Key takeaways
- What they cost: Track loaders on IndustrySearch run from about $50,000 to $200,000, averaging around $125,000, depending on size and capacity.
- What sets the price: Frame size, rated operating capacity, engine power, and lift type drive the cost.
- Where they fit: Landscaping, civil, construction, and earthworks on soft, wet, or uneven ground where wheels struggle.
- The track advantage: Rubber tracks spread the machine's weight, giving grip and low ground pressure that a wheeled skid steer cannot match.
- The decision: Match frame size and operating capacity to your work and ground, then weigh the track advantage against the higher running cost.
A compact track loader is a skid steer on rubber tracks. The tracks spread its weight over a larger area, so it grips and floats on soft, wet, or uneven ground where a wheeled machine would sink or slip. That makes it the go-to machine for landscapers and civil contractors working on real Australian sites, not just hard yards. The category runs from small sub-tonne units to large high-capacity machines, and price follows size and capacity. This guide covers what track loaders cost in Australia in 2026, the specs that matter, and how to match one to your work.
Track loader versus wheeled skid steer
The core choice is tracks or wheels. Both machines do the same jobs and take the same attachments, but they suit different ground:
- Tracks: Spread weight for low ground pressure and strong grip. They handle mud, sand, slopes, and soft ground, and cause less surface damage on finished sites.
- Wheels: Cheaper to buy and run, and faster on hard surfaces. They suit paved yards and dry, firm ground, but bog down or tear up soft ground.
A track loader costs more to buy and more to run, because the rubber track undercarriage wears and is not cheap to replace. In return it works on ground a wheeled machine cannot, and it protects finished surfaces. If most of your work is on soft, wet, or sensitive ground, the tracks earn their keep. If it is on hard, dry yards, a wheeled skid steer may be the better value.
What a track loader costs in 2026
Price tracks frame size and capacity. As a rough guide for the Australian market:
- Compact and sub-tonne units: About $50,000 to $80,000. Smaller machines for landscaping and tight-access work with modest lift needs.
- Mid-size loaders: Around $80,000 to $130,000. The common choice for civil and construction, balancing capacity, power, and site access.
- Large high-capacity units: $130,000 to $200,000+. High operating capacity and horsepower for heavy earthworks and demanding sites.
The average sits near $125,000. A bigger frame, higher rated operating capacity, more horsepower, and vertical lift for loading trucks all push the price tag up. To compare sizes and capacities, compare track loader quotes from Australian suppliers, and weigh a tracked machine against a wheeled skid steer loader or a compact mini skid steer loader for tight-access jobs.
| Loader class | Frame | Indicative price | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact | Sub-tonne | $50,000 - $80,000 | Landscaping, tight access |
| Mid-size | Standard | $80,000 - $130,000 | Civil, construction |
| Large capacity | Heavy frame | $130,000 - $200,000+ | Heavy earthworks |
The specs that shape the price
When you request quotes, these are the things that change the total:
- Rated operating capacity: How much the loader can safely lift. This is the main size measure, and it drives the price. Match it to your heaviest load.
- Engine power: Horsepower sets how hard the machine can push and how fast it works through a task.
- Lift type: Radial lift suits digging and ground-level work; vertical lift reaches higher for loading trucks and hoppers, at more cost.
- Hydraulic flow: High-flow hydraulics run demanding attachments like mulchers and cold planers. Confirm the flow matches the attachments you plan to use.
- Cab and comfort: An enclosed, air-conditioned cab matters for long days, and adds to the price.
Safety and running costs
Two things sit alongside the purchase price. First, safety. A track loader is mobile plant, so it must have a rollover and falling-object protective structure, and operators need proper training. Under work health and safety law, managing the risks of mobile plant is the business's duty, as Safe Work Australia sets out. Second, running costs. Budget for fuel, servicing, and the big one for tracks: undercarriage wear. Rubber tracks wear faster on hard, abrasive surfaces and cost a few thousand dollars a set to replace, so keep the machine on the ground it suits. For a full breakdown of sizes and running costs, the skid steer loader price and running-cost guide is a useful companion.
A realistic scenario
Picture a landscaping contractor in Brisbane working on soft, wet suburban blocks after heavy rain. A wheeled machine keeps bogging and tearing up the ground.
A mid-size compact track loader at around $110,000 solves it. The rubber tracks float over the soft ground, keep working after rain, and leave finished lawns less churned. The contractor takes on jobs that a wheeled machine could not, and loses fewer days to weather. The tracks cost more to buy and replace, but on this kind of ground they pay for themselves in work won and days kept.
Frequently asked questions
Track loader or wheeled skid steer?
Choose tracks for soft, wet, uneven, or finished ground where grip and low ground pressure matter. Choose wheels for hard, dry yards where lower buy and running costs win. Your ground decides.
What operating capacity do I need?
Match rated operating capacity to your heaviest load and biggest attachment. Compact units suit landscaping and tight access; mid-size and large frames suit civil and heavy earthworks. Size to the work, not the average day.
Why do track loaders cost more to run?
The rubber track undercarriage wears with use, faster on hard, abrasive surfaces, and a replacement set costs a few thousand dollars. Keeping the machine on suitable ground extends track life and controls this cost.
Should I buy or hire?
Hire suits short-term or occasional use. Buying is usually justified when you need the machine consistently across the year. Weigh your expected utilisation against the purchase and running costs before deciding.
What matters most
A track loader is a ground-condition decision as much as a size one. Match frame size and operating capacity to your work, choose tracks when the ground is soft, wet, or sensitive, and budget for undercarriage wear as an ongoing cost. Get the fit right and the machine works where wheels cannot and protects finished sites. Get it wrong and you either pay a track premium you did not need or undersize the loader for the job.
Ready to compare sizes, capacity, and pricing on track loaders? Get quotes from track loader suppliers across Australia here.
