How Much Does a Ram 1500 Cost?

It might seem like a simple question at first, but as you will see, finding out just how much you can expect to pay for a Ram 1500 isn't so easy. For starters, there are the various trim levels, packages, and options that can be added to the truck. So, that "starting" price you have probably seen advertised can quickly inflate by many thousands of dollars. In fact, the price can easily double if you spec out the truck with all of the available options! So, clearly, it can get messy pretty fast.

How Much Does a Ram 1500 Cost?The good news is, we have done all of the research into just how much each of these configurations will cost you. We have included the various trims and packages offered on the 2020 Ram 1500. And, to help used-car shoppers as well, this article also discusses the average used price for each of the 1o previous model years as well.

New 2020 Ram 1500 prices range from the basic Tradesman model's $32,145 base price all the way up to nearly $53,665 for a fully-optioned Limited model. Turning to the used market, we find some more wallet-friendly prices: mid-level trucks currently range from $22,145to $42,513, according to Kelley Blue Book

Now that we have a general idea of the price ranges of both new and used Ram 1500s, let's jump right into our detailed breakdown. After all, you probably have a specific year and trim in mind.

Ram 1500 Prices

On the cheapest end of the spectrum lies the Ram 1500 Tradesman.  Equipped with rear-wheel drive, a basic Tradesman can come as cheaply as $33,440. At the high end, we have the Ram 1500 Limited, which has a base price of $57,190. You can easily add over $10,000 to that price by selecting every option offered by Ram. Here is an example of a Ram 1500 Limited with just about every option selected. The price came out to $69,400:

Trim Levels

Ram offers the new 2020 Ram in 7 trim levels. Below are the entry-level prices for each trim. Note that most of these trucks are 4x2 models with the base V6 engine and no upgrades. Choosing the larger V8 engines, 4-wheel drive, and the various options and packages will increase the price.

Variant 2020 Price 2019 Price
Tradesman $32, 145 $33,440
Big Horn/Lone Star  $36,540 $36,490
Laramie $40,640 $40,290
Rebel $44,490 N/A
Laramie Longhorn  $51,390 $50,990
Limited $53,665 $53,690

 

Packages

Trailer Tow Group: $400

To make towing easier, this package includes power tow mirrors and a brake controller. If you plan on towing anything larger than a small utility trailer, this package is a screaming deal. And you will find that the larger tow mirrors and trailer brake both help your towing experience be safer and more relaxing.

Level 1 Equipment Group: $2,795

This upgrade might sound expensive at first, but it includes a vast array of tempting technologies, so it's worth a look. In fact, Rams equipped with this package are just about the most technologically-advanced trucks on the market today. Included are the following: Harmon Kardon premium sound system, adaptive cruise control, advanced brake assist, forward-collision warning system, lane keep assist, parallel and perpendicular park assist, ventilated rear seats, and a surround-view camera.

Protection Group: $395

If you are afraid of damaging your new pickup's underside on the trail, consider the Protection Group. It includes skid plates for the front suspension, fuel tank, steering gear, and transfer case. For even more off-road goodies, see the next package.

Off-Road Group: $795

The Off-Road group helps take your Ram 1500 to the next level when it comes to offroading. Take all of the skid plates from the Protection Group and add 275/55R20 all-terrain tires, locking rear axle, HD shocks, a full-size spare, hill descent control, and some off-road decals (because everyone knows you can't get far offroad without those decals). Seriously, this is a great value for some serious off-road goodies.

Body-Color Bumper Group: $195

This package swaps out the chrome bumpers for body-color bumpers for a sleeker aesthetic. This one is purely a matter of personal preference, but for those who love the look of body-colored bumpers, this is a small price to pay for a much better-looking truck.

Bed Utility Group: $445

For those who love to haul, this handy package comes with 4 adjustable cargo tie-down hooks and LED bed lighting.

Advanced Safety Group: $1,495

If you don't go with the level 1 equipment group, this package gives you just the safety tech from that package: adaptive cruise control, advanced brake assist, forward-collision warning system, lane keep assist, parallel and perpendicular park assist.

Ram 1500 Used Prices

As we all know by now, new truck prices can be astronomically high. So, if you would prefer to pay less, there is always the used market. To give you an idea of what you can expect to pay for a used Ram 1500, here are the fair purchase ranges for 1  - 10-year old mid-level (Laramie or "SLT" Crew-Cab trims, depending on the year of the truck) Ram 1500 (and Dodge Ram 1500 before 2011) models. All figures were taken from Kelly Blue Book.

Variant Price range 
2020 Ram 1500 $22,145 - $23,943
2019 Ram 1500 $15,738 - $19,990
2018 Ram 1500 $17,999 - $19,888
2017 Ram 1500 $16,000 - $17,700
2016 Ram 1500 $15,655 - $17,928
2015 Ram 1500 $14,033 - $16,500
2014 Ram 1500 $12,500 - $15,445
2013 Ram 1500 $12,997 - $16,990
2012 Ram 1500 $13,398 - $14,900
2010 Ram 1500 $13,994 - $15,000
2009 Ram 1500 $12,850 - $14,981
2008 Ram 1500 $12,000 - $14,000

 

How Do These Prices Compare?

