Efficiency in olefin cross-metathesis reactions is affected upon reducing the steric bulk of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands of ruthenium-based catalysts. For the formation of disubstituted olefins containing one or more allylic substituents, the catalyst bearing N-tolyl groups is more efficient than the corresponding N-mesityl catalyst. In contrast, the formation of trisubstituted olefins is more efficient using the N-mesityl-containing catalyst. A hypothesis to explain this dichotomy is described.