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Finding real cobot prices is frustratingly difficult. Most manufacturers hide behind "request a quote" buttons, and the pricing guides that do exist tend to give vague ranges without citing sources. This page publishes actual, verified prices for every major cobot — updated quarterly.
Cobot prices at a glance (July 2026)
Chinese cobots — verified retail pricing
Budget tier ($5,000-$10,000): UFACTORY xArm 5 Lite at $5,749 (5-axis, 3kg payload), FAIRINO FR5 at $6,999 (6-axis, 5kg payload, 922mm reach), UFACTORY xArm 6 at $8,849 (6-axis, 5kg payload), and UFACTORY xArm 7 at $10,449 (7-axis, 5kg payload). AUBO-i5 is estimated at $6,000-$10,000 but pricing is not publicly listed.
Mid-range ($10,000-$25,000): DOBOT Nova 2 at $12,790 (2kg commercial), DOBOT Nova 5 at $13,790 (5kg commercial), DOBOT CR3A at $22,200 (3kg industrial), and DOBOT CR5A at $24,320 (5kg industrial). JAKA Zu7 is estimated at $12,000-$18,000.
Upper-mid ($25,000-$45,000): DOBOT CR10A at $33,380 (10kg industrial) and DOBOT CR20A at $40,800 (20kg industrial).
Western cobots — estimated pricing
Universal Robots refreshed its lineup in 2026, so the model names in older price guides no longer match what you can order. The UR5e was replaced by the UR7e (payload up from 5kg to 7.5kg, same 850mm reach) and the UR10e was renamed the UR12e (specs unchanged). Current US distributor listings: UR7e at $38,363, UR12e at $44,636, UR15 at $53,835, and UR20 at $62,990. The UR3e sits at approximately $30,000-$38,000 and UR30 pricing is quote-only. FANUC CRX series at $40,000-$70,000+. ABB GoFa/YuMi at $40,000-$75,000+.
Note: Universal Robots does not publish list prices — the figures above come from distributor listings and vary by configuration and region. Quotes for a UR5e or UR10e today will come back as a UR7e or UR12e, or as used stock.
The China price advantage
For equivalent specifications (5kg payload, 6-axis, CE certified), Chinese cobots cost roughly 30-80% less than Western alternatives. The most dramatic example: the FAIRINO FR5 at $6,999 versus the Universal Robots UR7e from $38,363 — over 80% cheaper, with better repeatability and more reach, though the UR7e does carry 2.5kg more payload.
This price advantage exists because Chinese manufacturers benefit from lower labor costs in manufacturing, vertical integration (some make their own reducers and motors), intense domestic competition driving prices down, government subsidies for robotics manufacturing, and lower marketing and distribution overhead.
Beyond the robot: total deployment cost
The arm itself is 50-70% of a typical deployment. Complete budget estimates:
Budget deployment (FAIRINO FR5): Robot arm $6,999, basic gripper $800, mounting $500, self-installation $0, training (included) $0. Total: approximately $8,300.
Standard deployment (DOBOT CR5A): Robot arm $24,320, quality gripper $2,500, VX500 camera $2,500, mounting and integration $5,000, training $1,500. Total: approximately $35,800.
Premium deployment (UR7e): Robot arm $43,000 (mid-range of the $38,363-$48,000 spread), Robotiq gripper $5,000, vision system $8,000, professional integration $10,000, training $3,000. Total: approximately $69,000.
Price trends
Cobot prices have declined approximately 15-20% over the past three years, driven primarily by Chinese manufacturers scaling production and competing aggressively on price. We expect continued price declines of 5-10% annually through 2028, with the most significant drops in the $10,000-$25,000 segment as more Chinese brands reach export maturity.
The humanoid robot category is seeing the most dramatic price compression — from $150,000+ to under $15,000 in just two years — which may eventually impact the cobot market as humanoids become capable of some cobot tasks.
Pricing methodology
Prices marked as "verified" come from publicly listed retail prices on Top3DShop.com, manufacturer e-commerce sites, or Amazon. Prices marked as "estimated" come from industry sources, distributor quotes, or informed estimates based on market positioning. We update this page quarterly. Last update: July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a collaborative robot (cobot) cost?
Cobots range from about $5,749 to $65,000 in 2026. Chinese-made arms like the UFACTORY xArm 5 Lite ($5,749) and FAIRINO FR5 ($6,999) start well under $10,000, while Western brands such as Universal Robots and FANUC typically run $30,000–$85,000 for comparable payloads.
What is the cheapest collaborative robot?
Among production-grade 6-axis cobots, the FAIRINO FR5 ($6,999) and UFACTORY xArm 5 Lite ($5,749) are the most affordable certified options. Desktop-class arms from Elephant Robotics start even lower if you don't need full industrial payload.
Are Chinese cobots as good as Universal Robots?
On core specs — payload, reach, repeatability — leading Chinese cobots (FAIRINO, UFACTORY, AUBO, JAKA) now match Universal Robots closely, at roughly 30–80% lower cost depending on the model. The remaining gaps are ecosystem maturity, integrator networks, and software polish, which is why we compare them model-by-model rather than on price alone.
How much cheaper are Chinese cobots than Western brands?
Typically 30–80% less for equivalent payload and reach. A 5 kg Chinese cobot that costs $7,000–$10,000 maps to a $35,000–$48,000 Universal Robots or FANUC system — before integration and accessories.
Robots Mentioned in This Article
Quick-access cards for every robot referenced above.