Gulfstream G650 vs G550: two jets, one mission, $29 million apart

Two Gulfstreams separated by a single digit in the name, double digits in price, 14 inches in width and 750 nautical miles of range. Yet that multi-million dollar price tag difference is so wide, you could easily buy a second jet with it.And that pricing delta is clearly going to be a make-or-break item for many shoppers. Through the first quarter of 2026, used G550 asking prices ran from $15 million to $35 million against an average ask of $19.27 million, according to Hagerty Jet Group's quarterly Gulfstream market update. The G650 family on the other hand sits between $43 million and $53 million on the GlobalAir.com marketplace, where listings average $48 million.That said, both airplanes have a lot in common beyond the shared brand name. They both are large cabin jets capable of flying across an ocean with Rolls-Royce turbofans at the tail and the Gulfstream support network to back them up. Each fleet numbers in the hundreds which means crews, parts and comparable sales are all in abundance. On that note, they both draw a lot of attention from ultra-long-range shoppers on the GlobalAir.com marketplace.Back to performance and cabin experience, is the additional space and range of the G650 enough to warrant the premium? What follows is a look behind the numbers along with a thorough breakdown of performance, operating cost and long-term support outlook. Your mission, as always, factors into the decision.How much farther does the G650 fly?Range varies between all the models with the G650ER able to stretch its legs furthest at 7,500 nm. Behind it sit the base G650 at 7,000 nm and the G550, certified to 6,750 nm. The range differential between the G550 and G650 is essentially the difference of a headwind and full cabin on a trans-oceanic flight. Flight departments that regularly fly in excess of 7,000 nm already understand that the G650ER is their only option of the three.With the G550 and G650 sharing similar ranges, the argument for speed comes in next, front and center. It speaks to passengers and is highlighted in marketing brochures in bold fonts.Is the G650 faster in a way anyone notices?Yes it is — by about 28 knots with a max cruise speed of 516 knots versus the G550's 488 knots. The G650 also carries the higher speed limit, with a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.925 against 0.885. Both airplanes can climb to 51,000 feet.On a 3,500 nm trip, 28 knots equals about a 25 minute faster arrival. At max range, that turns into a 45 minute advantage — enough to make a material difference for an operator doing two Atlantic crossings a week. Less so for owners flying across the Atlantic on occasion.If your mission fits into the speed and range numbers offered by both models, then the cabin invites a much closer inspection.What does the extra cabin buy?Fourteen inches of width and nearly three feet of length separates the two models, along with a different set of interior floor plans. Specifically, the G650 cabin measures in at 46 feet 10 inches long by 8 feet 6 inches wide, which equals 2,138 cubic feet of volume. The G550 gives you 43 feet 11 inches by 7 feet 4 inches or 1,669 cubic feet of volume.G550 interiorFourteen inches may not seem like a lot, but space grows in importance the farther you fly. But the G550 makes the most of its space. Its floor plan has been refined over two decades and a healthy used market means options abound. G550s with forward galleys appear to be the most popular according to Hagerty Jet Group and that preference is reflected in the asking prices and time on market for those specific models. A buyer can always leverage lower bids for the less popular models and use the savings on a refurbishment.Cabins speak to the stakeholders who travel but the CFO is still going to scrutinize the numbers carefully and that's where the next two sections come in.What does each one cost to fly?The G650 premium doesn't end with cabin room, it continues with operating costs. GlobalAir.com's operating-cost data puts the G550 at $9,483 per flight hour against $10,547 for the G650. The approximate $1,000 per hour difference works out to a savings of $426,000 annually at 400 flight hours per year for the G550.Ultra-long-range budgets like any other jet go farther than the surface numbers as engine program status, unscheduled maintenance and inspection cycles all come into play. A G550 approaching a heavy inspection and a G550 fresh out of one are different airplanes wearing the same paint.With operating costs in the same relative ballpark, it's the acquisition costs that separate the models into different classes.What does each one cost to buy and what is available?The G550 asks between $15 million and $35 million, averaging $19 million in the first quarter of 2026, according to Hagerty Jet Group. The two G650s on the