Cost guide
How Much Does It Cost to Ship an Excavator? (2026 Rates)
Shipping an excavator typically costs $700 to $1,400 for mini units under 350 miles, $3.25 to $8.20 per mile for mid-size and large units depending on weight class and permits. Price hinges on three weight bands (mini, mid-size, large) and whether the height gotcha triggers over-height permits.
As of July 2026. These ranges come from real heavy-haul loads brokered by AIG Enterprises, licensed freight broker MC 931605.
Our rate engine prices from live market signals on the corridor, adjusted for equipment and dimensions. Every price you see below matches what the Rate Desk will offer today, and every quote is confirmed by a dispatcher on the record.
The three weight classes
- Mini (under 10,000 lbs): rides legal on a flatbed or a hotshot. No permits. Cheapest and fastest to book. Examples: Cat 303, Kubota KX040, Bobcat E35.
- Mid-size (10 to 25 tons): needs a step-deck. Usually rides legal on width and weight but often over 13 feet 6 inches tall loaded, which means over-height permits. Examples: Cat 320, Deere 210, Kobelco SK210.
- Large (25 tons and up): needs an RGN. Almost always over-height and often over-weight, so multi-state permits and sometimes escorts are part of the quote. Examples: Cat 336, Cat 349, Deere 470.
The height gotcha
Excavators quote low or high based mostly on one number: overall height loaded. Most 20-ton and heavier excavators, with the boom folded and cab in transport position, still sit above 13 feet 6 inches on a step-deck. That is the federal ceiling, which means the load is over-height in every state and needs a permit in each one it crosses.
Where possible we route those units on an RGN, because the deck sits lower and drops the loaded height. That is not a way to dodge permits, it just cuts how many states classify the load as over-height. The Rate Desk runs both configurations when your model is borderline and shows you the cheaper of the two.
AIG offer ranges by class and distance
Same curve the Rate Desk quotes from. These are our post-margin offer to the shipper.
| Class | Under 350 mi | 350 to 800 mi | 800 to 1,500 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini (flatbed) | $700 to $1,400 | $3.25 to $4.50 / mi | $2.85 to $4.05 / mi |
| Mid-size (step-deck, over-height) | $1,150 to $2,100 | $4.50 to $6.10 / mi | $3.95 to $5.35 / mi |
| Large (RGN, permitted) | $1,700 to $3,100 | $6.10 to $8.20 / mi | $5.30 to $7.20 / mi |
Ranges include our standard permit adders on classes that require them. Escorts on units past 12 feet wide are quoted on top.
Bought it at auction?
Auction pickups are their own animal. The Rate Desk handles them cleanly: paste the lot number and the yard name (Ritchie Bros, IronPlanet, Yoder & Frey), and it pulls the equipment details straight from the lot page. That gives you a real price on a real machine, not a guess based on a model name.
The yard cutoff matters too. Most auction yards charge storage after seven days. We book the truck to your yard cutoff and pay the deposit-free way (nothing due until load), so you can price the move before you win the bid.
Frequently asked
How much does it cost to ship a mini excavator?
Does a 20-ton excavator need permits?
Can I ship an excavator I just bought at auction?
Do I need to drain fluids before shipping?
How long does excavator shipping take?
Ready to price a real machine? Start a quote and the desk will run the numbers on your model in seconds.