The Cat 320 is one of Caterpillar’s medium hydraulic excavators. The US Tier 4 Final machine weighs 49,800 lb (22,600 kg) in its standard setup, has a Cat C4.4 engine rated at 172 hp net, and digs 21 ft 9 in deep with the reach boom and 9 ft 6 in stick.
Caterpillar · Hydraulic excavator
320
| Operating weight49,800 lb | Net power172 hp | Max dig depth21’9″ | Bucket digging force36,711 lbf |
Source: Caterpillar, 320 spec sheet (Tier 4 Final). Reach boom, R2.9 stick, 4.2 mt counterweight.
Cat 320 at a glance
Cat C4.4 engine, Tier 4 Final
172 hp net (ISO 9249) and 174 hp under ISO 14396 at 2,200 rpm, from a 4.4 L twin-turbo diesel. It meets U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final and EU Stage V, and Cat lists three power modes: Power, Smart and Eco.
113 gpm hydraulics with Auto Dig Boost
Two pumps deliver 113 gpm at up to 5,075 psi, rising to 5,510 psi in Heavy Lift or Auto Dig Boost. Boost lifts bucket digging force from 36,711 to 39,858 lbf.
Three front configurations
Reach boom with a 9 ft 6 in stick (49,800 lb), a heavy-duty reach front with a thumb-ready stick and 4.7 mt counterweight (53,600 lb), or Super Long Reach, which digs 37 ft 10 in deep (52,700 lb).
Cat Assist, Payload and E-Fence
Cat lists Grade, Boom, Bucket, Swing and Lift Assist, Cat Payload on-board weighing, 2D E-Fence, Cat Grade 2D and 3D, a 10 in touchscreen and Stick Steer. Which are standard depends on the build and region, so check with a dealer.
How much does a Cat 320 weigh?
The Cat 320 weighs 49,800 lb (22,600 kg) with the reach boom, 9 ft 6 in stick, 1.56 yd³ heavy-duty bucket, 31 in shoes and 4.2 mt counterweight. That is about 24.9 US tons. Heavier fronts push it past 52,000 lb. All of Cat’s operating weights include a 90% fuel tank and a 165 lb operator.
| Configuration | Operating weight | Ground pressure |
|---|---|---|
| Reach boom, R2.9 stick, 1.56 yd³ HD bucket, 4.2 mt counterweight | 49,800 lb (22,600 kg) | 5.2 psi |
| HD reach boom, HD R2.9 thumb-ready stick, 1.56 yd³ HD bucket, 4.7 mt counterweight | 53,600 lb (24,300 kg) | 5.6 psi |
| Super Long Reach boom and stick, 0.69 yd³ GD bucket, 4.7 mt counterweight | 52,700 lb (23,900 kg) | 5.5 psi |
The component weights help when a machine ships in pieces or you change the front. For example, the heavy-duty reach boom weighs 4,400 lb against 3,800 lb for the standard reach boom, and the 4.7 mt counterweight is 10,400 lb against 9,300 lb.
Cat 320 specifications
US and metric figures are both as Cat prints them for the Tier 4 Final machine.
Engine
| Spec | US | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Engine model | Cat C4.4 | Cat C4.4 |
| Net power, ISO 9249 | 172 hp | 128.5 kW |
| Engine power, ISO 14396 | 174 hp | 129.4 kW |
| Engine speed | 2,200 rpm | 2,200 rpm |
| Displacement | 269 in³ | 4.4 L |
| Emissions | EPA Tier 4 Final | EU Stage V |
Hydraulics, swing and travel
| Spec | US | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Main system max flow (2 pumps) | 113 gpm | 429 L/min |
| Max pressure, equipment, normal | 5,075 psi | 35,000 kPa |
| Max pressure, Heavy Lift / Auto Dig Boost | 5,510 psi | 38,000 kPa |
| Max pressure, travel / swing | 4,974 / 3,998 psi | 34,300 / 27,500 kPa |
| Swing speed | 11.25 rpm | 11.25 rpm |
| Max swing torque | 60,300 lbf-ft | 82 kN·m |
| Max travel speed | 3.5 mph | 5.7 km/h |
| Max drawbar pull, long undercarriage | 45,996 lbf | 205 kN |
| Gradeability | 35° / 70% | 35° / 70% |
Fluid capacities
| Spec | US | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel tank | 86.6 gal | 345 L |
| DEF tank | 10.3 gal | 39 L |
| Hydraulic system (incl. tank) | 61.8 gal | 234 L |
| Hydraulic tank | 30.4 gal | 115 L |
| Cooling system | 6.6 gal | 25 L |
| Engine oil | 4.0 gal | 15 L |
Dimensions (reach boom, R2.9 stick)
| Spec | US | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping length, boom/stick/bucket installed | 31’3″ | 9,530 mm |
| Shipping height, boom/stick/bucket installed | 10’4″ | 3,160 mm |
| Top of cab height | 9’9″ | 2,960 mm |
| Undercarriage width, 31 in shoes | 10’5″ | 3,170 mm |
| Upperframe width | 9’1″ | 2,780 mm |
| Tail swing radius | 9’3″ | 2,830 mm |
| Track length / track gauge | 14’7″ / 7’9″ | 4,450 / 2,380 mm |
| Ground clearance / counterweight clearance | 1’7″ / 3’5″ | 470 / 1,050 mm |
How deep can a Cat 320 dig?