GlobalAir.com marketplace ask $43 million and $53 million apiece, with G650ERs averaging $46 million. Call it $29 million between a typical example of each.The GlobalAir.com marketplace carried six G550s, six G650ERs and two G650s as of mid-September 2026, so while there is a comparable number of aircraft to work with, the G550s move much faster. GlobalAir.com recorded 38 G550 sales over the past 12 months against 25 across the G650 family. Time on market echoes the sentiment: G550 listings average 57 days, G650s 89 and G650ERs 152. Buyer interest is also in alignment: 132 inquiries for the G550 in the past 30 days against 95 across both G650 pages.The G550s move faster, likely because of a wider buyer pool. The budget required for a G650 puts it in rarified air, which slows down transactions. But that shouldn't bother sellers as Hagerty Jet Group reports the model appreciated about 10% between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.The one thing that both airplanes have in common is the lack of a factory line in Savannah producing either model.What changes now that both are out of production?Gulfstream ended G550 production in July 2021 after more than 600 aircraft. The final G650/G650ER rolled off the assembly line in February 2025 with more than 500 delivered. It was succeeded by the G800 that's currently in production.Parts and support are non-factors at this stage. Both fleets have a healthy pool of rated pilots (even though the GVI rating for the G650 and G-V rating for the G550 are not compatible), along with extensive parts and maintenance support with mechanics familiar with the airframes. Expect that to last for at least a decade to come.The G550's depreciation appears to be priced in at this juncture while the G650 continues to appreciate. That won't last forever but if you must fly the G650 just remember, scarcity and exclusivity has a price.The decisionYou fly 6,000 nm legs a few times a year with six to eight passengers. Buy the G550. The range you are not using is the most expensive thing on the G650's spec list.Your schedule regularly includes the longest city pairs on the map with a full cabin. Buy the G650ER. The 7,500 nm number is the entire reason the airplane exists, and no amount of G550 negotiating leverage substitutes for it.You are moving eight or more people on legs over ten hours. Buy the G650. Cabin width is the variable your passengers will judge you on, and it is the one thing the G550 cannot be upgraded into.You want the most airplane per dollar and you intend to hold for a decade. Buy a 2012 or newer G550 with a forward galley. It is the configuration the market is asking for, and the fleet is deep enough to keep you liquid on the exit.You need to close in the next 90 days. Shop the G550. Thirty-eight of them sold through GlobalAir.com in the past 12 months against 25 across the G650 family, and G550 listings average 57 days on the market against 89 for the G650 and 152 for the G650ER.You are trading up from a G450 or a Global 5000 and financing most of it. Run the G550 case first. The acquisition gap between these two airplanes carries a debt-service cost that dwarfs the $426,000 a year separating them on operating expense.Frequently asked questionsIs the G650 worth $25 million more than a G550?It depends entirely on whether you fly the missions the G650 was built for. The G650ER adds 750 nm of range, 28 knots of cruise speed and 14 inches of cabin width over the G550. Buyers flying inside 6,500 nm with fewer than eight passengers rarely use enough of that to justify the acquisition gap.How much farther does a G650 fly than a G550?The base G650 is certified to 7,000 nm and the G650ER to 7,500 nm, against 6,750 nm for the G550. The practical difference is 250 to 750 nm, or roughly 30 to 90 minutes of additional flying.What is the difference between a G650 and a G650ER?Range. The ER carries additional fuel for 7,500 nm against the base airplane's 7,000 nm. Both use the same Rolls-Royce BR725 engines, the same cabin and the same 51,000-foot ceiling, and both share the GVI type rating.Are the G550 and G650 still in production?No. G550 production ended in July 2021 after more than 600 aircraft. The last G650/G650ER left Gulfstream's Savannah line in February 2025, replaced in the lineup by the G800.What do the G550 and G650 cost to operate per hour?GlobalAir.com's operating-cost data puts the G550 at $9,483 per flight hour and the G650 at $10,547, with annual budgets of $3.65 million and $4.06 million. At 400 hours a year the difference is about $426,000.Which one is easier to buy today?The G550. GlobalAir.com recorded 38 G550 sales in the past 12 months against 25 across the G650 and G650ER, and G550 listings average 57 days on the market against 89 days for the G650 and 152 for the G650ER.Browse current Gulfstream G550 listings and Gulfstream G650ER listings on GlobalAir.com.