How Much Does an HDD Rig Cost? Prices by Size

How much does an HDD rig cost?

A used compact horizontal directional drill (HDD) in the 20,000 lb pullback class, such as a 2021 to 2025 Ditch Witch JT20, sold at auction for $54,000 to $187,500 between April 2025 and August 2026. Asking prices for used JT20s on MachineryTrader ran $54,900 to $199,900 on October 15, 2026. New rigs cost far more: Purple Wave put new Vermeer drills at $250,000 for a compact model up to $1,200,000 for a maxi rig in June 2024.

The table below groups recent auction sales by rig size (class labels are ours, based on pullback). All figures are from Construction Equipment Guide (CEG) auction results, in USD as CEG reports them.

What the size classes mean

Rigs are sized by pullback (how hard the drill can pull the product pipe back through the bore) and rotational torque. Ditch Witch West lists the JT20 at 20,000 lb pullback and 2,200 ft-lb of spindle torque (seen Oct 15, 2026). Vermeer rates the D24x40 S3 at 28,000 lb pullback and 4,200 ft-lb (seen Oct 15, 2026). Equipment World reported the D40x55 S3 at 40,000 lb and 5,500 ft-lb when it launched in July 2015. Do not read the model name as the spec: the D24x40 S3 pulls more than its name suggests.

New vs used

New prices are harder to pin down because dealers quote them directly. The most recent public estimate we could verify is a June 2024 guide from auctioneer Purple Wave.

Purple Wave's used ranges are for late-model machines. A 2022 D24x40 sold at auction for $155,000 in September 2026, inside that range. Older rigs go for much less: 2012 to 2014 D100x140s sold for $99,000 to $140,000 in 2025 and 2026. Auction prices are wholesale and usually come with no inspection or warranty. For more on the trade-off, see new vs used equipment.

What did used directional drills sell for at auction recently?

Construction Equipment Guide auction results show 15 Ditch Witch JT20s from the 2021 to 2025 model years sold between April 2025 and August 2026. The median of those 15 sales was $136,000 (our calculation from the CEG records), and 13 of the 15 brought $112,000 to $187,500. By contrast, 13 of 21 sales of 2019 JT20s in 2025 and 2026 were under $100,000. Here are individual sales from CEG's auction records.

Note the two 2021 JT20s: one sold at auction for $136,000 and one for $54,000, a month apart. CEG's table shows model, year, price and sale month, but not hours, rod count or what came with the machine. The spread is a reminder that model year alone does not set the price.

What are dealers asking for used HDD rigs right now?

On October 15, 2026, priced listings we saw on MachineryTrader ran $54,900 to $199,900 for used JT20s and $154,000 to $260,000 for used JT24s. These are asking prices, not sale prices. The site showed 47 JT20s for sale; we saw the first 28.

Asking and auction prices overlap. A 2024 JT20 with 1,693 hours is listed at $169,000, less than the $187,500 a 2024 JT20 sold for at auction in November 2025. A 2022 JT20 with 617 hours asks $199,900, above all four 2022 JT20 auction sales in the CEG data for 2025 and 2026 ($112,000 to $155,000). Hours and condition drive most of the gap, along with what a dealer adds, such as inspection, rods and sometimes a locator display.

What does a complete HDD package cost beyond the rig?

A complete used package (rig, locator, mud system, drill pipe, tooling and trailer) runs about $150,000 to $190,000 for a mini-class rig, $220,000 to $290,000 for a utility-mid rig and $330,000 to $450,000 for a mid-heavy rig, according to dealer WorldHDD in May 2026. The support truck is usually extra.

One live listing shows the gap clearly. Norton Equipment Sales in Lapeer, Michigan lists a 2021 Vermeer D24x40 Series III with 1,968 hours and 50 new pipes at $219,900 for the drill. What appears to be the same drill (same hours, same stock number base) is listed at $338,900 as a drive-away package that adds a 2024 Vermeer MX300 mix station, a DigiTrak Falcon F5 locator, a new 2026 trailer, a 2011 Freightliner M2 flatbed and new starter tooling. That is $119,000 more than the drill alone.

We did not find a standalone pipe trailer price we could verify. Trailers usually come inside a package, as in the Norton listing.

What drives the price of a used directional drill?

Size class, hours, rod condition and what comes with the rig move the price more than anything else. Model year matters, but two machines of the same year can sell tens of thousands of dollars apart.

Pullback and torque

More pullback and torque means bigger product pipe and longer bores, and a higher price. A 2017 JT40 sold at auction for $165,000 in September 2026, more than any 2019 JT20 brought at auction in 2025 or 2026 (the top was $130,000).

