Key takeaways
- Most used skid steers sell between $15,000 and $60,000, with hours, horsepower class, and brand tier driving the biggest price swings.
- CAT and Deere hold resale value best, while Bobcat and Kubota trade at a discount but turn over faster because more buyers shop them.
- Expect the steepest price drop between the sub-1,500-hour and 1,500–3,000-hour bands, with pricing flattening past 3,000 hours.
- Deduct $1,000–$2,400 for worn tires and $3,000–$8,000 for a worn track undercarriage when judging any listing price.
- Auction hammer prices often beat dealer retail, but add buyer's premium, transport, and no-test-drive risk before you bid.
Most used skid steers sell between $15,000 and $60,000 depending on size class, hours, and brand, with compact 1,500-hour Bobcats and Kubotas at the low end and late-model CAT and Deere track machines pushing higher. This guide gives you current price ranges by size and hours, then a price-fairness checklist you can run against any listing on MachineryTrader, EquipmentTrader, or a dealer lot to know within minutes whether the number on the window is fair.
What do used skid steers cost by size class and operating hours?
Used skid steer prices track three things: horsepower class, hours, and wheel vs. track. Wheel machines under 70 hp are the cheapest to buy and the cheapest to fix; 70+ hp machines with high-flow hydraulics hold value longer. Auction results from Ritchie Bros. show how sharply hours cut price, with high-hour machines selling at a fraction of comparable low-hour units.
| Machine | Under 1,500 hrs | 1,500–3,000 hrs | 3,000+ hrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 70 hp, wheel | $25k–$40k | $15k–$25k | $8k–$15k |
| 70+ hp, wheel, high-flow | $40k–$60k | $25k–$40k | $15k–$25k |
| Track machine, comparable spec | +15–25% | +15–25% | +10–20% |
These bands are illustrative for late-model machines (roughly 2018–2023); older iron and rebuilt undercarriages shift the numbers down.
Under 70 hp wheel machines
Think mid-size skid steers in the 60–68 hp range, the bread-and-butter rental spec. They depreciate fast because supply is deep, so they are the easiest class to find under $20k with usable hours.
70+ hp and high-flow machines
Vertical-lift, high-flow machines command a premium because they run cold planers, mulchers, and bigger hydraulic breakers. Demand from contractors keeps resale firmer than the small class.
Hour bands and typical price drops
Expect the steepest drop between the sub-1,500-hour and 1,500–3,000-hour bands, then a flattening: a 4,000-hour machine prices close to a 3,000-hour one. Brand matters here too, which we cover in the resale-value guide on used heavy equipment resale value.
How does brand choice (Bobcat, Deere, CAT, Kubota) affect used skid steer resale value?
Brand moves used skid steer prices more than almost any other variable except hours. Two machines with the same size class and hour count can sit in different price tiers purely because of the decal on the hood. Use those tiers as a first filter when you judge any listing.
Tier 1: CAT and Deere
CAT and Deere hold value best. Their dealer networks are dense, parts are easy to source, and rental fleets and contractors bid them up at auction, which sets a high floor for resale. When you see a used CAT or Deere priced near a Bobcat of the same hours, the CAT or Deere is usually the better buy, not the overpriced one.
Tier 2: Bobcat and Kubota
Bobcat and Kubota trade at a discount to Tier 1, but they are the volume brands, which cuts both ways. There are more buyers shopping for them, so a fairly priced Bobcat or Kubota turns faster than an overpriced CAT. Kubota skid steers tend to sit closer to Bobcat pricing than to Tier 1.
What used Bobcat skid steer prices actually look like
The long paragraph: treat Bobcat pricing as your baseline, then adjust. Because Bobcat is the most common machine on dealer lots and marketplaces, you can find enough comparable listings to see where the market actually clears, which is harder with a low-volume brand. A mid-2000s Bobcat S-series with 2,500 to 3,500 hours typically trades well below a comparable Deere, and the gap widens as hours climb, because Tier 1 buyers pay a premium for remaining machine life. If a Bobcat listing is priced within 10 percent of a same-hours Deere, ask why; the seller is either misreading the market or hiding something in the undercarriage. The same logic runs in reverse when you are pricing your own trade-ins for fast turnover. This tier discipline applies to any compact machine you resell, not just skid steers, as we cover in our compact wheel loader vs. skid steer breakdown (https://www.bigequipco.com/blogs/compact-wheel-loader-vs-skid-steer).
