Yacht cost calculator
Enter a purchase price and a length to see what a yacht is likely to cost you each year once the excitement of buying it wears off. Every line is editable, so you can swap our rules of thumb for real quotes from your marina and insurer.
How the calculator builds its estimate
The calculator starts from the two numbers that drive almost every ownership bill: what the boat is worth and how long it is. Insurance and maintenance scale with value, while slips, haul outs and bottom paint are billed by the foot. Fuel depends on how many hours you actually run and how thirsty the engines are at the speed you like to cruise.
Insurance is set at roughly 1.5 percent of hull value, falling to about 1.2 percent above two million dollars, which reflects typical US agreed value policies for experienced owners in non hurricane zones. Maintenance and repairs default to 3 percent of value with a floor based on length, because even an inexpensive older boat still needs zincs, impellers, canvas and varnish.
Above 50 feet the estimate adds captain days and professional detailing, and above roughly 75 feet it adds full time crew. These are the points where most owners stop doing everything themselves.
What moves the number the most
Location is the largest swing factor. A transient slip in Newport, Nantucket or Miami Beach can cost three to five times what a seasonal slip in the Chesapeake or on a Great Lakes municipal marina costs. Florida and Gulf Coast owners also pay a named storm premium on insurance and may need a haul out plan for hurricane season.
Age matters more than most buyers expect. A ten year old boat bought at half its new price still has the maintenance appetite of a boat its size, so budget against length, not only against what you paid. Catamarans need wider slips and wider travel lifts, which is why the calculator adds a premium when you tick the catamaran box.
Rules of thumb worth remembering
Many brokers quote 10 percent of purchase price per year as an all in running cost for a yacht under about 60 feet, and closer to 10 to 15 percent for crewed superyachts. That shortcut works for planning but hides big differences between a trailered weekend boat and a liveaboard cruiser.
- Insurance, 1 to 2 percent of hull value per year
- Maintenance, 2 to 5 percent of value, more for older boats
- Slip, $15 to $60 per foot per month depending on region
- Haul out and bottom paint, $25 to $60 per foot every one to two years
- Fuel, hours times gallons per hour times local fuel price
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to own a yacht per year?
A common planning figure is about 10 percent of the purchase price per year, but real costs range from roughly 5 percent for a simple sailboat kept on a mooring to 15 percent or more for a crewed motor yacht.
Does the calculator include depreciation?
No. Depreciation is a real cost but not a cash bill. Most production boats lose 5 to 10 percent of value per year in the first five years, then flatten out.
Why does a catamaran cost more to keep?
A catamaran is nearly twice as wide as a monohull of the same length, so it often needs a double slip or an end tie and a larger travel lift, both priced at a premium.
Is my data stored?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser and nothing you type is sent to our servers.