How much does a semi truck cost? 2026 prices, new and used
By Fernandez · Updated October 2026
This page collects what semi trucks cost right now, with a source and date on every number, and then adds what owning one costs each month. Spec, age and miles move the price more than anything else, so use the ranges as a starting point and price the actual truck with comparables.
Semi truck prices, sourced
Sort, search or download the data. Used figures are monthly averages from ACT Research; new figures are single asking prices we found on public dealer listings, not averages.
| Used Class 8, average retail (February 2026) | Used, all configurations | $55,215 | ACT Research |
| Used Class 8, average retail (March 2026) | Used, all configurations | $56,128 | ACT Research |
| Used Class 8, average retail (April 2026) | Used, all configurations | $60,347 | ACT Research |
| Used Class 8, average retail (May 2026) | Used, all configurations | $59,723 | ACT Research |
| Used Class 8, average retail (July 2026) | Used, all configurations | $60,986 | ACT Research |
| Used Class 8, average retail (August 2026) | Used, all configurations | $64,367 | ACT Research |
| 2026 Kenworth T680 sleeper | New, one asking price | $182,800 | Public dealer listing |
| 2026 Kenworth T880 sleeper | New, one asking price | $218,900 | Public dealer listing |
| 2026 Peterbilt 589 sleeper | New, one asking price | $224,900 | Public dealer listing |
Source: ACT Research, State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, as reported by Fleet Equipment; Public dealer listings on TractorHouse and TruckPaper, checked 2026-10
Method: Used rows are ACT Research monthly averages of same-dealer Class 8 retail sales across all configurations. New rows are single asking prices for specific trucks on public listings, checked October 2026, not averages; final prices depend on spec, options, tax and negotiation.
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Cite: Semi truck prices, sourced. RigCaptain, 2026-10. /guides/how-much-does-a-semi-truck-cost
<a href="/guides/how-much-does-a-semi-truck-cost">Semi truck prices, sourced (RigCaptain)</a>Used semi truck prices
ACT Research's monthly report on same-dealer used Class 8 sales put the average retail price at $60,347 in April 2026 (revised), $60,986 in July and $64,367 in August, up 11% from a year earlier as inventory tightened. That average covers every configuration, sleeper and day cab, and every age the dealers sold that month.
The average hides a wide spread. A four-year-old sleeper with a popular engine and moderate miles can sell well above it, while a ten-year-old day cab with high miles sells well below. To price a specific truck, find three to five comparable listings or auction results and run them through the semi truck value estimator.
How used prices moved in 2026
Used prices climbed through the middle of 2026. ACT Research's average rose from $55,215 in February to $60,347 in April, $60,986 in July and $64,367 in August, and the August figure was 11% higher than a year earlier while sales volume fell. Fewer late-model trucks reaching dealers usually pushes prices up, and buyers who waited for prices to fall paid more. Markets turn, so treat these numbers as a snapshot and recheck before you buy. We update this page when new monthly figures are published.
How much does a new semi truck cost?
New trucks have no published average we can cite, so here are real asking prices from public dealer listings, checked in October 2026: a 2026 Kenworth T680 sleeper at $182,800, a 2026 Kenworth T880 sleeper at $218,900 and a 2026 Peterbilt 589 sleeper at $224,900. Each is one truck with one spec. Day cabs usually cost less, and heavy-haul or vocational specs more.
On top of the price, new heavy trucks usually owe the 12% federal excise tax on the first retail sale, plus state sales tax, registration and fees. Our federal excise tax guide explains the weight thresholds. Truck makers have also estimated that EPA's 2027 emissions standards could add roughly $8,000 to $20,000 per new truck, depending on the final rule.
Day cab vs sleeper prices
A sleeper adds the cab space, bunk, insulation and often a larger fuel capacity, so new sleepers usually cost more than day cabs from the same maker. In the used market the gap depends on demand: regional fleets buy day cabs, long-haul owner-operators buy sleepers, and each market moves on its own. When you compare prices, compare like with like: same cab, same engine and similar miles.
