How Much Does a Yacht Cost?

We hear questions like “What’s the cost of a yacht?” on a regular basis, and it’s a difficult to answer the question with any precision because the cost of yachts covers a wide range. Much the same as with houses, the prices vary significantly depending on size, style, age, and finish—even location. The price difference for yachts can in fact stretch to millions of dollars when we consider they range from 30-footers all the way up to 300-foot superyachts. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves—first, let’s tackle the more fundamental question, “What is a yacht?”

What Classifies as a Yacht?

To begin with, yachts can be  sailing yachts or motor-powered yachts. But it’s the size of the vessel that gives it the true classification of yacht status. Many in the industry classify a boat as a “yacht” from 40 feet up to 70 feet, although there are others who will include any vessels over 30 feet. Over the 70-foot mark, we’re getting close to superyacht territory, and above 165 feet, they’re megayachts. However, there is no hard and fast rule, and what may be a yacht to one person might not be to another, with a 20-foot sailing boat classifying as a yacht if the owner feels it is one.

While size is the main determining factor in labelling boats as yachts, amenities aboard also play a role. For example, yachts usually have cabins and heads below allowing for overnight stays, as well as a galley, and plenty of deck space for leisure. 

The term “yacht” has become synonymous with luxury, especially with the boom in superyachts making international news. But a yacht doesn’t have to be luxurious, and everyone will see luxury differently. A beautiful 30-foot trawler yacht might be luxurious to one person, but Jeff Bezos and his brand new $500 million sailing yacht Koru would probably see it differently. 

The Cost of Buying a Yacht

Looking at an average price across all yachts isn’t a very helpful figure, because sizes of yachts vary from 30 feet to 300 feet or more. And that doesn’t take into account whether a boat is new or used.  Broadly speaking, in the United States you can often buy a small, used sailing yacht for £12,000 or $15,000, but you may well find that figure to be at least 10 times higher for a small, new motor yacht. And it can almost go without saying, but a larger, new sailing or motor yacht can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, or even a million or two. As for superyachts of 100 or 200 feet in length, depending on age, you’ll commonly see prices of $10 million to $25 million.

The Cost of Different Types of Yacht

When we talk about yachts and their values, we usually refer mostly to the length of the yacht as that tends to be the identifying factor, but the style, engine size, and finish also play a huge role in determining how much they cost. Here we take a look at the average price differences between new and used yachts in the United States at varying sizes. 

How much does a small yacht cost? (25 to 40 feet)

A small power yacht around 40 feet, such as a cabin cruiser, might be considered an entry-level yacht, yet it’s a big step up from much smaller day boats. Vessels this size likely have cabins and heads and a small galley, and they offer the chance to spend weekends onboard. Prices will be hugely variable depending on whether the yacht is used or new, and the model, finish, and horsepower. Almost new (one or two year old) yachts around 40 feet can cost anywhere from $350,000 to over $1 million, but the price for older models falls dramatically. To give you a sense of the market for used yachts of this size in the United States, the average price for those from 36 feet to 45 feet is barely over $200,000.

When we’re looking at smaller yachts around 25 to 30 feet, these are generally considered day or overnight cruisers and some will have a small cabin and galley. Sports cruisers between 25 and 30 feet that may range from $70,000 for a good-condition used model to well over $250,000 for a brand new one. See our guide to the different types of boats for a better understanding of what is available and what might be right for you. 

Sports cruisers measuring 25 to 30 feet can cost from $70,000 for a well-maintained used model to over $250,000 for a brand-new one. Jeanneau photo

How much does a medium-sized yacht cost? (40 to 70 feet)

Mid-sized yachts that fall within the 40 to 70 feet category vary in price from around $150,000 to over $5 million, but that figure depends on the size, model, finish, engines, and extras, as well as whether it’s a brand new boat or used. According to the Boats Group Market Index of 2022, the average yacht price in the United States was at the lower end of this range—$154,357 from 43,915 boats sold, while internationally that figure was $368,206 from 10,670 yachts sold. 

Yacht prices in this size range also vary a lot depending on whether they’re new or used. As an example, the base price for a new Viking 58 is $4.1 million, while a used model can be purchased for $3.5 million for a three year old model, or about $600,000 for a 10 year old model. Check out our new and used luxury yachts for sale on Rightboat for more comparisons. 

For their higher price tags, mid-sized yachts offer spacious interiors, large decks for lounging and entertaining, as well as features such as swim platforms, alfresco dining areas, comfortable cockpits, and large staterooms for longer times spent at sea. They are equipped with all the comforts of home and designed for entertaining guests and embarking on longer voyages. 

A new Viking 58 costs $4.1 million, while a three-year-old model is $3.5 million, and a ten-year-old model around $600,000. Viking Yachts photo

How much does a sailing yacht cost?

Long before the internal combustion engine was invented, sailing yachts and sailboats of all varieties have been gracing, and crossing, our oceans. While these days we tend to think of yachts as the luxurious motor vessels that far outnumber their sailing counterparts, sailing yachts have their own class. As we’ve seen with motor yachts, the size, age, and finish of a sailing yacht will determine the price tag. Prices might start at $5,000 for 25-foot fixer-upper and run to $5 million or more for a new cruising catamaran. Even more for sailing superyachts. The largest sailing yacht in the world is Sailing Yacht A, which cost an estimated $600 million and measures a staggering 470 feet in length. 

