How much does a private jet cost?
Updated 16 October 2026
How much does it cost to charter a private jet? Charter prices are quoted for the whole aircraft, not per person, and they mostly follow one number: the hourly rate of the jet, multiplied by the hours it flies. Taxes, airport charges and positioning come on top. This guide gives the hourly ranges Jettura uses for its estimates, shows how a full price is built from them, and explains where an empty leg fits.
Every figure here is an estimate for the whole aircraft. A real price depends on the aircraft, the date and the operator, and it is final only when the operator confirms it.
The short answer
For a one-way flight of about two hours, our whole-aircraft estimate runs from $5k–$10k in a turboprop to $38k–$84k in a VIP airliner. Light, midsize, super-midsize and large jets fall between $8.5k and $39k. Double the flying time and the estimate roughly doubles. Every flight is billed at least one hour.
Private jet cost per hour, by jet size
US dollars per flight hour, for the whole aircraft, before taxes and fees.
| Jet size | Typical examples | Hourly range (whole aircraft, estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | King Air 90 | $2,000–$3,500 |
| Very light jet | Citation Mustang | $2,500–$4,000 |
| Light jet | Phenom 300, Citation CJ3+ | $3,500–$6,000 |
| Midsize jet | Citation XLS+, Learjet 60 | $4,500–$8,000 |
| Super-midsize jet | Challenger 350, Citation Longitude | $6,500–$10,000 |
| Large (heavy) jet | Challenger 650, Falcon 900, Legacy 600 | $8,500–$14,000 |
| Ultra-long-range jet | Global 6000/7500, Gulfstream G650 | $11,000–$20,000 |
| VIP airliner | Lineage 1000 | $16,000–$30,000 |
The bands are wide on purpose. Two jets of the same size can sit at opposite ends depending on age, cabin, operator and demand. Use them to plan, not to compare quotes.
Building a price: a two-hour flight
The hourly rate is only the base. Our estimates add 20 to 40 percent on top for government taxes, airport and handling charges, crew costs and fuel adjustments, and they count any flight shorter than an hour as one hour.
For a two-hour flight the sum is: hourly range × 2 hours × 1.2 at the low end, and × 1.4 at the high end, rounded.
| Jet size | Whole aircraft, two-hour flight (estimate) |
|---|---|
| Turboprop | $5k–$10k |
| Very light jet | $6k–$11k |
| Light jet | $8.5k–$17k |
| Midsize jet | $11k–$22k |
| Super-midsize jet | $16k–$28k |
| Large (heavy) jet | $20k–$39k |
| Ultra-long-range jet | $26k–$56k |
| VIP airliner | $38k–$84k |
Each figure covers the whole flight for the whole aircraft, up to the seats it has. Jettura does not publish per-person prices, because a charter is priced by the aircraft.
What drives the price
Flight time. The biggest factor. A route that a small jet cannot fly non-stop adds a fuel stop, which adds time and cost.
Jet size. More cabin and range cost more per hour. The cheapest choice is usually the smallest jet that carries your group and bags and flies the route non-stop. Too small can mean a fuel stop; too large means paying for space you leave empty.
Taxes. In the United States, a domestic charter is generally subject to a 7.5 percent federal excise tax on the amount paid, plus a domestic segment tax for each takeoff and landing, which on a charter is multiplied by the number of passengers on board. Other countries have their own taxes and duties; the UK, for example, charges Air Passenger Duty on private jet flights.
Airport and handling fees. Landing, parking and handling charges vary by airport, and busy airports cost more.
Positioning. If the aircraft is not where you are, it has to fly to you, and on a one-way trip the operator may also price in its flight home. This is the cost an empty leg can avoid.
Overnights and waiting. If the aircraft and crew wait for you or stay overnight, expect crew expenses and waiting charges.
Date and demand. Holidays and big events tighten the choice of aircraft. If your dates sit near one, ask early.
Extras. De-icing in winter, special catering and a change of airport you ask for can be billed on top.
One-way vs round trip
A round trip is priced as two flights, plus any waiting or overnight costs if the aircraft stays with you. A one-way charter costs less in total, but the aircraft still has to get home, and on some routes the operator builds that into your price.
If you need only one direction, that is where an empty leg or a shared flight can help. If you need a fixed outbound and return, a charter built around your dates is the dependable choice.
Price your own trip
Put in a route and see a whole-aircraft estimate by jet size, then ask us to confirm the operator’s real price. Nothing to pay until it is confirmed.