With the reach boom and 9 ft 6 in stick, the 320 digs 21 ft 9 in deep and reaches 32 ft 0 in at ground level. The Super Long Reach front digs 37 ft 10 in and reaches 51 ft 1 in, but its bucket and stick digging forces are much lower: 13,841 and 10,966 lbf.
| Working range | Reach boom, R2.9 stick | Super Long Reach |
|---|---|---|
| Max digging depth | 21’9″ (6,620 mm) | 37’10” (11,540 mm) |
| Max reach at ground line | 32’0″ (9,760 mm) | 51’1″ (15,570 mm) |
| Max cutting height | 30’7″ (9,330 mm) | 44’5″ (13,540 mm) |
| Max loading height | 21’7″ (6,590 mm) | 37’6″ (11,440 mm) |
| Depth for 8 ft level bottom | 21’2″ (6,440 mm) | 37’6″ (11,440 mm) |
| Vertical wall digging depth | 17’7″ (5,360 mm) | 36’2″ (11,020 mm) |
| Bucket digging force (ISO) | 36,711 lbf (39,858 with boost) | 13,841 lbf |
| Stick digging force (ISO) | 24,486 lbf (26,585 with boost) | 10,966 lbf |
Check the 21 ft 7 in maximum loading height against the side height of the trucks you plan to load. For estimating the dirt a job will produce, see the Excavation Cost Calculator, which also accounts for OSHA sloped sides.
How much can a Cat 320 pick up?
It depends on how far out and how high the load is. These are Cat’s figures at ground level for the reach boom and R2.9 stick with the 4.2 mt counterweight, Heavy Lift on and no bucket.
| Load radius | Over front | Over side |
|---|---|---|
| 15 ft | *25,200 lb | 15,250 lb |
| 20 ft | 16,450 lb | 10,300 lb |
| 25 ft | 11,900 lb | 7,600 lb |
| 27.5 ft (max reach) | *10,300 lb | 6,850 lb |
Lifting over the side is always the lower figure, about 60 to 67 percent of the over-front value here. Cat’s full chart covers other heights, the heavy-duty and Super Long Reach fronts, and notes that capacity stays within 5 percent across the available track shoes.
Hauling a Cat 320
- Weight: 49,800 lb (about 24.9 tons) in the standard setup, up to 53,600 lb (26.8 tons) with the heavy-duty front.
- Width: 10 ft 5 in over 31 in shoes, wider than the 102 in (8 ft 6 in) vehicle width in federal rules (23 CFR 658.15), so on public roads it moves as an oversize load. Check your state’s permit rules.
- Length and height: 31 ft 3 in long and 10 ft 4 in high in shipping position with the boom, stick and bucket on, before adding the trailer deck height.
Why you see two Cat 320 spec sheets
Search results mix two different machines. The US 320 on this page (spec sheet AEXQ2161) has the Tier 4 Final C4.4 engine. Cat also publishes a 320 spec sheet, AEXQ2219, for markets where a Tier 3 equivalent engine is allowed. That version has a Cat C7.1 rated at 157 hp net and weighs 48,500 lb in its standard setup. Make sure a spec, part or quote matches the version in front of you.
| Spec | 320, Tier 4 Final (US) | 320, Tier 3 equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Spec sheet | AEXQ2161-07 | AEXQ2219-07 |
| Engine | Cat C4.4, 4.4 L | Cat C7.1, 7.01 L |
| Net power (ISO 9249) | 172 hp | 157 hp |
| Operating weight (standard setup) | 49,800 lb | 48,500 lb |
| Emissions | EPA Tier 4 Final / EU Stage V | Brazil MAR-1, equivalent to EPA Tier 3 |
Cat 320 vs. Cat 308 CR
The Cat 308 CR is Cat’s mini excavator. The 320 weighs about 2.7 times as much and delivers about 2.6 times the bucket digging force.
| Spec | Cat 320 | Cat 308 CR |
|---|---|---|
| Operating weight | 49,800 lb | 18,610 lb |
| Net power | 172 hp | 69.5 hp |
| Max dig depth | 21’9″ | 13’5.7″ |
| Bucket digging force | 36,711 lbf | 13,946 lbf |
| Fuel tank | 86.6 gal | 39 gal |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Cat 320 excavator weigh?
The US Tier 4 Final Cat 320 weighs 49,800 lb (22,600 kg) with the reach boom, 9 ft 6 in stick, heavy-duty bucket and 4.2 mt counterweight. The heavy-duty front brings it to 53,600 lb and the Super Long Reach front to 52,700 lb.
How much can a Cat 320 pick up?
At ground level with the reach boom and Heavy Lift on, Cat lists 16,450 lb over the front and 10,300 lb over the side at a 20 ft radius, and 11,900 lb over the front at 25 ft. Deduct the bucket and rigging.
How much horsepower does a Cat 320 have?
The US Tier 4 Final Cat 320 has a Cat C4.4 engine rated at 172 hp net (ISO 9249) and 174 hp under ISO 14396. The Tier 3 equivalent version sold in other markets has a C7.1 rated at 157 hp net.
How deep can a Cat 320 dig?
21 ft 9 in with the reach boom and 9 ft 6 in stick, and 37 ft 10 in with the Super Long Reach front.
What is the fuel tank capacity of a Cat 320?
86.6 gal (345 L), plus a 10.3 gal (39 L) DEF tank on the Tier 4 Final machine.
How wide is a Cat 320?
10 ft 5 in (3,170 mm) over 31 in shoes, with a 9 ft 1 in upperframe and a 9 ft 3 in tail swing radius.
Sources
- Caterpillar, 320 Hydraulic Excavator Technical Specifications AEXQ2161-07 (09-2023), Tier 4 Final. Checked September 26, 2026.
- Caterpillar, 320 Hydraulic Excavator Technical Specifications AEXQ2219-07 (09-2023), Tier 3 equivalent, for the comparison.
- Caterpillar, 320 Hydraulic Excavator product page.
- 23 CFR 658.15, Width, for the 102 in vehicle width limit.
- Tons by BucketMath: 1 US ton = 2,000 lb.
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