How many hours is too many when buying a used skid steer?
The 2,000-3,000-4,000 rule of thumb
Most dealers price skid steers against a simple ladder: under 2,000 hours commands top dollar, 2,000-3,000 hours is the workhorse middle where demand is deepest, and past 4,000 hours you are selling to budget buyers who expect a hydraulic or drive-motor bill. Hour counts matter less than maintenance history, but buyers use them as a proxy, so expect repricing at each threshold. Brand resale tiers from the EquipmentWatch residual value studies show machines holding value differently by nameplate, so the same hour count prices differently on a CAT versus a lesser-known brand.
Hours-to-price ratio worked example
Take a mid-size skid steer at 2,400 hours asking $28,000: that is roughly $11.70 per hour of machine life. A 4,800-hour unit at $19,000 is about $3.96. The ratio only works when compared within the same size class and brand tier.
When high hours are fine
High hours are acceptable when service records show hydraulic fluid, filters, and undercarriage or chain work done on schedule, and when the price already reflects the threshold discount. If your inventory rotates quickly, as it does for dealers running 20-30 active listings, a clean 4,000-hour unit priced right can turn faster than a mispriced low-hour one. For the trade-off between tracked and wheeled machines at high hours, see skid steer vs. compact track loader.
What price adjustments should you make for tires, attachments, and track vs. wheel?
Tire and track condition adjustments
Tires are the first deduction any buyer checks. A skid steer on 50% worn tires needs roughly $250 to $600 per tire set aside for replacements, so a four-tire machine with bald rubber justifies a $1,000 to $2,400 discount off a comparable listing. On tracked machines, judge the undercarriage the same way: tracks with less than 50% life, worn sprockets, or loose rollers can mean a $3,000 to $8,000 deduction, since a full track replacement runs well into four figures per side.
Attachment and hydraulic adjustments
A standard bucket adds little; it is expected. What moves money is auxiliary hydraulics: a machine without aux hydraulics loses $2,000 to $5,000 of value against one that has them, because it cannot run a hammer, mulcher, or grapple. Extra buckets, a set of forks, or a auger with bits can add $500 to $2,500 combined if they match what local buyers want.
Worked example: adjusting a listing price
Say a wheel machine lists at $28,000 with 2,000 hours, 40% tire wear, aux hydraulics, and a spare bucket. Deduct $1,200 for tires, add $500 for the bucket, and the fair price lands near $27,300. Run the same math on any listing you see on MachineryTrader, EquipmentTrader, or a dealer lot, and see our breakdown of value drivers for used heavy equipment prices (https://www.bigequipco.com/blogs/used-heavy-equipment-prices-value-drivers) for the full adjustment ladder.
Where do used skid steer prices run lowest: dealers, auctions, or marketplaces?
Dealer retail vs. auction hammer prices
Dealer lots run highest because you pay for inspection, reconditioning, and someone to call when a hose blows. Auction hammer prices on Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers and IronPlanet often land well below dealer asking prices, but add buyer's premium, transport, and the risk of no test drive. A sampling of current asking prices on MachineryTrader listings shows dealer retail for mid-hour skid steers consistently above what comparable units hammer for at auction, though auction inventory moves in days, not weeks.
Free and local channels
Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace cost nothing to list or browse, and sellers near you skip freight entirely. The trade-off is thin information: few post hour meters, undercarriage photos, or service records, so you inspect everything yourself.
What each channel costs you in risk
Rank channels by price, then by what you can verify before money moves. Auctions are cheap per hour but sold as-is; free listings are cheap but unverified. BigEquipCo's historical sold-price record lets you check what similar units actually closed for before you bid or offer.
