How Much Does a Mini Excavator Cost?
If you’re a contractor, landscaper, farmer, or DIY enthusiast tackling a major project, a mini excavator can be a game-changer. But before investing, the first question that comes to mind is: How much does a mini excavator cost? The answer varies dramatically based on brand, origin, size, and features.
This comprehensive guide will break down the market prices and introduce you to the exceptional value offered by LongTrust Machinery, a leading Chinese manufacturer. We’ll also explore the key specifications you need to know to make an informed decision.

What is a Mini Excavator?
A mini excavator, also known as a compact excavator, is a smaller, lighter version of a standard excavator, typically weighing between 0.8 and 3 tons. Their compact size makes them incredibly versatile for jobs where larger machinery can’t fit, such as residential backyards, indoor demolition, or tight urban spaces.
Key size dimensions include:
- Overall Length: 2.5 – 4 meters (can increase by 0.3-0.5m with a bulldozer blade attached).
- Overall Width: 0.8 – 1.5 meters (a narrow design is crucial for navigating through gates and confined spaces).
- Overall Height: 2.2 – 2.8 meters (essential to consider for transport under tunnels or low-hanging obstacles).
- Digging Depth: 1.8 – 4 meters (dependent on arm length, with extended arm models reaching up to 5 meters).
Understanding these dimensions is vital to ensure the machine can not only do the job but also access your worksite.
How Much Does a Mini Excavator Cost?
The price of a mini excavator is influenced heavily by its brand and country of manufacture.
- International Brands: Well-known names like Bobcat, Kubota, Yanmar, and Caterpillar are synonymous with quality but come with a premium price tag. Their entry-level models often start around $10,000 USD and can quickly climb to $30,000 or more for higher-capacity machines. While reliable, this represents a significant investment.
- The Chinese Alternative: In contrast, made in China mini excavator options have revolutionized the market by offering remarkable affordability without sacrificing quality. Chinese manufacturers have mastered the production of robust and reliable machinery at a fraction of the cost. This is why many dealers and rental companies worldwide are now importing mini excavators from China to supply their customers.
At LongTrust Machinery, we are at the forefront of this value revolution. As a direct source manufacturer, we allow you to buy a mini excavator from China at unprecedented prices. Imagine owning your own machine for as little as around $2,000 USD, a price that is often less than a single week’s rental fee for a branded machine.
How We Guarantee Quality at a Lower Price
A low price naturally leads to questions about quality. At LongTrust Machinery, we stand behind our products with concrete assurances:
Comprehensive One-Year Warranty:
We provide a full one-year warranty on our mini excavators. If any quality issue arises within this period, we will ship replacement parts to you for free and cover the associated costs. Your investment is protected.
Lifetime Cost-Price Parts Support:
After the warranty period, our support doesn’t end. We continue to provide any needed replacement parts at cost price, ensuring your long-term operating expenses remain low and your machine stays productive for years to come.
By controlling the entire manufacturing process and selling directly to the end-user, we eliminate middleman markups, passing the savings directly to you without compromising on build quality or reliability.
Mini Excavator: Rental vs. Purchase
The choice between renting and buying depends on your specific needs:
- When to Rent: Renting is a good option if you are unfamiliar with operating a mini excavator, need a machine for a highly specialized, one-off job, or require a specific attachment you wouldn’t use regularly.
- When to Buy: For most homeowners and professionals who have ongoing projects, purchasing is vastly more economical. Our mini excavators are designed for ease of use; most people can learn to perform basic tasks after just a few hours of practice.
Consider the math: The market price for a 1 ton mini excavator is typically between $6,000 – $20,000 USD, with daily rental rates ranging from $200 – $500 USD.
Now, consider the LongTrust Machinery advantage: For just $2,200 USD, you can own a high-quality 1 ton mini excavator in china from a trusted 1.2 ton mini excavator supplier. This means the cost of purchasing our machine is equivalent to just 5-11 days of rental fees. After that, every day you use it is pure savings and profit.
Conclusion: Unbeatable Value from a Trusted China Supplier
So, how much does a mini excavator cost? While branded machines command a high price, savvy buyers are turning to Chinese manufacturers for unmatched value. LongTrust Machinery offers a wide range of reliable China mini excavators for sale, from a nimble 1.5-ton mini excavator to a powerful 2-ton mini excavator in China.
We make owning a versatile and productive machine accessible to everyone. If you need a 1.6-ton mini excavator in China or any other size, we are your reliable partner.
Stop paying exorbitant rental fees and invest in your own equipment. Contact LongTrust Machinery today to get a quote and discover how easy it is to import a high-quality, affordable mini excavator directly from the source!