Box truck and hotshot prices
We have not found a citable national price index for 26 ft box trucks or hotshot pickups, so we do not publish a number. Both are priced mostly by the chassis, the body or bed and the miles. Find three to five comparable trucks for sale or sold at auction and use the semi truck value estimator, which works for any truck with real comparables. For box trucks, remember we only dispatch 26 ft and up.
Costs on top of the price
| Cost | New truck | Used truck |
|---|---|---|
| Federal excise tax (12%) | Usually, above the weight thresholds | Usually not |
| State sales or use tax | Depends on the state | Depends on the state |
| Title, registration, IRP plates | Yes | Yes |
| Documentation and dealer fees | Often | Often from dealers |
| Inspection and ECM download | Not usually needed | Strongly recommended |
| First-year repair reserve | Lower under warranty | Higher |
Ask the seller for an out-the-door price in writing, so every line is on paper before you sign.
How much is an 18 wheeler, tractor plus trailer?
An 18 wheeler is a tractor and a trailer, priced separately. The trailer depends on the type: dry vans and flatbeds generally cost less than reefers, whose refrigeration unit adds cost, and specialized trailers such as step decks, lowboys and car haulers vary widely. Many owner-operators skip the trailer at first and run power only, pulling trailers supplied by carriers or shippers, which keeps the starting cost down. If you do buy one, financing it with the tractor or separately are both common; see truck and trailer financing.
Three EXAMPLE trucks, priced out
| Used day cab | Used sleeper | New sleeper | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $45,000 | $70,000 | $185,000 |
| Federal excise tax | None (used) | None (used) | About $22,200 if it applies |
| Down payment at 10% | $4,500 | $7,000 | $18,500 |
| What to check | Miles, frame, local fit | Engine, aftertreatment, records | Spec, delivery date, warranty |
EXAMPLE trucks and prices, not offers. Excise tax is figured on the taxable sale price; actual tax depends on the sale.
What a semi truck costs to own
The purchase is only the start. Every month the truck carries a payment, insurance, permits, fuel, tires and repairs. ATRI's 2025 cost study put the average carrier at about $2.34 per mile all-in, including drivers. Put your own numbers in the trucking cost per mile calculator and see what a loan adds with how much a semi truck monthly payment runs.
If buying outright is too much, compare what leasing a semi truck costs. Interested in battery-electric trucks? See electric semi truck price.
Whatever it costs, it has to earn its keep
New or used, the sticker turns into a weekly number. We book freight at rates that cover it, and you sign every rate con.
YOUR NUMBERS, EXAMPLE
- Payment
- $1,715 /mo
- Our fee
- 5% of gross
- YOU KEEP
- the rest
How to pay less for a semi truck
- Buy the spec your freight needs. A heavy-haul spec on a dry van lane is money you never get back.
- Compare used before new. A well-kept three- to five-year-old truck can cost far less per year of life.
- Price the whole deal. Tax, fees, interest and a first-year repair reserve, not just the sticker.
- Inspect and check the title. A cheap truck with a lien or a deleted emissions system is not cheap.
- Time it. Read when is the best time to buy a semi truck before you sign.
Method
Used prices: ACT Research monthly average retail prices of used Class 8 trucks sold by the same dealers, all configurations, as reported by Fleet Equipment and Transport Topics for February to August 2026, using ACT's revised figures where published. New prices: single asking prices for specific 2026 trucks on public dealer listings, checked October 2026; they are not averages and can change daily. EPA 2027 estimates: truck maker executives as reported by CCJ and Overdrive. Federal excise tax: 26 U.S.C. 4051 and IRS Publication 510.
Source: ACT Research via Fleet Equipment, checked 2026-10
Know the price. Now plan the revenue.
See what dispatch costs on our pricing page, or apply and a dispatcher works out the weekly gross your truck needs.