Alright, so how do these prices stack up against the competition? After all, the Ram 1500 is one of the newest and most technologically-advanced trucks on the market, but does the price reflect that?

For starters, here is a reminder of the price range for the starting MSRP of all Ram 1500 trims:

Variant 2020 Price 2019 Price
Tradesman $32, 145 $33,440
Big Horn/Lone Star  $36,540 $36,490
Laramie $40,640 $40,290
Rebel $44,490 N/A
Laramie Longhorn  $51,390 $50,990
Limited $53,665 $53,690

 

Generally, all other half-ton truck manufacturers' products fall into a fairly similar price range. As you can see, Ford beats everyone else when it comes to the cheapest low-end model but its top-end Limited trim is also the most expensive by far.  Toyota's Tundra, meanwhile, takes the prize of having the cheapest top-end trim level.

Ford F150

Variant 2020 Price 2019 Price
XL $28,745 $28,155
XLT  $34,760 $34,160
Lariat $42,750 $41,700
King Ranch $52,990 $52,390
Platinum $55,520 $52,855
Limited $67,735 $54,920
Raptor $53,455 $67,135

 

Silverado 1500

2020 Prices

Variant 2.7L Turbo Engine 4.3L EcoTec3 V6  5.3L EcoTec3 V8  6.2L EcoTec3 V8  3.0L Duramax 
Work Truck $39,135 $39,495 $40,890 N/A N/A
Custom $41,315 $41,895 $43,290 N/A N/A
LT $44,195 N/A $45,590 N/A $50,900
RST  $46,095 N/A $47,490 $48,985 $52,655
Custom Trail Boss $43,495 N/A $44,890 $46,365 N/A
LTZ $50,295 N/A N/A $52,790 $52,790
LT Trail Boss N/A N/A $50,095 $52,590 N/A
High Country N/A N/A $58,095 $60,590 $60,590

 

2019 Prices

Variant 2019 Prices
Work Truck $32,200
Custom $34,600
LT $36,900
RST  $38,800
Custom Trail Boss $39,500
LTZ $43,000
LT Trail Boss $48,300
High Country $53,000

 

GMC Sierra 1500

2020 Prices

Variant 2.7L Turbo engine 4.3L EcoTec3 V6  5.3L Ecotec V8 6.2L Ecotec3 V8 3.0L Duramax
Sierra $30,160 $38,395 $39,790 N/A N/A
SLE $42,695 N/A $44,090 N/A $49,070
Elevation $45,195 N/A $46,590 N/A $54,260
SLT N/A N/A $49,395 $51,890 $51,890
AT4 N/A N/A $52,595 $55,090 $55,090

 

2019 Prices

Variant 2019 Prices
Sierra $29,600
SLE $37,800
Elevation $40,300
SLT $44,300
AT4 $50,800
Denali $54,700

 

Toyota Tundra

Variant 2020 Price 2019 Price
SR $33,575 $31,670
SR5 $33,245 $33,470
Limited $42,270 $40,935
Platinum $48,775 $47,630
1794 Edition  $48,775 $47,630
TRD Pro $48,655 $49,895

 

Nissan Titan

Variant 2020 Price 2019 Price
S $33,575 $30,690
SV $33,245 $34,320
Pro-4x $42,270 $44,880
SL $48,775 $48,740
Platinum Reserve   $48,775 $54,630

 

While some of these numbers might be eye-opening for you, keep in mind that all of these models do not come with the same level of options. For example, one truck's top trim level might come standard with the top-level engine, while another starts out with a lesser engine. And this can apply to every option, not just the engine.

To illustrate this point, let's look at the two most popular trucks on the market. The Chevy Silverado's highest trim, the High Country, can be optioned with either the 5.3-liter V8 or, for about $2,500 more, you can choose the huge 6.2-liter V8. Ford's F150 Limited, meanwhile, comes standard with the exclusive high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that produces 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. That's the standard engine of the Raptor, just to give you an idea of how exciting this engine is.

At the end of the day, Ram's 1500 offers competitive pricing. In such a competitive market, no manufacturer today can really beat anyone else by a large margin. Finding the right truck, then, comes down to which configuration fits your life and wallet the best, regardless of manufacturer.

Shop Around, Find the Perfect Ram 1500

Now that we are all experts on the Ram 1500 pricing, we should all be able to walk into a dealership and know exactly what to expect. And, you never know, Ram might just offer you an even better deal than what we have shown here. After all, most of these prices are the  MSRP as shown on the Ram website and it's not unusual for the company to have a few big sales every year. Do your homework and shop around, and you could just save yourself some big money!

Want to learn more about the Ram 1500? Check out these posts too -

What are the common problems in the Ram 1500

What's the Ram 1500's Typical Curb Weight?

You may also find this post about how much a pickup truck costs on average interesting too. And if you're in the market for a truck - new or used - make sure you look at our Buying a Pickup Truck page for more information.

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