Caterpillar 320 Hydraulic Excavator
Cat 320 next-generation medium hydraulic excavator specs: 172 hp net power, 49,800 lb operating weight, 22 ft max digging depth, 1.56 yd3 bucket basis, and Tier 4 Final / Stage V emissions.
Quick answer
Caterpillar 320 Hydraulic Excavator Specs at a Glance
The Caterpillar 320 Hydraulic Excavator is a 49,800 lb crawler excavator rated at 172 net horsepower with a listed max dig depth of 22.00 ft. Use this page to check the core model specs, then confirm the exact serial range, blade or bucket, undercarriage, counterweight, hydraulic options, and emissions package before using the numbers for purchase, transport, or bid decisions.
Spec basis: Reach boom, R2.9 (9 ft 6 in) stick, 1.19 m3 (1.56 yd3) Heavy Duty bucket, 790 mm (31 in) triple grouser shoes, and 4200 kg (10,400 lb) counterweight.
Research Path
Next Steps for CAT 320 Next Gen
Key OEM Spec Summary
Fuel burn and hourly operating cost are Heavy Equipment Hub editorial estimates for planning. They are not OEM guaranteed values.
Complete OEM Technical Data Sheet
Verified OEM engine parameters, hydraulic pressure circuits, digging forces, and transport dimensions.
| Reference Name | Caterpillar 320 Medium Excavator product specifications |
| Primary OEM Reference | https://www.cat.com/en_GB/products/new/equipment/excavators/medium-excavators/126532.html |
| Spec Configuration | Reach boom, R2.9 (9 ft 6 in) stick, 1.19 m3 (1.56 yd3) Heavy Duty bucket, 790 mm (31 in) triple grouser shoes, and 4200 kg (10,400 lb) counterweight. |
| Last Reviewed | September 2026 |
| Cost and Fuel Note | Fuel burn and hourly operating cost are Heavy Equipment Hub editorial estimates for planning. They are not OEM guaranteed values. |
| Engine Make & Model | Cat C4.4 |
| Net Power (ISO 9249) | 172 HP (128.5 kW) |
| Engine Power (ISO 14396) | 174 HP (129.4 kW) |
| Engine Displacement | 4.4 L (269 cu in) |
| Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Aspiration | Turbocharged Air-to-Air Aftercooled |
| Bore x Stroke | 4.13 in x 5.00 in (105 mm x 127 mm) |
| Biodiesel Capability | Up to B20 where approved |
| Advertised Net Power Note | Net power is measured at the flywheel with fan, intake, exhaust, and alternator installed at 2,200 rpm. |
| Operating Weight | 49,800 lbs (22,600 kg) |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 91.1 gal (345 L) |
| DEF Fluid Capacity | 10.3 gal (39 L) |
| Hydraulic System Capacity | 61.8 gal (234 L) |
| Hydraulic Tank Capacity | 30.4 gal (115 L) |
| Cooling System Capacity | 6.6 gal (25 L) |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4.0 gal (15 L) |
| Swing Drive Capacity | 1.6 gal (6 L) |
| Final Drive Capacity - Each | 1.1 gal (4 L) |
| Swing Speed | 11.25 rpm |
| Swing Torque | 60,300 lbf-ft (82 kN-m) |
| Max Travel Speed | 3.5 mph (5.7 km/h) |
| Drawbar Pull | 46,086 lbf (205 kN) |
| Main Pump Type | Variable Displacement Axial Piston (x2) |
| Main System Max Flow | 113 gpm (429 L/min) |
| Equipment Pressure | 5,075 psi (35,000 kPa) |
| Equipment Pressure - Lift Mode | 5,510 psi (38,000 kPa) |
| Travel Circuit Pressure | 4,974 psi (34,300 kPa) |
| Swing Circuit Pressure | 3,988 psi (27,500 kPa) |
| Pilot System Flow | 4.8 gpm (18 L/min) |
| Boom | Reach boom 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in) |
| Stick | Reach stick 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) |
| Bucket | 1.19 m3 (1.56 yd3) Heavy Duty bucket |
| Max Digging Depth | 22.0 ft (6.72 m) |
| Max Reach Along Ground | 32.3 ft (9.86 m) |
| Max Cutting Height | 30.7 ft (9.37 m) |
| Max Loading Height | 21.3 ft (6.49 m) |
| Minimum Loading Height | 7.1 ft (2.17 m) |
| Max Depth Cut for 8 ft Level Bottom | 21.5 ft (6.55 m) |
| Max Vertical Wall Dig Depth | 17.0 ft (5.19 m) |
| Bucket Digging Force (ISO) | 31,586 lbf (141 kN) |
| Stick Digging Force (ISO) | 23,987 lbf (107 kN) |
| Shipping Length | 31.3 ft (9.53 m) |
| Shipping Height | 9.7 ft (2.96 m) |
| Transport Width | 9.8 ft (2.98 m) |
| Tail Swing Radius | 9.3 ft (2.83 m) |
| Track Length | 14.6 ft (4.45 m) |
| Length to Center of Rollers | 11.7 ft (3.65 m) |
| Track Gauge | 7.8 ft (2.38 m) |
| Track Shoe Width | 31.5 in (800 mm) |
| Ground Clearance | 1.5 ft (0.47 m) |
| Counterweight Clearance | 3.4 ft (1.05 m) |
| Best Fit | Contractors who need a general-purpose 20-ton class excavator for trenching, truck loading, site prep, and mixed utility work. |
| Verify Before Transport | Operating weight can change with bucket, thumb, quick coupler, counterweight, stick length, guard packages, and track shoe width. |
| Attachment Checks | Confirm auxiliary hydraulic flow, pressure setting, return filter requirements, and tool control setup before pairing hammers, thumbs, grapples, or tiltrotators. |
| Common Long-Tail Searches Answered | Cat 320 operating weight, Cat 320 horsepower, Cat 320 dig depth, Cat 320 bucket size, Cat 320 hydraulic flow, Cat 320 fuel consumption estimate. |
Machine Architecture & Operational Overview
The Caterpillar 320 is a 20-ton class crawler excavator built around a Cat C4.4 engine, electro-hydraulic controls, fuel-saving hydraulics, and factory technology such as Cat Grade with 2D and Cat Payload. For fleet buyers and estimators, the important comparison points are not just horsepower: operating weight affects transport and ground pressure, boom and stick configuration determines dig depth and reach, and hydraulic pressure/flow determines attachment compatibility. The values below use the common reach boom, R2.9 stick, 1.56 yd3 bucket, 31-inch triple grouser shoe, and 10,400 lb counterweight reference configuration. Fuel burn and hourly operating cost are planning estimates, not OEM-guaranteed figures.