How do you spot an overpriced or misrepresented used skid steer listing?
Listing red flags
Vague descriptions are the first tell. If a listing says "runs good" but skips hours, year, and undercarriage or tire condition, the seller is hiding something or does not know the machine. Photos of only one side, no engine bay shot, and no bucket or attachment detail usually mean the same thing.
Verifying hours and the PIN
Ask for a photo of the hour meter with the key on, not a year-old picture. Then get the PIN (serial number) and run it before you drive out. Hour meters get swapped, and a 2,000-hour claim on a skid steer with worn footwells, a glazed undercarriage, and faded paint rarely holds up.
Questions to ask before you drive out
Ask three things: current hours, whether the machine was owned by one operator or a rental fleet, and what recent work the hydraulic system and drive motors have had. A seller who answers all three with specifics is worth the trip. One who answers with "call me" is not.
When is buying used better than renting or buying new?
The annual-hours break-even test
Run the math on utilization. A used skid steer at, say, $30,000 needs to earn its keep against a rental bill. Rental houses commonly charge a few hundred dollars a day for a skid steer (see published rates from United Rentals), so 40-50 rental days a year can equal the carrying cost of owning a mid-hour used unit. Above that, buying used wins.
When rental wins
If the machine sits more than it works, rent. A dealer clearing a lot or a contractor with one seasonal grading push is better off paying per day than paying insurance, storage, and depreciation on a unit that idles eleven months a year.
When new financing wins
New makes sense when warranty matters more than price: high-utilization users putting 800+ hours a year on the machine, or anyone who cannot absorb downtime between jobs. Everyone else in the 300-600 hour range should buy used and pocket the difference.
How should dealers price used skid steers for fast turnover?
Pricing against live comps
Pull three to five sold or current listings matching your unit's size class, brand, and hour range before you set a number. Price within 5% of the middle comp. A skid steer priced 15% over the nearest comparable listing will sit while buyers call the other guy.
Aged inventory discounts
If a unit hasn't moved in 60 days, cut 5%. At 90 days, cut another 5-10% and feature it. Carrying cost on a $35,000 machine adds up faster than the discount does.
Listing channels compared, including BigEquipCo's limits
Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are free and local. MachineryTrader reaches buyers paying retail. BigEquipCo gives dealers listing capacity by tier and a dealer directory, but our buyer traffic is smaller than the legacy platforms. List wide, price on comps, discount on schedule.
FAQ
What is a fair price for a used Bobcat skid steer with 2,000 hours?
A mid-size Bobcat wheel machine at 2,000 hours falls in the $15k–$25k band for a late-model unit, sitting at the higher end if it has high-flow hydraulics. Because Bobcat trades below CAT and Deere, a same-hours Deere priced within 10 percent of it signals the Bobcat is overpriced or hiding problems.
Do skid steers hold their value compared to other yellow iron?
Skid steers hold value reasonably well for their size because demand is broad: contractors, rental fleets, and landscapers all bid on them. Brand tiers matter more than the category, though. CAT and Deere units hold value best thanks to dense dealer networks, while Bobcat and Kubota trade at a discount but turn over faster.
Is 4,000 hours a lot for a skid steer?
Yes. Past 4,000 hours you are in budget-buyer territory, and most pricing assumes a hydraulic or drive-motor bill is coming. That said, hours are a proxy, not a verdict. A 4,000-hour machine with scheduled hydraulic, filter, and undercarriage service, priced with the threshold discount applied, can beat a mispriced low-hour unit.
What time of year are used skid steer prices lowest?
There is no single reliable discount season, but supply and demand shift. More machines hit the market in late fall and winter when contractors park equipment and dealers clear aged inventory before year-end, which can soften prices. Spring demand from construction and landscaping startups tends to firm them.
How much should new tires add to a used skid steer's value?
New tires justify a premium roughly equal to the replacement cost you avoid: budget $250 to $600 per tire, so a four-tire machine on fresh rubber is worth about $1,000 to $2,400 more than the same unit on 50 percent worn tires. Treat it as a neutralizer, not a bonus.