While a new 100-foot sailing yacht will typically cost several million dollars, sliding back down the length ladder, smaller yachts will cost progressively less. A 55-foot yacht that is new might retail for $2 million, a two-year-old by another manufacturer might sell for $1 million, and a 20-year-old yacht of the same length might sell for $500,000 or less.  At 35 feet, a new sailing yacht may cost only $250,000 to $500,000 depending on brand, a 30-year-old model will often cost one tenth as much. See what you can get for your money with our sailing yachts for sale on Rightboat. 

Sailboat prices can start as low as $5,000 for a 25-foot fixer-upper and go up from there. Beneteau photo

How much does a luxury yacht or superyacht cost?

Superyachts are some of the most luxurious vessels in the world and it comes as no surprise that they don’t come cheap. Anything above 78 feet is generally accepted to be a superyacht, and they can range up to 165 feet beyond which some in the industry refer to them as megayachts. This term is still debated (see Mega Yacht vs Superyacht).

Superyachts require a full time crew to run them, which adds to the overall cost of running such a large vessel. So how much does a superyacht cost? The costs vary widely, with some estimates of up to $1 million per foot of length to build a new top-of-the-line custom superyacht. Used superyachts will cost less than a new build, and you can buy a 10 year old, 80- to 90-foot superyacht for around $2.5 million. Models that are less than five years old will be closer to the $4 million mark, while a brand new one will cost around $9 million. Check out our listings for superyachts for sale all across the world. 

The costs vary widely, with some estimates of up to $1 million per foot of length to build a new top-of-the-line custom superyacht.

How much does a megayacht cost?

When we reach megayacht status, the prices skyrocket along with the length of the vessels. While the term megayacht is debated, these days it tends to refer to vessels over 165 feet. The largest megayacht in the world is currently Azzam, which is 590 feet long and cost $600 million to build. Yachts in this class are the most luxurious in the world, and feature huge swimming pools, helicopter pads, huge guest and crew accommodations, beach clubs, and much more. The upkeep of vessels of this size can run to $20 million or more for the crew fees, fuel, mooring fees, insurance, food, and maintenance. If you want to set eyes on the world’s most astounding superyachts and megayachts check out our superyacht travel guide to where you might find them, or use our search to discover megayachts for sale. 

The world's largest megayacht, Azzam is 590 feet long and cost $600 million to build.

New Yacht Costs Versus Used Yacht Costs

While it’s clear that there is an initial purchase price difference between a new and used yacht, there are some other cost considerations to take into account, too. A new yacht will be equipped with the very latest in technology and accessories, as well as having zero wear and tear on the hull, engines, or electronics. They will also come with a manufacturer warranty that offers peace of mind for a set number of years. During this time, new yachts generally cost far less than a used yacht because if anything goes wrong it is covered under the warranty. Having said that, depreciation must be taken into account with a new yacht as they tend to depreciate 10% in the first year and around 6% every year after that. 

On the other hand, a used yacht often costs far less to buy and offers great value for money, but it has to be taken into account that there is unlikely to be a warranty included. The upkeep is also likely to be more than it would be for brand new boats as it will require more maintenance and upkeep, perhaps not be as efficient as a newer model, and need upgrades along the way. 

The Cost of Owning a Yacht

The cost of owning a yacht is critical to factor in when looking at the initial purchase price, and even if you’re in the market for a small yacht, you’ll need to factor in the annual costs which include:

• Marina fees: These will vary depending on your location and the size of the boat. Expect to pay from $5,000 for a yacht at the smallest end of the scale up to tens of thousands for larger yachts.
• Insurance: As a general rule, you can expect to pay around 0.5% of the value of the boat annually. Check out our guide to boat insurance for more information. 
• Maintenance and repairs: As a rough estimation you can expect to spend around 10% of the value of the boat on upkeep each year. This might be lower if it’s a new yacht.
• Gas: This will vary depending on how far you cruise and how large the yacht is.
• Crew: Yachts up to around 80 feet don’t require a crew, but the larger the yacht the more crew it will need. Crew salaries range from $3,200 per month for junior crew to $10,500 per month for captains and chief engineers. In general, a yacht of 80-100 feet in size will require a crew of between two and eight, while yachts between 100 to 200 feet will require between 8 and 20 crew members.
• Depreciation: Brand new boats depreciate the most quickly, with most depreciating by 40 to 50 percent  of their initial price over the first 8 to 10 years.

Read more about the Real Costs of Boat Ownership as well as Top Tips to Lower the Costs. 

When buying a yacht, it’s crucial to consider ownership costs beyond the purchase price. Even for smaller yachts, annual expenses like marina fees, insurance, maintenance, etc. must be accounted for.

What’s the Difference in Cost Between Buying a Boat and Buying a Yacht?

As we’ve examined above, a yacht can be something different to different people. While a superyacht is indisputably a yacht, a 30-foot sailing yacht may be considered a yacht as well, and the variable purchase prices and running costs will be relative to those sizes and styles. Buying a boat is another broad term, where everything from a Jon boat to a pontoon boat to a 30-foot cabin cruiser can fall within this category. If we take a 20-foot bowrider, for example, we can see how the cost of buying a boat can vary hugely from around $25,000 to $150,000. An average 20 percent per year in running costs is then calculated on top. 

Are Yachts a Good Investment?

Anything that brings you joy and gives you and your family time together is a good investment. But looking at it from a purely financial point of view, yachts are a luxury item and they come with their own costs. Like cars, yachts normally don’t appreciate over time but depreciate in price. When you factor in upkeep and running costs, yachts are not likely to make you any money. There are some instances where upgrades to a well-cared-for used yacht that is a highly sought after model can in fact offer a positive return on investment, and some brands of sailboats are a good example of this. 

This article was published in July 2023 and updated in December 2024.