The Bobcat T450 compact track loader (CTL) starts at USD 55,000, 55 hp, with a 1,490 lb rated operating capacity (ROC) and a solid undercarriage [S1]. Bobcat lists the T450 in the sub-2,000 lb ROC class, the entry point for rubber-track loaders sold into landscaping, rental and light site-prep fleets.
At the top of the market, the Cat 963 track loader weighs 44,881 lb, delivers 232 hp flywheel power, and carries a 3.2 yd³ general-purpose bucket [S3]. The 963 sits in the mid-to-large track-loader class where pricing is published as MSRP only and final transaction prices are set by the authorised dealer, including currency, freight and taxes [S3].
Price Bands by Operating Weight and ROC
Track loader pricing follows a near-linear relationship with operating weight and rated operating capacity, not engine horsepower alone. The T450 at 1,490 lb ROC starts near USD 55,000 [S1]; mid-size CTLs in the 2,500–3,500 lb ROC band typically list in the USD 65,000–95,000 range; and large frame units such as the 963 (44,881 lb, 3.2 yd³) move into the high six-figure to low seven-figure MSRP bracket, with dealer-negotiated final pricing [S3].
Buyers should treat MSRP as a reference floor: Cat explicitly states the displayed MSRP excludes shipping, handling, expedite charges, taxes, dealer installation costs and other dealer charges, and that dealers set actual prices including invoicing currency [S3]. For cross-border procurement, that means a Mexican MSRP displayed in MXN and a US dealer quote in USD for the same model will differ by more than the FX spread alone.
What Drives the Cost: Horsepower, Hydraulics and Undercarriage
Three line items move the bulk of the delta between a T450 and a 963. First, powertrain: the T450 uses a 55 hp diesel [S1] while the 963 uses a 232 hp flywheel-rated diesel [S3] — a ~4× power jump that scales the engine, cooling and aftertreatment cost roughly proportionally. Second, hydraulics and bucket capacity scale with machine class: the 963's 3.2 yd³ general-purpose bucket [S3] is several times larger than the buckets typically paired with sub-1,500 lb ROC CTLs.
Third, undercarriage type. The T450 ships with a solid undercarriage as standard, which is more durable on rock and demolition but adds cost versus an open-spoke design [S1]. For comparison shopping between compact track loaders and true track loaders, buyers should note that a CTL is a sub-class of skid-steer with rubber tracks replacing wheels, while track loaders in the Cat 963/973 sense are purpose-built track frames designed for the production-segment earthmoving role.
New vs Used vs Rental: Total Cost of Ownership Levers
New units carry full factory warranty and the latest emissions aftertreatment, but the depreciation curve on compact track loaders is steep: 30–40% in the first 12–18 months is common in the rental return channel. Finning Great Britain lists used compact track loaders alongside used skid steers, excavators and dozers as part of its certified used-equipment inventory [S5], giving buyers a price point typically 40–55% below a comparable new unit at the cost of remaining useful life uncertainty.
For project timelines under 6 months, rental plus a buyout option frequently beats new purchase once financing, insurance and idle-time cost are loaded.
Regional Pricing and Dealer Discretion
Cat's 963 product page is region-aware: the displayed MSRP reflects the country selected, and dealers in the same country may invoice in a different currency or with different freight terms [S3]. For North American buyers, list-price transparency is higher; for Latin American and European buyers, the displayed price is a reference anchor and the real transaction price comes from a written dealer quote.
For wheel loaders and backhoe loaders on the same buying programme, expect a similar MSRP-plus-dealer-adjustment structure, so the cost-comparison exercise should normalise freight, taxes and aftertreatment region compliance into the line-item total rather than the sticker price.
Selection Criteria: When a Track Loader Beats a Skid Steer or Wheel Loader
Track loaders win on soft ground, slope work and low ground-pressure sites where a wheeled skid-steer loader would rut or lose traction. The trade-off is speed and tyre/track wear cost: a CTL is slower on hard pavement and rubber-track replacement runs roughly 2–3× the cost of a comparable tyre set over a machine's life. Operators running more than 60% of hours on finished surfaces should price the track option carefully. [S1]
A 973-class track loader is the right tool only when the job requires its bucket, ROC and drawbar pull — a 963 (44,881 lb, 3.2 yd³) [S3] is over-spec for residential site work and under-utilised in a quarry face. Match the machine class to the application, then re-quote with the operating-cost overlay, not the sticker price alone.
Watch Items When Comparing Quotes
Verify whether the undercarriage is solid or open-spoke, the bucket is included or itemised, and the warranty term is stated in months or hours.
For emissions, the 55 hp T450 [S1] sits below most current US EPA Tier 4 final and EU Stage V horsepower thresholds for the most stringent aftertreatment, while the 232 hp 963 [S3] requires diesel particulate filter and SCR dosing hardware — typically USD 8,000–15,000 of the MSRP and a service interval that adds to lifecycle cost. Build those line items in before signing the PO.
Track one number: dealer-quoted out-the-door pricing for a 963-class unit in the buyer's home currency, because the gap between MSRP and delivered price [S3] is where most procurement cycles either finish under budget or slip. A second signal is the spread between T450-class new MSRP [S1] and 12-month-old used CTL asking prices in the same region — that spread is the most reliable indicator of current residual-value pressure on compact track loaders.
For related coverage, see Baler Machine Price & Cost Guide 2026: Tier, Class and Sourcing Map.