Primary Jobsite Applications: Utility trenching, site preparation, truck loading, basement excavation, road construction, drainage work, demolition sorting, and medium-duty attachment work
Buyer and Fleet Checklist
Before You Use These Specs
Transport Planning
Confirm weight, width, height, bucket or blade removal, counterweight, shoe width, tire package, permits, and trailer capacity against the actual machine configuration.
Attachment Matching
Check hydraulic flow, relief pressure, coupler style, case drain, return filtration, tool control, lifting limits, and dealer-approved attachment charts.
Cost Per Hour
Build the hourly rate from fuel, DEF, preventive maintenance, wear parts, tires or undercarriage, repairs, depreciation, finance cost, insurance, and utilization.
Spec Accuracy
Use the source link and configuration note as the starting point, then verify serial range and local-market literature before purchase, repair, hauling, or bid work.
Common Long-Tail Searches This Page Answers
What is the operating weight?
49,800 lb, depending on configuration.
How much horsepower does it have?
172 net hp for the listed engine configuration.
What is the maximum dig depth?
22.00 ft with the listed boom and stick setup.
What should be verified before use?
Serial prefix, attachment package, counterweight, track shoe width, emissions tier, and local dealer documentation.
Caterpillar 320 Hydraulic Excavator FAQ
What is the operating weight of the Caterpillar 320 Hydraulic Excavator?
The listed operating weight is 49,800 lb for the referenced configuration. Buckets, blades, couplers, thumbs, guards, counterweights, tires, track shoes, fuel level, and regional packages can change the final transport weight.
How much horsepower does the Caterpillar 320 Hydraulic Excavator have?
The listed net horsepower is 172 hp. Confirm the exact engine rating standard, emissions package, and model year before using the value for bidding, rental comparison, or attachment sizing.
Is the fuel burn shown here an OEM guaranteed number?
No. The fuel burn and hourly cost values are Heavy Equipment Hub planning estimates. Real fuel use changes with load factor, idle time, operator habits, hydraulic demand, underfoot conditions, maintenance condition, and job cycle.
What should I verify before buying, renting, or transporting this machine?
Verify serial range, configuration, attachment package, fluid specifications, transport dimensions, tire or track setup, counterweight, emissions equipment, service history, and the latest OEM or dealer documentation.
Recommended OEM Filters & Fluid Maintenance Kits
Caterpillar 500-Hour Scheduled Maintenance Filter Kit
Official heavy duty hydraulic return filters, engine oil filters, fuel water separators, and SOS fluid sampling bottles.
Caterpillar 320 Hydraulic Excavator Knowledge Base & Topic Cluster
Deep-dive technical guides attached to this master machine pillar.
Caterpillar 320 Hydraulic System Maintenance & 500-Hour Service Guide
A Cat 320 hydraulic maintenance guide for 500-hour service planning, oil sampling, return filters, hydraulic tank breathers, cooler airflow, work tool plumbing, and undercarriage-linked service records.
Cat 320 Hydraulic Power Loss Troubleshooting: Slow Boom, Weak Travel & Pump Noise
A Cat 320 troubleshooting workflow for slow boom response, weak stick-in, lazy bucket curl, weak travel, pump noise, hydraulic heat, attachment fade, contamination, and pressure-test planning.
Cat 320 Hourly Operating Cost Breakdown: Fuel, Maintenance, Tracks & Ownership
Cat 320 cost per hour guide using 5.2 gal/hr fuel burn, diesel price, DEF, 500-hour maintenance, undercarriage reserve, attachment wear, utilization, ownership and job-bid assumptions.
Caterpillar 320 vs Komatsu PC200: 20-Ton Excavator Specs, Fuel Burn and Ownership Comparison
Compare Cat 320 vs Komatsu PC200-11 by operating weight, horsepower, dig depth, bucket capacity, hydraulic flow, fuel burn estimate, dealer support, attachments, transport and ownership cost.
Winterizing 20-Ton Excavators: Cold Start, Fuel, DEF & Hydraulic Prep
A Cat 320 winter and seasonal maintenance guide for cold starts, fuel gelling, DEF handling, hydraulic warm-up, batteries, track cleaning, summer cooling airflow, storage and return-to-service checks.
Fleet Management Specs
Spec Verification
Core machine values are checked against the Caterpillar 320 Medium Excavator product specifications. Configuration-sensitive values should still be verified against the exact serial range and dealer spec sheet.
Primary OEM reference