250 kVA Transformer Price Guide 2026
The 250 kVA transformer is the workhorse rating of medium-voltage distribution: big enough to feed a factory, a hospital campus, a mining camp or a small town, small enough to be delivered on a single truck and craned into place without special permits. It is also the rating most buyers start their budget with, and the rating where suppliers quote the widest spread of prices.
This guide gives you budgetary price ranges for 2026, the full technical specification to put in your enquiry, and an honest explanation of the six things that move the number. Prices are indicative planning figures, not a quotation — use them to sanity-check an offer, then ask for a firm price against your own drawings.
250 kVA transformer price at a glance
The table below shows typical FOB China budgetary ranges for a standard 250 kVA three-phase oil immersed distribution transformer with copper windings, ONAN cooling and Dyn11 vector group, quoted in Q4 2026.
| Configuration | Budgetary FOB price (USD) | Typical production time |
|---|---|---|
| 250 kVA, 11/0.4 kV, S11 losses, copper windings | 2,500 – 3,500 | 15 – 25 working days |
| 250 kVA, 11/0.4 kV, S13 losses, copper windings | 2,900 – 4,100 | 15 – 25 working days |
| 250 kVA, 33/0.4 kV, S11 losses, copper windings | 3,600 – 5,200 | 25 – 35 working days |
| 250 kVA, 11/0.4 kV, S11 losses, aluminium windings | 1,900 – 2,700 | 15 – 25 working days |
| 250 kVA cast resin dry-type equivalent (SCB13) | 3,800 – 5,500 | 20 – 30 working days |
250 kVA transformer specification
Ask every supplier to quote against the same specification table — otherwise two prices are not comparable. These are the standard values for a 250 kVA oil immersed distribution transformer built to IEC 60076 / GB 1094.
| Parameter | Typical value for 250 kVA |
|---|---|
| Rated power | 250 kVA |
| High voltage | 11 kV (6 / 6.3 / 10 / 13.8 / 33 kV also common) |
| Low voltage | 0.4 kV (415 V / 400 V) |
| Tapping range | ±2 × 2.5% on HV (off-circuit); ±5% in four steps available |
| Vector group | Dyn11 (Yyn0 on request) |
| Frequency | 50 Hz or 60 Hz, specified at order |
| Short-circuit impedance | 4.0% (±10%) |
| No-load loss | 0.32 – 0.40 kW depending on loss grade |
| Load loss at 75 °C | 3.05 – 3.40 kW depending on loss grade |
| No-load current | 0.6 – 0.9% of rated current |
| Insulation level (11 kV class) | LI 75 AC 35 |
| Insulation level (33 kV class) | LI 170 AC 70 |
| Cooling method | ONAN (oil natural, air natural) |
| Temperature rise | Top oil 60 K, winding 65 K |
| Sound level | ≤ 55 dB(A) |
| Total weight | Approximately 1,000 – 1,300 kg (including 320 – 380 kg of insulating oil) |
| Overall dimensions | Approximately 1,600 × 1,000 × 1,450 mm |
| Standards | IEC 60076, GB 1094.1, GB/T 6451 |
Our S11 oil immersed distribution transformer covers this rating as standard, and the 33 kV selection guide explains what changes when the primary moves to 33 kV.
The six factors that move the price
1. Voltage class
A 33 kV primary winding needs more insulation, a larger clearance, higher-grade bushings and a taller tank. Expect 40 to 70 percent more than the equivalent 11 kV unit — which is why it is worth checking whether your network really needs 33/0.4 kV, or whether a 33/11 kV unit feeding existing 11 kV infrastructure is cheaper overall.
2. Loss grade
S11, S13, S20 and S22 refer to the loss levels defined in China's efficiency standard. Lower losses mean more or better core steel and a thinner, more carefully built core, so the price rises with the grade. Whether the extra money is worth it depends on your electricity tariff and how many hours a year the transformer runs loaded.
3. Winding material
Copper is the traditional choice; aluminium saves 20 to 30 percent on the transformer and reduces weight, which also lowers freight. Both are legitimate — the decision is about life-cycle cost and tender requirements, not about quality. See the FAQ below.
4. Fittings and options
On-load tap changer, winding temperature indicator with alarm and trip contacts, Buchholz relay, pressure relief device, oil level gauge with alarm, marshalling box, cable boxes instead of bushings, and a roller base all add cost. A fully instrumented utility-spec unit can cost 25 percent more than a bare industrial unit of the same rating.
