Private Jet Charter Cost: A Complete 2026 Guide by Aircraft Type

Chartering a private jet costs anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000 for a short turboprop hop to well over $100,000 for a long-haul heavy jet. The gap is wide because three variables move together: the aircraft you choose, the route you fly, and the timing of your trip. This guide breaks all three down, explains every cost component that adds to the base rate, and shows where empty legs change the math significantly.

How much does it cost to charter a private jet?

Chartering a private jet costs anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000 for a short turboprop hop to well over $100,000 for a long-haul heavy jet. Most travelers flying domestic routes on a light or midsize jet budget $6,000 to $55,000 depending on distance and aircraft. Empty legs on the same routes typically run 25 to 75% below a comparable full charter, making private aviation accessible at prices that surprise most first-time flyers.

Aircraft class	Example aircraft	Typical hourly rate	Example trip cost
Turboprop	Pilatus PC-12, King Air 350	$1,500 to $3,000/hr	$3,000 to $6,000 (Boston to Nantucket)
Light jet	Citation CJ3, Phenom 300	$2,000 to $6,000/hr	$6,000 to $12,000 (New York to Boston)
Midsize jet	Citation XLS, Hawker 800	$4,000 to $8,000/hr	$12,000 to $22,000 (Chicago to New York)
Super-midsize jet	Citation X, Challenger 350	$5,000 to $10,000/hr	$20,000 to $35,000 (New York to Miami)
Heavy jet	Gulfstream G450, Challenger 605	$7,000 to $13,000/hr	$70,000 to $120,000 (New York to London)
Ultra-long-range jet	Gulfstream G650, Global 7500	$10,000 to $20,000/hr	$150,000 to $250,000 (New York to Dubai)

Charter pricing by aircraft category

Private jet pricing is per aircraft, not per seat. Every cost range below covers the whole plane.

Turboprop (e.g. Pilatus PC-12, King Air 350)

Best for: short regional hops under 600 miles, remote airstrips with short runways, groups of up to 9 passengers.

• Typical hourly rate: $1,500 to $3,000/hr
• Example: Boston to Nantucket (~30 min): $3,000 to $6,000 including taxes and fees
• Example: Dallas to Midland (~1 hr): $4,000 to $8,000 including taxes and fees
• Seats: 6 to 9 | Range: up to ~1,500 miles non-stop

Light jet (e.g. Citation CJ3, Phenom 300)

Best for: 1 to 4 passengers on shorter routes. The light jet is the most common aircraft type on the empty-leg market.

• Typical hourly rate: $2,000 to $6,000/hr (full charter, source: Avinode)
• Example: New York to Boston (~1 hr): $6,000 to $12,000 including taxes and fees
• Example: Los Angeles to Las Vegas (~45 min): $5,000 to $10,000 including taxes and fees
• Example: Miami to New York (~3 hrs): $15,000 to $28,000 including taxes and fees
• Seats: 4 to 8 | Range: up to ~1,800 miles non-stop

Midsize jet (e.g. Citation XLS, Hawker 800)

Best for: groups of 6 to 9, coast-to-coast routes where a light jet would need a fuel stop, or when you need a stand-up cabin.

• Typical hourly rate: $4,000 to $8,000/hr
• Example: Chicago to New York (~2 hrs): $12,000 to $22,000 including taxes and fees
• Example: Los Angeles to New York (~5.5 hrs): $35,000 to $55,000 including taxes and fees
• Seats: 7 to 10 | Range: up to ~2,500 miles non-stop

Super-midsize jet (e.g. Citation X, Challenger 350, Falcon 2000)

Best for: coast-to-coast non-stop, international short hops, or when cabin comfort on a 4 to 6 hour flight matters.

• Typical hourly rate: $5,000 to $10,000/hr
• Example: New York to Miami (~3 hrs): $20,000 to $35,000 including taxes and fees
• Example: Los Angeles to New York (~5 hrs, non-stop): $40,000 to $65,000 including taxes and fees
• Seats: 8 to 12 | Range: up to ~3,500 miles non-stop

Heavy jet (e.g. Gulfstream G450, Challenger 605, Falcon 7X)

Best for: transatlantic routes, large groups of 10 to 14, or when full-flat beds and a proper galley matter on a long flight.

• Typical hourly rate: $7,000 to $13,000/hr (full charter, source: Avinode)
• Example: New York to London (~7 hrs): $70,000 to $120,000 including taxes and fees
• Example: Los Angeles to London (~10 hrs): $90,000 to $150,000 including taxes and fees
• Seats: 10 to 16 | Range: up to ~6,000 miles non-stop

Ultra-long-range jet (e.g. Gulfstream G650, Bombardier Global 7500)

Best for: non-stop routes nothing else can fly: New York to Hong Kong, Los Angeles to Sydney, or any route where a fuel stop adds 2 to 3 hours.

• Typical hourly rate: $10,000 to $20,000/hr
• Example: New York to Dubai (~13 hrs): $150,000 to $250,000 including taxes and fees
• Seats: 12 to 19 | Range: up to ~8,000 miles non-stop

What the hourly rate does not include: the total cost breakdown

Every charter quote starts with flight-time cost (hourly rate x estimated hours), but several items move the final number:

Ferry fees (repositioning cost)

If the nearest available aircraft is not at your departure airport, the operator flies it there first, and that positioning flight is often billed to you, or factored into the quoted rate. This is the single most variable line item and the main reason two quotes for the same route can differ by 20 to 30%.