Where empty legs fit
An empty leg is a one-way flight an aircraft has to make anyway, for example repositioning after dropping off other passengers. Because the flight is happening already, operators often price it below a regular charter on the same route. Some legs are barely cheaper, so we do not quote a saving.
The trade-off is flexibility: the operator's own trip comes first, so times and airports are fixed and a leg can change or be canceled. See how empty-leg prices work, what an empty leg is or the side-by-side empty leg vs charter.
On Jettura the price shown is the operator's own price for the whole aircraft, estimated with the government taxes we can work out. There is no markup. If you book, Jettura charges a flat USD 999 fee and you pay the operator directly. Jettura is an air charter broker and does not operate aircraft.
Route examples
The same method on real routes. Each figure is the lowest typical whole-aircraft charter price across the jet sizes that suit the route: an estimate, not a quote. The route page shows every size, flight times and any empty legs on the route.
- Los Angeles to Las Vegas: about 45 min non-stop, typical charter from $4k.
- London to Geneva: about 1 h 20 min non-stop, typical charter from $5.5k.
- London to Nice: about 1 h 40 min non-stop, typical charter from $7k.
- New York to Miami: about 2 h 40 min non-stop, typical charter from $11k.
Long-haul routes such as New York to London and Dubai to London need a larger jet for more hours, so the price climbs steeply. The full list of routes has the rest.
Get a number for your own trip
- Enter your route in the price estimator for flight times and whole-aircraft estimates by jet size.
- If the number works, request the flight. A person on our team confirms the price with the operator before you pay anything.
- Read the confirmed price: it states the currency, what is included and excluded, and how long it holds.
Sources
- US federal excise tax on domestic air transportation (7.5 percent) and the domestic segment tax: 26 U.S.C. 4261.
- On a chartered aircraft the segment tax is multiplied by the number of passengers: IRS Publication 510.
- UK Air Passenger Duty on private jets: GOV.UK.
- Broker disclosure: 14 CFR 295.23.
- The hourly ranges are Jettura’s own planning ranges, not a market price list.
Questions
How much does it cost to charter a private jet per hour?
From about $2,000 to $3,500 an hour for a turboprop up to $11,000 to $20,000 for an ultra-long-range jet, whole aircraft, before taxes and fees. Light jets run about $3,500 to $6,000 an hour and midsize jets $4,500 to $8,000. These are estimates, not quotes.
How much is a one-hour private jet flight?
Operators bill at least one hour. With taxes and fees, our estimate for one hour is about $2.5k to $5k in a turboprop and $4k to $8.5k in a light jet, whole aircraft. Short flights cost more per minute in the air because fixed costs are spread over less flying.
Is the price per person?
No. A charter is priced for the whole aircraft. Jettura does not sell individual seats or publish per-person prices.
What is the cheapest way to fly private?
When your route and dates fit, an empty leg is often priced below a regular charter on the same route. For a regular charter, the smallest jet that carries your group non-stop is usually the cheapest. Flexible dates and airports help most.
What costs are added to the hourly rate?
Government taxes, airport and handling fees, crew expenses, fuel adjustments, positioning flights, overnight and waiting charges, and extras such as de-icing or special catering. Our estimates allow 20 to 40 percent on top of the hourly rate for these.
Why do two quotes for the same trip differ?
Operators have different aircraft in different places. An aircraft already near your airport costs less to position than one flying in from far away. Quotes can also include different items, so compare what each includes before comparing totals.
Is a one-way charter cheaper than a round trip?
It costs less in total, but the aircraft still has to fly home, and the operator may price that into your fare. A round trip is priced as two flights plus any waiting or overnight costs.
Does Jettura add a markup?
No. The price shown is the operator's own price, estimated for the whole aircraft. If you book, Jettura charges a flat USD 999 fee and you pay the operator directly. Prices are estimates until the operator confirms them.
Do I pay anything before the price is confirmed?
No. A person on our team confirms the price with the operator, then you decide whether to book. Before you pay anything, we confirm the operator holds a valid AOC for the aircraft flying you.
How accurate are these numbers?
They are planning ranges built from typical hourly charter rates plus an allowance for taxes and fees. They are not quotes. The operator's confirmed price is the one that counts.
Where can I get a price for my own trip?
Use the free price estimator on Jettura for any route, or request the flight and we will get the operator's confirmed price.
Jettura, powered by Certified Jets, is an air charter broker. We are not a direct air carrier and do not own or operate aircraft. Before you pay anything, we confirm the operator holds a valid AOC for the aircraft flying you. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice; the operator’s terms and our Terms of Service are what apply to your flight.