How Much Does an Excavator Weigh?
Operating and shipping weights for 11 excavators, from compact minis to the Cat 395
Quick answer
How much does an excavator weigh?
It ranges from a few thousand pounds for the smallest minis to over 200,000 lbs for mining machines. In the makers' own figures, a Cat 308 CR mini weighs about 20,800 lbs, a Cat 320 about 49,800 lbs, a Cat 336 about 81,100 lbs and a Cat 395 about 207,400 lbs. Weight decides the trailer and whether a move needs an overweight permit.
Updated November 2026 by the Quickway Transports broker team (FMCSA MC# 1245224).
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request_quote Get a QuoteExcavator weight chart by model
Operating weights from Caterpillar, Komatsu, John Deere and Volvo spec sheets. Operating weight includes fluids, an operator and, for most models, the bucket; Caterpillar's mini excavator figures leave the bucket out.
| Model | Operating weight | Shipping weight | Gross on a truck and RGN | Overweight permit? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caterpillar 305 CR | 12,688 lbs (5.8 t) | not published | 47,688 lbs to 57,688 lbs | No |
| Caterpillar 308 CR | 20,771 lbs (9.4 t) | not published | 55,771 lbs to 65,771 lbs | No |
| Caterpillar 320 | 49,800 lbs (22.6 t) | not published | 84,800 lbs to 94,800 lbs | Yes |
| Volvo EC230 | 51,588 lbs (23.4 t) | not published | 86,588 lbs to 96,588 lbs | Yes |
| Komatsu PC220LC-12 | 54,013 lbs (24.5 t) | not published | 89,013 lbs to 99,013 lbs | Yes |
| Komatsu PC360LC-11 | 80,488 lbs (36.5 t) | not published | 115,488 lbs to 125,488 lbs | Yes |
| John Deere 350 P-Tier | 80,985 lbs (36.7 t) | not published | 115,985 lbs to 125,985 lbs | Yes |
| Caterpillar 336 | 81,100 lbs (36.8 t) | not published | 116,100 lbs to 126,100 lbs | Yes |
| Caterpillar 349 | 105,200 lbs (47.7 t) | not published | 140,200 lbs to 150,200 lbs | Yes |
| Komatsu PC490LC-11 | 107,850 lbs (48.9 t) | not published | 142,850 lbs to 152,850 lbs | Yes |
| Caterpillar 395 | 207,400 lbs (94.1 t) | not published | 242,400 lbs to 252,400 lbs | Yes |
Weights from each maker's spec sheet or brochure, checked October 2026; t is metric tons (2,204.6 lbs). Shipping weight is the maker's published transport weight where one exists. Gross adds a tractor and RGN of 35,000 to 45,000 lbs, compared with the 80,000 lbs federal gross limit; axle and bridge-formula limits can also apply.
What the size class in the name means
Excavators are grouped by operating weight in metric tons, and dealers name the class that way: a 3-ton, 6-ton or 20-ton excavator. One metric ton is 2,205 lbs, so the class gives a rough weight before you look up the model.
Models in the same class still differ. Caterpillar sells the 305 CR as a 5-ton class mini, yet its spec sheet lists 12,688 lbs without a bucket, about 5.8 metric tons.
| Size class | Approximate weight |
|---|---|
| 2-ton | about 4,400 lbs |
| 3-ton | about 6,600 lbs |
| 5-ton | about 11,000 lbs |
| 6-ton | about 13,200 lbs |
| 8-ton | about 17,600 lbs |
| 20-ton | about 44,100 lbs |
| 30-ton | about 66,100 lbs |
| 50-ton | about 110,200 lbs |
Conversions at 2,205 lbs per metric ton. Check the spec sheet for the exact model and configuration.
Cat 320 excavator weight
Caterpillar lists the 320 at 49,800 lbs operating weight with a long undercarriage, an 18 ft 8 in reach boom, a 9 ft 6 in stick and a 1.56 cubic yard bucket. It is 10 ft 5 in wide and 10 ft 4 in tall in shipping position.
On an RGN that is over legal width, and with a 35,000 to 45,000 lb tractor and trailer the gross lands around 85,000 to 95,000 lbs, so a Cat 320 moves on an overweight permit in every state.
Cat 336 weight
The 336 weighs 81,100 lbs in Caterpillar's standard configuration with a 21 ft 4 in reach boom, 12 ft 10 in stick and 2.61 cubic yard bucket. In shipping position it is 11 ft 9 in wide and 12 ft tall, about 14 ft on a 2 ft deck.
Its gross on a truck and RGN comes to roughly 116,000 to 126,000 lbs. That is close to the 120,000 lb line where Ohio's routine permits end and superload rules begin, so the exact rig and axle setup matter.
How weight decides the trailer and the permit
A tractor and RGN weigh roughly 35,000 to 45,000 lbs empty, and the federal limit on the Interstate is 80,000 lbs gross. An excavator up to about 35,000 lbs can usually move at legal weight, one between 35,000 and 45,000 lbs depends on the actual rig, and anything heavier needs an overweight permit.
Width often triggers a permit first: from the 20-ton class up, most excavators are wider than 8 ft 6 in across the tracks. Removing the bucket or, on large machines, the counterweight is the usual way to bring a load under a limit.
Excavator Weight Questions
Mini excavators, size classes, buckets and permits.
How much does a mini excavator weigh?
What does a 20-ton excavator weigh?
How much does a John Deere 350 excavator weigh?
Does excavator weight include the bucket?
Can an excavator move without an overweight permit?
Sources
We last checked the figures above against these official sources in November 2026. Before each move, the carrier's permit service confirms the rules in force that day.
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