FBO (Fixed Base Operator) handling fees

Private jets use Fixed Base Operators, private aviation terminals, instead of commercial terminals. FBO fees for handling, ramp access, and fuel vary significantly by airport. For more, see our guide to FBO fees and why two empty legs on the same route cost thousands apart.

Fuel surcharges

Jet-A fuel prices fluctuate with energy markets. Most operators build fuel into the quoted rate, but some apply a separate surcharge, especially on international routes. Always confirm whether fuel is included before booking.

Overnight and crew expenses

If you need the aircraft to stay at your destination overnight before returning, the operator typically bills crew hotel, per diem, and sometimes a daily standby fee. Same-day round trips avoid this entirely.

Catering and special services

Base quotes rarely include more than water and basic snacks. Custom catering, in-flight Wi-Fi on older aircraft, and ground transportation coordination are add-ons, typically $300 to $1,500 on a domestic flight, but worth confirming upfront.

International fees

International flights add landing fees, overflight fees (for airspace you cross), handling fees at foreign FBOs, and customs/immigration facilitation costs. On a transatlantic charter these can add $5,000 to $15,000 to the total, depending on routing and destination.

Standard charter vs. empty leg: the cost comparison

An empty leg is a repositioning flight, a private jet that an operator needs to move from point A to point B anyway, usually to return a charter customer’s aircraft to its home base or position it for an upcoming booking. Because the operator is flying regardless, they accept a passenger at a significant discount rather than fly empty.

Empty legs on SkyAccess are priced at 25 to 75% off the equivalent full-charter rate. What you give up for the discount:

• Fixed routing. The aircraft is going where it is going. You cannot change the departure or destination.
• Fixed timing. The schedule is set by the originating charter. Some flexibility exists, but not much.
• Cancellation risk. If the originating charter cancels, your flight may cancel too. The industry-wide empty-leg cancellation rate is 10 to 15% (source: NBAA / Avinode). SkyAccess covers this with a marketplace refund guarantee.

What you do NOT give up:

• The aircraft. Same certified operator, same crew, same plane, only the booking mechanism differs.
• The whole jet. Empty legs are whole-aircraft bookings; no seat pooling, no shared rides.
• Safety standards. Every operator on SkyAccess holds an FAA Part 135 certificate (or international equivalent). The empty-leg flight is operated to the exact same standards as a full-price charter.

For a full side-by-side: Empty leg vs on-demand charter: which to book and when.

When to book an empty leg vs. full charter

Empty leg is right when: your route and approximate timing are flexible, your trip is one-way, and you have a backup plan if the flight cancels, or you’re comfortable with the refund-and-rebook path. Most empty legs are listed 48 to 72 hours before departure; the best ones fill fast.

Full charter is right when: you have a hard departure window (a meeting, a wedding, a race start), you need a round trip on fixed dates, or the route has limited empty-leg supply.

How to search and book on SkyAccess

SkyAccess is a live marketplace listing both empty legs and full on-demand charter from 900+ certified charter operators globally. No membership fee, no broker call, no quote cycle, pricing is published and you book directly. All prices are whole-aircraft prices covering operator cost and platform fees; taxes and fees, including the US Federal Excise Tax, are shown at checkout.

Browse live empty legs now →

Frequently asked questions

How much does a private jet cost per hour?

Per-hour rates range by aircraft class. Entry-level turboprops start from $2,000 to $3,000 per flight hour. Midsize aircraft run $4,000 to $8,000 per hour. Heavy jets run $7,000 to $13,000. Ultra-long-range aircraft can reach $20,000 per hour. Booking an empty leg repositioning flight can lower these rates significantly.

How much does it cost to charter a private jet for a day?

A day charter depends on aircraft type and routing. A light jet doing two domestic hops in a day might run $15,000 to $30,000 including taxes and fees. A heavy jet on a longer day trip can reach $80,000 to $150,000. The biggest variable is whether the aircraft has to reposition to reach you and whether it stays overnight.

Do private jet charter prices include fuel?

In most cases yes: SkyAccess whole-aircraft pricing includes fuel. However, on some international flights operators apply a fuel surcharge for high-cost fuel stops. Confirm this upfront; it will be stated in the quote details.

How much cheaper is an empty leg than a full charter?

Empty legs on SkyAccess are priced at 25 to 75% off the equivalent full-charter rate for that aircraft and route. Flights listed 12 to 24 hours before departure often carry the steepest discounts.

How much do empty leg flights cost?

An empty leg’s price starts from the operator’s hourly rate multiplied by the flight time, then discounted because the aircraft must fly the route anyway. SkyAccess lists 5,000+ live empty leg flights with whole-aircraft pricing on corridors like New York to Miami and Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

What is the cheapest private jet option?

For the lowest cost per flight, an empty leg on a light jet on a popular corridor (New York to Miami, Los Angeles to Las Vegas, etc.) gives you the best price. For frequent travelers who need schedule certainty, see: Empty leg vs jet card: which should you choose?

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Hourly rate figures are sourced from Avinode market data and reflect the range across operator quotes on the open charter market. Final total costs vary by route, aircraft availability, FBO selection, and date.

Related reading

• How much do empty leg flights cost? A 2026 pricing breakdown
• Empty leg vs on-demand charter: which to book and when
• Empty leg vs jet card: which should you choose?
• How to find empty leg flights: the 2026 playbook
• When is the best time to book an empty leg flight?
• The airport fee that explains why two empty legs on the same route cost thousands apart