Total stations cost from around £4,000 for a manual optical unit to £30,000+ for a robotic scanning model, and because this equipment depreciates on a technology cycle a lease or refresh agreement often suits better than a long hire purchase term.
Yes, total stations 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 £4,000 to £30,000, and most deals are written over 12-36 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
£4k – £30k
Approval Speed
24–48 hours
Same-day for a single instrument
Rates From
5.5% APR
Your estimate
Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.
Pre-filled with a typical total station price. Indicative only, not a quote.
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For UK limited companies with 3+ months’ trading and monthly revenue.
On a purchase price of £12,000: a 10% deposit of £1,200, then 48 monthly payments of £253 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £13,344, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Optical Total Station | £4,000 - £8,000 | Manual Total Station |
| Reflectorless Total Station | £8,000 - £15,000 | Reflectorless Total Station |
| Robotic Total Station (Single-Person) | £15,000 - £25,000 | Robotic Total Station |
| Robotic Total Station with Imaging or Scanning | £22,000 - £30,000 | Imaging Total Station |
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For UK limited companies with 3+ months’ trading and monthly revenue.
A total station is treated as plant and machinery for tax purposes, so it qualifies for the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting a business deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to the current £1,000,000 annual limit. Companies buying new, unused equipment may also qualify for full expensing, a 100% first-year deduction against Corporation Tax. These allowances apply where you own the instrument, so they are available under a Hire Purchase agreement. Ongoing calibration and certification costs sit outside the finance agreement and are not part of the capital cost, so they are usually deducted as a running business expense in the year they are incurred rather than claimed as an allowance. Always confirm treatment with your accountant before committing to a structure.
Total stations are bought by land surveyors, civil engineering contractors, groundworks firms and setting-out specialists, either as a first instrument for a new surveying business or to replace a unit that has fallen behind current specification. A total station depreciates far more on a technology cycle than on wear, since the mechanics of a well-maintained unit can outlast several generations of onboard software, imaging and robotic tracking capability, so many practices favour leasing or a refresh agreement over a long hire purchase term that would tie them to ageing hardware. Calibration and certification are an ongoing cost that sits outside the finance agreement entirely and affects both accuracy and resale value, so a buyer should always ask for calibration history on a used instrument. A specialist secondhand market exists through survey equipment dealers, and used total stations from practices upgrading to robotic models are a common route into the trade for smaller or newer surveying businesses.
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.
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For UK limited companies with 3+ months’ trading and monthly revenue.
See how lenders treat technology assets
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Check Eligibility →For UK limited companies with at least 3 months’ trading and monthly revenue.