Robotic Milker Finance

Spread the cost of robotic milking systems from £100,000 to £600,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance

Can you finance a robotic milker?

Yes, robotic milkers are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £100,000 to £600,000, and most deals are written over 36–84 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

Typical Cost

£100k – £600k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Larger projects assessed within 3–5 days

Rates From

4.6% APR

What would a robotic milker cost per month?

Robotic Milker price (ex VAT) £220,000

Deposit 10%

Agreement term 60 months

Annual interest rate 9%

Balloon payment £0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical robotic milker price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate: From 5.0% APR
Term: 36–84 months
Deposit: 10–20%
Ownership: Yours at the end
Best for: Dairy farms wanting to own the robotic system outright

Finance Lease

Rate: From 4.6% APR
Term: 36–84 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for: Tax-efficient, spreads a major automation investment across several years of production gains

Operating Lease

Rate: From 5.4% APR
Term: 48–84 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return at end
Best for: Farms wanting to upgrade robots as the technology and software develop

Representative example

On a purchase price of £220,000: a 10% deposit of £22,000, then 48 monthly payments of £4,641 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £244,768, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification	Guide price	Type
Lely Astronaut A5	£110,000 – £150,000	Single-Box Robotic Milking Unit
DeLaval VMS V310	£120,000 – £160,000	Single-Box Robotic Milking Unit
GEA DairyRobot R9500	£100,000 – £145,000	Single-Box Robotic Milking Unit
3-Robot Installation with Handling	£350,000 – £480,000	Multi-Box Robotic Milking Installation

Tax benefits

Robotic milking units generally qualify for Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting you deduct the full cost from taxable profits in year one, up to £1,000,000. HP gives access to capital allowances; lease payments are fully deductible from farming profits. Any building work needed to house the robots is typically treated separately under the Structures and Buildings Allowance.

Market context

Robotic milkers are increasingly chosen by dairy farms looking to reduce reliance on hired labour and give cows free-choice milking, and the number of robots installed is set by herd size and cow flow through the shed rather than by acreage. Because each robot typically serves a defined number of cows, expansion usually means adding another box rather than replacing the whole system, and manufacturers continue to develop the software and attachment technology behind each unit, which is often the trigger for an upgrade rather than mechanical failure. Ongoing service contracts and consumables such as liners and cleaning chemicals are a running cost alongside the capital outlay, and this should be factored into the overall investment case alongside the finance itself.

Bad credit?

Some specialist lenders consider businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options may be available. Fundably may use a soft credit check for matching, which does not affect your credit score. A hard check may happen if you choose to proceed with a lender.

Frequently asked questions

How many robots do I need for my herd size?

As a rough guide, a single robot box typically supports somewhere in the region of 50–70 cows depending on yield and cow flow through the shed, but your robot supplier will confirm the right number for your specific herd and building layout as part of the sales process before you apply for finance.

Can I finance a used robotic milking unit?

It's less common than financing new, since robots are usually sold as part of a manufacturer-backed installation with software and service support included, but some lenders will consider a used robot with a transferable service contract. Speak to your finance provider about the specific unit and its remaining warranty or support cover.

Should I use the manufacturer's own finance offer or an independent lender?

Both are worth comparing. Lely, DeLaval, and GEA all offer dealer-backed finance that's sometimes subsidised or bundled with a service package, but an independent lender may offer more flexibility on term length or on combining the robots with related building or feeding equipment as one facility.

Does the ongoing service contract get included in the finance?

Usually not. The capital cost of the robot itself is what gets financed, while the ongoing service and consumables contract is typically a separate running cost paid alongside the finance repayments, so it's worth budgeting for both when working out the total cost of moving to robotic milking.

Is robotic milker finance available to a farming partnership rather than a limited company?

Yes. Sole traders and farming partnerships are assessed on the partners' combined financial standing and the farm's accounts and milk contract rather than a single company balance sheet, which is standard practice given how common that structure is across UK dairy farming.