48,100 kg389 hpMarket avg. €132k · 5 listed · 4 below market
Asking prices land at €90k – €144k, around 108% above the market average.
This model sits 92% above the class average across 152 peer models.
Across independent European dealers, used Volvo EC480 listings currently run from €89,750 to €143,800, with a market average around €132,140. Year, operating hours and configuration move the price within that band. Based on 5 active listings, refreshed daily.
4 below-market asks right now. We write back within 15 minutes with the strongest matches for your spec.
Nearest competitors auto-selected by category and weight class. Specs from manufacturer datasheets; prices from recent dealer listings.
The Volvo EC480 is a large hydraulic crawler excavator positioned in the 48-tonne operating class, producing 389 hp and carrying a 2.6 m3 bucket capacity. It has been in continuous production since 2005, giving the model a long service history and a well-documented parts and support network. The machine sits at the upper end of the standard large excavator segment, below ultra-class equipment but above mid-range units in the 30-to-40-tonne bracket.
Excavators in the 48-tonne class are typically deployed on heavy civil infrastructure projects including highway construction, large-scale earthmoving, quarry face work, and deep foundation excavation. The combination of operating weight and bucket capacity makes the EC480 suitable for bulk material handling, dam and levee construction, and port or industrial site preparation. It is also used in mining support roles where a high-production surface excavator is required but a full mining-class machine is not justified.
Inspection of any used 48-tonne crawler excavator should begin with the undercarriage, as track links, rollers, idlers, and sprockets represent a major cost centre in this class and wear rate is directly tied to the material and terrain the machine has worked. Request documented service intervals for the hydraulic system, including filter and fluid change records, as contamination or neglected maintenance in large hydraulic excavators can affect pump and valve performance in ways that are not immediately visible during a static inspection. Examine the boom, arm, and attachment mounting points for cracks, weld repairs, or distortion, particularly around the bucket cylinder anchor and stick heel. Verify that all auxiliary hydraulic circuits function correctly under load if the machine is configured for attachments. A full engine load test and hydraulic pressure check should be conducted by a qualified technician before purchase, and any machine should be assessed with its actual hour meter reading verified against available telematics or service records where possible.
The EC480 is cross-shopped directly against the Komatsu PC490 and the Caterpillar 349. The Caterpillar 349 sits in a comparable weight bracket but is rated at a lower operating weight than the EC480, which at 48100 kg offers a marginally heavier platform for digging resistance and stability. The Komatsu PC490 competes closely on weight class and is frequently evaluated alongside the EC480 in fleet procurement decisions, with buyers comparing hydraulic system characteristics, cab ergonomics, and regional dealer support rather than gross specification differences. Within the EC480's own price band, the primary value drivers are accumulated service hours, maintenance history documentation, configuration, and the presence of additional attachments such as hydraulic quick couplers, secondary hydraulic lines, or specialised buckets. Machine condition, particularly undercarriage wear, structural integrity of the boom and arm, and the service record of the hydraulic system, accounts for significant spread between otherwise comparable units. Machines with verified single-owner histories and complete service records consistently command stronger positions within the band than those without documentation.
Market average ask shown as delta against the class average (€132k).
We'll read the European market and send three to seven real options for a Volvo EC480. Our pick, and why. Free while we're new.
Start a request