Caterpillar Excavator Models List: Old and New CAT Models Compared

A search for a CAT 320 returns 10 listings. One says 320C, one says 320D3, one says 320GC. Same price, different load weight, different weight machines. It’s trouble buying a product based on just a model number. You’ll find an operational Caterpillar excavator models list, a size and weight chart, […] The post Caterpillar Excavator Models List: Old and New CAT Models Compared appeared first on Used Equipment.

Oct 27, 2026 - 16:30

Caterpillar Excavator Models List: Old and New CAT Models Compared

A search for a CAT 320 returns 10 listings. One says 320C, one says 320D3, one says 320GC. Same price, different load weight, different weight machines. It’s trouble buying a product based on just a model number.

You’ll find an operational Caterpillar excavator models list, a size and weight chart, and a simple means to compare the old vs. new machines before you contact a seller. Weights and specifications below are from the data published by Caterpillar unless otherwise stated.

Caterpillar Excavator Models by Size

Caterpillar categorises Caterpillar track excavators by size. Generally, the higher the model number the heavier the machine. Names and availability can change from one generation to the next, and are variable by market, so this is a map, not a catalog.

Mini excavators: 300.9D, 301.5, 302, 303, 304, 305 and 306 series. Cat’s mini range starts near 2,061 lb (300.9D) and passes 21,000 lb (309 CR).
Small excavators: 313, 315, 317 and 319.
Medium excavators: 320, 323, 325, 326, 330 and 335.
Large excavators: 336, 340, 350, 352, 374 and 395.
Special-purpose: wheel excavators, demolition excavators and long-reach configuration.

When consumers compare excavators, they are typically sorted by size, and that’s how CAT’s mini, small, medium and large excavators are usually classified.

CAT Excavator Sizes and Weights Chart

Here is a CAT excavator sizes chart for six common models. Figures are Caterpillar’s listed operating weights for the standard configuration of the current version.

Model	Size class	Operating weight	Typical application
CAT 301.5	Mini	3,913 lb (1,775 kg)	Landscaping and utility work
CAT 305 CR	Mini	12,688 lb (5,754 kg)	Compact construction
CAT 315	Small	34,000 lb (15,400 kg)	Site preparation and excavation
CAT 320	Medium	49,800 lb (22,600 kg)	General construction and earthmoving
CAT 336	Large	81,100 lb	Heavy excavation, larger projects
CAT 395	Large	207,400 lb (94,100 kg)	High-volume earthmoving, mining-related work

These CAT excavator sizes and weights shift with the boom, stick, track shoes, counterweight and bucket. Caterpillar’s own 2016 release listed an early Next Generation 336 at 75,800 lb, so the same model number can carry different figures. For a used machine, check the exact year and configuration.

CAT 320 Excavator Models Explained

The 320 is the one most buyers ask about, and it shows why model families matter. A family is a model line. A listing is one specific machine with its own year, hours and setup.

The CAT 320 excavator specifications have changed across generations. The 320D3 is listed at 46,300 lb, 123 hp and a 20.8 ft maximum digging depth. The current Cat 320 is listed at 49,800 lb, 172 hp and 22 ft. Older CAT 320C machines sit around 48,000 lb in published spec charts.

CAT 320 vs 320CL

The letters carry meaning. The “C” points to the generation. The “L” generally means a long undercarriage, which gives longer tracks and a steadier base. A CAT 320CL excavator will usually weigh more than a standard 320C and can handle heavier lifting. Always confirm the setup on the machine in front of you.

Old Caterpillar Excavator Models List

The old Caterpillar excavator models list most buyers see on the used market includes the 312, 315, 320C and 320D, 325, 330C and 330D, 345 and 365 generations. The 329EL and 336EL also turn up often in the used Caterpillar excavator models list of dealers and auctions.

Letter suffixes (C, D, E, F) mark generations. Newer “Next Generation” machines drop the letter. We are not putting production years on whole families here, because a family spans several years and the real year sits with the individual machine.

Caterpillar Excavator Models by Year

A Caterpillar excavator models list by year can mislead, since model generation and build year are two separate facts. To find the year of a specific machine:

Read the CAT excavator year and serial number (the product identification number) on the frame plate.
Ask the seller for machine records and paperwork.
Have a Cat dealer confirm the build date from the serial number if the paperwork is thin.

Who Buys Used CAT Excavators and Where They Work

Buyers come from a few groups. Landscapers and utility crews pick mini machines for tight sites. General contractors and site developers lean toward the 315 to 330 range for trenching, foundations and road work. Quarries, mass-excavation firms and fleet managers look at the 336 and above, where volume matters more than size limits. Rental fleets buy all three.

Most of them look at used machines for the same reasons: lower cash outlay, shorter wait than a factory order, and a model with a known parts supply.

New vs Used CAT Excavators: Price Difference

New machines cost real money. Milton Cat’s mini excavator page lists MSRP starting at $45,535 for the 302 CR, $80,206 for the 305 CR and $93,413 for the 306 CR. Larger models are quoted on request.

Used prices depend on year, hours, size, undercarriage wear and location, so there is no honest single range. A used machine has already taken the early depreciation, which is where most value loss tends to happen. Ask for a current quote on the exact unit.

Mico Equipment sells its used machines as they came in. They are described as in good condition. If a buyer wants an inspection or a report, that can be requested and arranged.

How to Choose the Right Used CAT Excavator

Compare machines on these points, not on model number alone:

Digging depth and reach for your jobs. The 320 reaches about 22 ft, the 336 around 24 ft 7 in on the 2016 spec.
Excavator operating weight and your transport limits.
Excavator engine power and hydraulic performance.
Track and undercarriage wear.
Hours, maintenance records and past repairs.
Attachments and the work you plan to do.
Total cost: purchase price, freight and running costs.

A used excavator inspection checklist helps here. Cover the engine, hydraulics, pins and bushings, undercarriage and the boom and stick welds.

Find Used CAT Track Excavators for Sale

Mico Equipment has supplied heavy equipment to US buyers since 2008. Browse the current inventory of used CAT excavator for sale listings at www.micoequipment.com, compare model, year and hours, and ask about any unit you like.

Browse used track excavators for sale and request details on the machine that fits your job.

Pick the Size First, Then the Machine

Start with the job, which sets the size class. Then compare the model generation, the build year, the specs and the condition. Review current inventory and contact the seller for details on a specific unit.

Ready to compare? Check the Caterpillar excavator models list against live stock at Mico Equipment today.