500 kVA Transformer Price Guide 2026
The 500 kVA transformer is the rating where a project stops being a distribution afterthought and becomes a substation. It is the size specified for a mid-sized factory, a hospital, a shopping centre, a campus, a water treatment plant, a mining operation, a 1 MW solar array's step-up duty, or a utility feeder serving a small town — and it is the rating at which buyers start asking harder questions about losses, impedance, tap changing and type test evidence.
This guide gives budgetary 2026 price ranges for a 500 kVA oil immersed distribution transformer in the 11 kV and 33 kV classes, the specification to attach to your enquiry so that offers are genuinely comparable, the load it will actually carry, and the six factors that move the number. Treat the figures as planning values — then ask for a firm price against your own drawings.
500 kVA transformer price at a glance
The table below shows typical FOB China budgetary ranges for a standard 500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kVA, 11/0.4 kV, S11 losses, copper windings | 5,000 – 7,000 | 20 – 30 working days |
| 500 kVA, 11/0.4 kV, S13 losses, copper windings | 5,800 – 8,200 | 20 – 30 working days |
| 500 kVA, 33/0.4 kV, S11 losses, copper windings | 7,200 – 10,500 | 30 – 40 working days |
| 500 kVA, 11/0.4 kV, S11 losses, aluminium windings | 3,800 – 5,400 | 20 – 30 working days |
| 500 kVA cast resin dry-type equivalent (SCB13) | 8,000 – 12,000 | 25 – 35 working days |
500 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 500 kVA oil immersed distribution transformer built to IEC 60076 / GB 1094.
| Parameter | Typical value for 500 kVA |
|---|---|
| Rated power | 500 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); on-load tap changer available |
| Vector group | Dyn11 (Yyn0 or Dyn1 on request) |
| Frequency | 50 Hz or 60 Hz, specified at order |
| Short-circuit impedance | 4.0% – 4.5% (±10%) |
| No-load loss | 0.48 – 0.60 kW depending on loss grade |
| Load loss at 75 °C | 5.15 kW |
| No-load current | 0.3 – 0.5% 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 | ≤ 58 dB(A) |
| Total weight | Approximately 1,700 – 2,000 kg (including 350 – 450 kg of insulating oil) |
| Overall dimensions | Approximately 1,850 × 1,150 × 1,650 mm |
| Standards | IEC 60076, GB 1094.1, GB/T 6451 |
Our S11 oil immersed distribution transformer covers this rating as standard, the S22 series covers low-loss and higher ratings up to 16,000 kVA, and the 33 kV selection guide explains what changes at the higher voltage class.
How much load a 500 kVA transformer carries
Buyers often confuse apparent power with real power. At the system power factor, here is what a 500 kVA unit actually delivers:
| Power factor | Real power available | Rated LV current at 400 V |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 (resistive only) | 500 kW | 722 A |
| 0.9 | 450 kW | 722 A |
| 0.8 (typical mixed load) | 400 kW | 722 A |
| 0.7 (motor-heavy) | 350 kW | 722 A |
The rated current on the low voltage side is about 722 A regardless of power factor; the power factor determines how much of that current does useful work. On the high voltage side the rated current is roughly 26.2 A at 11 kV and 8.7 A at 33 kV, which is what you need for selecting the HV protection and cable. As a rule of thumb, size the transformer so that peak demand sits around 80 percent of rating — that leaves headroom for motor starting and a few years of load growth.
The six factors that move the price
1. Voltage class
A 33 kV primary winding needs more insulation, larger clearances, higher-grade bushings and a taller tank. Expect 40 to 70 percent more than the equivalent 11 kV unit. At 500 kVA the tap changer question also becomes real: if your network voltage swings widely, an on-load tap changer is often worth its cost, and it is much easier to build in at the factory than to add later.
2. Loss grade
S11, S13, S20 and S22 refer to the loss levels defined in China's efficiency standard, and equivalent classes exist under the European EcoDesign regulation. Lower losses mean more or better core steel and a more carefully built core, so price rises with the grade. At 500 kVA the absolute wattage is large enough that the payback calculation is worth doing properly.
3. Winding material
Copper is the traditional choice; aluminium saves 20 to 30 percent on the transformer and reduces weight, which also lowers freight. At 500 kVA the weight difference is several hundred kilograms, so it shows up in both the price and the shipping bill. Both are legitimate — the decision is about life-cycle cost and tender requirements, not about quality.
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, INMETRO for Brazil — is arranged per shipment. It is a real cost line, and a supplier who has done it before will save you weeks at the port.
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 a vapour barrier costs more than a skid, and is worth it for long sea routes and humid destinations.
Shipping: how many units fit in a container
A 500 kVA oil transformer occupies roughly 1.85 × 1.15 × 1.65 m and weighs about 1.8 tonnes. Transformers are not stacked, so capacity is set by floor area and payload together: a 20 ft container takes 4 to 6 units and a 40 ft high-cube container 8 to 10 units. On many routes the payload limit, not the floor area, is what decides the final count — so always confirm the figure with the actual packing drawing.
Because freight is charged per container, consolidating is where the money is. A mixed load of 500 kVA units with smaller ratings almost always beats two part-load shipments on landed cost per unit. Ask for the freight figure separately with a validity date: a CIF quotation to your port valid for 15 days is comparable between suppliers, a vague "freight extra" is not.
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: 500 kVA
- Voltage ratio: for example 11/0.4 kV or 33/0.415 kV
- Frequency: 50 Hz or 60 Hz
- Vector group and impedance: Dyn11 and 4% or 4.5% 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, packing and freight can be priced correctly
Why buyers choose BeiDian for 500 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 ratings that matter, and why we can build a 500 kVA unit to your consultant's drawings rather than only to ours.
- 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-2000/10, S20-M-2000/10-NX2 and SCB14-2000/10-NX2.
- In-house laboratory with lightning impulse generator, partial discharge detector and temperature-rise test capability, so type test evidence can be produced without queueing at an external lab.
- 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 500 kVA transformer cost?
Budget USD 5,000 to 7,000 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 much load can a 500 kVA transformer carry?
At a power factor of 0.8 it supplies about 400 kW of real power continuously. Rated current is roughly 722 A on the 400 V side, 26.2 A on an 11 kV side and 8.7 A on a 33 kV side. Aim to sit at around 80 percent of rating at peak demand.
Should a 500 kVA transformer be oil immersed or dry type?
Oil immersed for outdoor and separate substation duty — roughly half the price of the equivalent cast resin unit, better overload capability and easy to fit with an on-load tap changer. Cast resin dry-type for indoor, basement, hospital, data centre and tunnel installations where fire safety and smoke toxicity matter more. A 500 kVA cast resin unit typically costs 60 to 80 percent more.
How long does delivery take?
Production is typically 20 to 30 working days for an 11 kV unit and 30 to 40 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.
What does installation involve?
A 500 kVA unit weighs about 1.8 tonnes and needs a concrete plinth, cable trench or duct, earthing and a clearance envelope for ventilation and cable bending radius. If oil travels separately it must be filled at site by trained personnel. Allow roughly one day for crane offload and positioning plus a further day for termination, earthing and pre-energisation checks.
Related reading: 100 kVA transformer price guide · 250 kVA transformer price guide · 33 kV distribution transformer selection guide
Get a firm price for your 500 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.