5. Destination certification
Conformity assessment for the importing country — SONCAP for Nigeria, PVoC for Kenya and Uganda, SABER and SASO for Saudi Arabia, COC for Algeria and Egypt — is arranged per shipment. It is a real cost line, and a supplier who has done it before will save you weeks.
6. Order quantity and packing
A single unit carries all the fixed cost of drawing, tooling and documentation. Two to four identical units spread it, and often save 5 to 10 percent per unit. Export packing also matters: a fully enclosed plywood crate with vapour barrier costs more than a skid, and is worth it for long sea routes.
Shipping: what the landed cost adds
A 250 kVA oil transformer occupies roughly 1.6 × 1.0 × 1.45 m and weighs about 1.1 tonnes, so a 40 ft high-cube container takes six to eight units and a 20 ft container three to four. Because the freight bill is per container, ordering a sensible number of units at once is the single cheapest way to cut landed cost per unit.
Always ask for the freight figure separately and with a validity date. A CIF quotation to your port, valid 15 days, is comparable between suppliers; a vague "freight extra" is not. Note that transformers often ship with the oil in a separate drum or with reduced oil fill depending on road and port rules.
How to get an exact price in 24 hours
Suppliers can only quote accurately when the specification is unambiguous. Send these seven items and you will get a firm, comparable price the same day:
- Rating: 250 kVA
- Voltage ratio: for example 33/0.4 kV or 11/0.415 kV
- Frequency: 50 Hz or 60 Hz
- Vector group and impedance: Dyn11, 4% if not specified by your consultant
- Loss grade required: S11, S13 or a maximum loss value in watts
- Quantity and delivery deadline
- Destination port, so certification and packing can be priced correctly
Why buyers choose BeiDian for 250 kVA units
We are a manufacturer, not a trading company. Winding, core cutting, tank fabrication, assembly and testing all happen in our own plant in Jinxiang County, Jining, Shandong, which is why we can hold both delivery time and tolerances on custom ratings.
- Every unit is routine-tested before shipment — ratio and vector group, winding resistance, insulation resistance, no-load and load loss, induced and applied voltage, plus oil dielectric strength.
- 13 third-party type test reports issued by CNAS-accredited national laboratories, covering temperature rise, lightning impulse, short-circuit withstand and sound level on adjacent ratings including S13-M-400/10, S22-M-630/10-NX1 and S20-M-2000/10-NX2.
- In-house laboratory with lightning impulse generator, partial discharge detector and temperature-rise test capability.
- Long-term joint production cooperation with ABB China, building to agreed drawings, workmanship standards and quality plans.
- Destination-market paperwork handled per shipment — tell us your port and we work with the authorised inspection agencies for SONCAP, PVoC, SASO or SABER.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 250 kVA transformer cost?
Budget USD 2,500 to 3,500 FOB China for a standard 11/0.4 kV unit with S11 losses and copper windings. An S13 loss grade adds roughly 15 to 25 percent, a 33 kV primary adds 40 to 70 percent, and aluminium windings reduce the price by 20 to 30 percent. Freight, duty and inland delivery are extra.
How long does delivery take?
Production is typically 15 to 25 working days for an 11 kV unit and 25 to 35 days for a 33 kV unit or one with an on-load tap changer, counted from drawing approval and deposit. Sea transit adds roughly three to five weeks to West or East Africa and two to three weeks to the Gulf.
Can a 50 Hz transformer run on 60 Hz?
Yes, but it must be designed for it. Specify the network frequency at enquiry stage so that core flux density, no-load loss and impedance are correct. Many countries in the Americas and parts of the Gulf run 60 Hz.
Copper or aluminium windings?
Aluminium saves 20 to 30 percent and reduces shipping weight; copper gives a more compact unit with better thermal and short-circuit margins over a 30-year life. Utility tenders and long-life industrial plants usually specify copper; budget-constrained projects and pole-mounted duty are well served by aluminium.
What documents come with the transformer?
Routine test reports for every unit, oil test report, packing list, certificate of origin and the mill certificates for core steel and windings. Type test reports from CNAS-accredited laboratories are available on request, and we welcome buyers and consultants to inspect the original documents.
Related reading: 33 kV distribution transformer selection guide · SCB14 dry-type transformer · S22 power transformer up to 16,000 kVA
Get a firm price for your 250 kVA project
Send us the rating, voltage ratio, frequency, vector group, loss grade, quantity and destination port. Our engineers reply within 24 hours with a specification, general arrangement drawing and factory price.