John Deere 324G vs. Bobcat S650 vs. CAT 260: America's Best-Selling Mid-Size Loaders Compared

If you ask a rental yard which compact loader class moves the most volume, they won't point you to the biggest or smallest machine in the lineup — they'll point you to the mid-size class, the roughly 2,700-3,200 lb rated capacity range where three machines dominate almost every fleet in the country: the John Deere 324G, the Bobcat S650, and the CAT 260. These three compete head-to-head for the exact same buyer, and the differences between them are real enough to change which one actually belongs on your jobsite.

The Three-Way Spec Comparison

Pulled directly from each manufacturer's own published specifications:

• Rated operating capacity: John Deere 324G — 2,690 lb. Bobcat S650 — 2,690 lb. CAT 260 — 3,160 lb

• Gross horsepower: John Deere 324G — 74 hp. Bobcat S650 — 74.3 hp. CAT 260 — 74 hp — all three are essentially in a dead heat on power

• Standard auxiliary hydraulic flow: John Deere 324G — 21 gpm. Bobcat S650 — 23 gpm. CAT 260 — 20 gpm

• Operating weight: John Deere 324G — 7,700 lb. Bobcat S650 — 8,061 lb. CAT 260 — 8,523 lb

What the Numbers Actually Tell You

The CAT 260 carries a meaningful capacity edge — 3,160 lb versus the 324G's and S650's matched 2,690 lb — but it also carries the most operating weight of the three, which means a bigger machine to trailer and a larger ground footprint to maneuver on tight sites. If raw lifting and carrying capacity is the priority, the 260 is the clear leader in this group.

The Bobcat S650 posts the highest standard hydraulic flow of the three at 23 gpm, which matters directly to anyone running flow-sensitive attachments — trenchers, augers, and cold planers all perform better with more gpm available without stepping up to an optional high-flow package. That flow advantage, combined with matching the 324G's capacity, is exactly why the S650 has become one of the best-selling loaders in this class.

The John Deere 324G is the lightest machine of the three at 7,700 lb operating weight — roughly 800 lb lighter than the CAT 260 — while matching the S650's capacity. That lighter weight translates into less ground disturbance, easier trailering within lighter towing ratings, and a machine that maneuvers a little quicker on a tight residential or commercial lot. For contractors who prioritize a nimble, easy-to-haul machine over outright flow or capacity, the 324G is the pick.

Matching the Machine to the Trade

General contractors and roofers who need one versatile mid-size machine for material handling and yard work tend to land on the S650 for its combination of flow and capacity. Excavation and site-development crews who prioritize maximum lifting capacity for a given frame size lean toward the CAT 260. Landscapers, smaller GCs, and contractors working tighter residential lots or lighter trailer setups often pick the 324G for its lower weight without giving up any rated capacity versus the S650.

The Financing Reality for a Mid-Size Fleet Workhorse

This mid-size class is exactly the workhorse tier most contractors own outright rather than rent, because it's the machine that runs every day rather than getting called in for one job. We've laid out the actual rent-versus-own breakeven math for skid steers and track loaders in this class, and for a machine that sees regular weekly use, ownership wins the math faster than most contractors expect.

Buying used in this popular a class also means a deep pool of well-maintained machines on the market — knowing what a lender actually looks at in a used unit's age and maintenance records can make the difference between a smooth approval and a slower one.

---

Ready to add a John Deere 324G, Bobcat S650, CAT 260, or any mid-size loader to your fleet? Visit our homepage to learn more, or head straight to our equipment financing application to get started. Browse new and used skid steers and track loaders — or list your own — on our equipment for sale marketplace, and subscribe to get new posts like this delivered straight to you.