Engine hours

Compare the asking prices above: a 2022 JT20 with 617 hours is listed at $199,900, and a 2017 JT20 with 6,814 hours at $63,900. Ask for service records and the engine and gearbox history, not only the hour meter.

Rods and rod box capacity

Drill pipe is a large share of package value, so listings spell it out: Norton's D24x40 lists 50 new pipes, and the HDD Broker D23x30 lists 40 used 2.375-inch Firestick rods. Ditch Witch West says the JT24 holds up to 400 feet of drill pipe onboard. More pipe on board means longer shots without reloading. Worn threads mean a rod budget soon after you buy.

Model year and emissions tier

Newer machines carry newer engines. Ditch Witch West lists the JT20 in both Tier 4 and Tier 4i versions, and the HDD Broker D23x30 lists a Tier 4 Final engine. If you bid public work, check whether the project owner or your state restricts older off-road engines before you buy one.

What comes with it

A locator, mixer or trailer in the deal changes the price a lot, as the Norton listings show. Price each item so you know what you are paying for the rig itself. Our directional drills buying guide covers inspection in more detail.

How much does it cost to start a directional boring business?

WorldHDD estimates the first year all-in at roughly $260,000 to $920,000 in its May 2026 guide, depending on crew size and rig class. Equipment is the largest piece, but insurance, payroll and working capital add up fast.

WorldHDD is a dealer, so treat these as one informed estimate. Your own number depends on what you already own (truck, trailer, vac) and how fast your first jobs pay.

Can you finance the whole HDD package or just the rig?

Lenders can often consider the full package, but they tend to look at its parts differently. The rig has a serial number and an active resale market, as the auction records above show, so lenders tend to treat it as the core collateral.

Rods, bits, reamers and locators wear out, get lost downhole or are hard to resell. Some lenders treat them as soft costs and may limit how much of them they fund or ask for more money down. A titled support truck may be financed on the same deal or a separate one. An itemized invoice that separates rig, tooling, locator, mixer, trailer and truck helps any lender price the deal. Terms vary by lender; Ironmark does not set them. Read more in our guide to directional drill financing.

What would the monthly payment be on an HDD rig?

On a $250,000 package with 10% down, payments in the table below run from about $4,060 to $6,040 a month. Each figure uses standard amortization on the price less 10% down, at the estimated APR and term shown, rounded to the nearest $10, with taxes, fees and insurance excluded.

These are illustrations, not quotes. Ironmark is not a lender and does not set rates. Actual rates and terms depend on the lender, your business, credit, time in business and the equipment.

What do lenders look at on an HDD deal?

On drills, lenders look past the price tag to the machine's hours, the condition of the pipe and tooling, and whether you have work lined up. General criteria are in what lenders look at; these are the HDD-specific ones.

• Engine hours and service history. Hours drive resale value, which is the lender's backstop.
• Rod and tooling wear. New or recently replaced pipe supports the price; worn pipe is a near-term cost.
• Contracts and bids. Signed subcontracts, fiber or BEAD-funded build work, or a master service agreement with a prime contractor show where payments will come from.
• Operator experience. Years running a drill and locating, especially for a new company.
• Price against comps. A price far above recent auction results for the same model and year may need explaining.

What should you have ready for an HDD rig quote?

Have the seller's paperwork and your own business basics in hand before you ask for financing. A complete file gets a faster, cleaner answer.

• The listing or seller quote with year, make, model, serial number and hours
• An itemized package: rod count, length and diameter, tooling, locator model and transmitters, mixer, trailer and truck
• Service records and photos of the rod threads, rod box and carriage
• Who the seller is (dealer, auction or private party)
• Recent business bank statements and your time in business
• Signed contracts, bid awards or subcontract agreements
• Operator experience for you and your crew

See directional drill financing for how Ironmark connects HDD buyers with lenders.

Frequently asked questions

Do auction prices include rods, tooling and a locator?

You cannot tell from the results table. CEG's records show the model, year, price and sale month only, so check the original auction listing to see what sold with the machine.

Is a new HDD rig worth the premium over used?

It depends on how many hours you will put on it and how long you will keep it. Purple Wave put a new D24x40 S3 at $250,000 to $290,000 in June 2024; a 2022 D24x40 sold at auction for $155,000 in September 2026.

How many hours is a lot on a used directional drill?

There is no fixed cutoff, but an appraisal specialist at Purple Wave said in June 2024 that most models depreciate faster around 3,000 hours. Past that point, service records and rod condition matter even more.