volvo 21, Hitachi 19
- 45 t and up: John Deere 33, Caterpillar 18, Komatsu 10, Hitachi 7
Kubota, Yanmar and Bobcat show up almost only in the two smallest classes, so when you compare brands (as in our earlier excavator price post, which didn't adjust for size), part of the gap is just machine size.
How to pick a size
Caterpillar's guide suggests working through a few questions before you shop. In our words:
1. What's the deepest you dig and the farthest you reach? Match the machine to the job you do most, not the biggest one you do once a year. Rent for the outliers. 2. What do you lift, and how heavy is the material? Lift capacity rises with size and counterweight. 3. How much room is there? Tight urban or residential sites point to minis, midis, or reduced-tail-swing models. 4. What attachments will you run? Hydraulic flow and coupler type need to match your buckets, hammers and augers.
Then use the tables above to set a realistic budget for the class you need.
Search by size
- Used mini excavators
- Used crawler excavators
- Used wheeled excavators
- All used excavators, or by province: B.C., Alberta, Ontario, Quebec
- Today's numbers for every machine type: market snapshot
- Before you buy: used equipment buying checklist and asking price vs selling price
Sources
- Caterpillar, "One Size Doesn't Fit All: Tips for Right Sizing your Excavator": https://www.cat.com/en_US/articles/ci-articles/one-size-doesnt-fit-all-tips-for-right-sizing-your-excavator.html
- Machinery One listing data, October 29, 2026 (methodology)