Ford F-250 vs Ram 2500: Which Used Buy Wins?
As used buys (October 2026), the Ford F-250 typically lists for $63,900 against $47,291 for the Ram 2500 (same model years — 2024–2026 — national medians from live listings). the Ford F-250 leads on NCAP safety (4.4★ vs 4.0★ average). Overall medians mix very different trims — at the cheapest common trims it's the XLT at $53,916 vs the TRADESMAN at $43,594; see the trim-by-trim tables for a fair match. Every figure below is live market data, not book values.
Head to head
Trim-by-trim prices (last 4 model years)
A fair comparison matches equivalent trims, not overall medians. Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, the Ford F-250 XLT ($53,916) faces the Ram 2500 TRADESMAN ($43,594); the most common trims on the market are the LARIAT (49.0% of Ford F-250 listings) and the BIG HORN (52.5% of Ram 2500 listings); at the top of the market, the PLATINUM ($90,258) faces the LARAMIE ($55,605). Share = portion of the model's trim-labeled used listings (a supply-side popularity signal: what the market actually stocks and sells most). “Cheapest”/“Priciest” mark the ends of the quotable trim range — trim ladders don't map one-to-one across brands, so this is not a factory base-model claim.
| Ford F-250 | Ram 2500 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trim | Typical price | Share | Trim | Typical price | Share |
| XL SUPERCAB LB | $35,948 | 0.6% | TRADESMANCheapest | $43,594 | 12.8% |
| XL LB | $40,354 | 0.6% | BIG HORNMost popular | $44,962 | 52.5% |
| XL CREW CAB LB | $42,713 | 1.3% | BIG HORN/LONESTAR | $46,999 | 8.6% |
| XLTCheapest | $53,916 | 24.0% | LARAMIEPriciest | $55,605 | 20.8% |
| XL | $55,000 | 20.5% | LONGHORN | $65,381 | 0.9% |
| LARIATMost popular | $68,892 | 49.0% | POWER WAGON/REBEL | $66,344 | 1.6% |
| PLATINUMPriciest | $90,258 | 4.0% | LIMITED | $68,897 | 2.2% |
| — | LIMITED/LONGHORN | $76,470 | 0.6% | ||
Rows are aligned by price position (both sides sorted cheapest-first), not by equivalent equipment — trim names never map one-to-one across brands. Full per-trim detail (price ranges, mileage) is on each model's price page: Ford F-250 prices · Ram 2500 prices.
Used price by model year
| Year | Ford F-250 typical | Ram 2500 typical | Difference | Ford F-250 MPG | Ram 2500 MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $70,216 | $47,291 | Ford F-250 +$22,925 | — | — |
| 2025 | $58,233 | $50,402 | Ford F-250 +$7,831 | — | — |
| 2024 | $63,900 | $44,988 | Ford F-250 +$18,912 | — | — |
| 2023 | $56,224 | $44,489 | Ford F-250 +$11,735 | — | — |
| 2022 | $49,394 | $40,294 | Ford F-250 +$9,100 | — | — |
| 2021 | $46,890 | $39,450 | Ford F-250 +$7,440 | — | — |
| 2020 | $40,992 | $38,297 | Ford F-250 +$2,695 | — | — |
| 2019 | $36,553 | $35,789 | Ford F-250 +$764 | — | — |
| 2018 | $34,578 | $30,999 | Ford F-250 +$3,579 | — | — |
| 2017 | $32,900 | $29,995 | Ford F-250 +$2,905 | — | — |
| 2016 | $25,600 | $27,900 | Ram 2500 +$2,300 | — | — |
| 2015 | $22,999 | $26,422 | Ram 2500 +$3,423 | — | — |
| 2014 | $22,094 | $23,900 | Ram 2500 +$1,806 | — | — |
| 2013 | $21,995 | $24,900 | Ram 2500 +$2,905 | — | — |
Typical price = national median asking price of live listings for that model year (October 2026); MPG = EPA combined range across rated versions.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to buy used — Ford F-250 or Ram 2500?
Comparing the same model years (2024–2026), the Ram 2500 is cheaper: it typically lists for $47,291 versus $63,900 for the Ford F-250 (national medians, October 2026).
Which is safer — Ford F-250 or Ram 2500?
By NCAP overall crash-test rating the Ford F-250 averages 4.4 of 5 stars across rated years versus 4.0 for the Ram 2500. Always check the specific model year's rating in the table above.
Which is more reliable — Ford F-250 or Ram 2500?
NHTSA lists an average of 2.4 recalls per model year for the Ford F-250 and 10.8 for the Ram 2500 — an edge for the Ford F-250. Recall and complaint counts scale with sales volume, so treat them as context and check any specific car's VIN history.
Which trims should I actually compare?
Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, a Ford F-250 XLT typically lists for $53,916 vs $43,594 for a Ram 2500 TRADESMAN; the most common trims on the market are the LARIAT ($68,892, 49.0% of Ford F-250 listings) and the BIG HORN ($44,962, 52.5% of Ram 2500 listings); at the top of the market, the PLATINUM ($90,258) faces the LARAMIE ($55,605). Overall medians hide this trim mix — use the trim tables above for a fair match. Trim names never map one-to-one across brands, so "cheapest" means the least expensive trim with a real market share, not the factory base.
https://vehisales.com/research/compare/ford/f-250/vs/ram/2500.
Dig deeper
Ford F-250 — live listings & specs Ram 2500 — live listings & specs Ford F-250 prices by year Ram 2500 prices by year Ford F-250 MPG by year
See also: All model comparisons · Best used cars by budget · Used car prices by model.