How much does a private jet cost?
Hiring a private jet costs roughly $3,500–$5,500 per block hour for a light jet and $9,000–$15,000 for a heavy jet, before taxes, positioning and airport fees, according to published 2026 rate guides. A one-hour flight on a light jet is therefore estimated at $3,500–$5,500 one way, and an empty leg on the same sector at $900–$4,100.
| Light jet, per block hour | $3,500–$5,500 (£2,623–£4,122) |
|---|---|
| Heavy jet, per block hour | $9,000–$15,000 (£6,745–£11,241) |
| Empty leg discount | 25–75% below the standard one-way estimate |
| Minimum billable time | 1 hour on most quotes |
| Not included | Taxes, positioning, airport fees, de-icing, catering upgrades |
| Exchange rate | ECB reference rates, 2026-09-18 |
How much does a private jet cost per hour?
From about $2,000 an hour for a turboprop to $22,000 for an ultra-long-range jet, according to guides published in 2026.
Three published guides were compared: Paramount Business Jets (August 2026), Amalfi Jets (June 2026) and Jetvice (September 2026, in euros). The model band for each category takes the median of the guides’ low figures and the median of their highs, so it sits inside the range the market publishes rather than at either extreme. Where only one or two guides cover a category, the sources column says so.
| Aircraft category | Seats | USD per hour | GBP per hour | EUR per hour | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | 6–9 | $2,000–$3,100 | £1,499–£2,323 | €1,745–€2,705 | (Paramount Business Jets, 2026) (Amalfi Jets, 2026) |
| Very light jet | 4–5 | $2,700–$3,500 | £2,023–£2,623 | €2,356–€3,054 | (Paramount Business Jets, 2026) |
| Light jet | 6–8 | $3,500–$5,500 | £2,623–£4,122 | €3,054–€4,799 | (Paramount Business Jets, 2026) (Amalfi Jets, 2026) (Jetvice, 2026) |
| Midsize jet | 7–9 | $5,000–$8,000 | £3,747–£5,995 | €4,363–€6,981 | (Paramount Business Jets, 2026) (Amalfi Jets, 2026) (Jetvice, 2026) |
| Super-midsize jet | 8–10 | $7,500–$11,000 | £5,620–£8,243 | €6,545–€9,599 | (Paramount Business Jets, 2026) (Amalfi Jets, 2026) (Jetvice, 2026) |
| Heavy jet | 10–14 | $9,000–$15,000 | £6,745–£11,241 | €7,853–€13,089 | (Paramount Business Jets, 2026) (Amalfi Jets, 2026) (Jetvice, 2026) |
| Ultra-long-range jet | 12–19 | $14,000–$22,000 | £10,491–£16,487 | €12,216–€19,197 | (Paramount Business Jets, 2026) (Amalfi Jets, 2026) (Jetvice, 2026) |
Model estimate, not a quote. See how we calculate prices.
How is the cost of a trip calculated?
Block time multiplied by the hourly rate, with a one-hour minimum, then taxes and fees on top.
Block time is the great-circle distance divided by a typical block speed for the category, plus fifteen minutes for taxi. The table shows the resulting one-way estimate (grey) and the empty leg estimate (bold) for three sample sectors. Full detail, including every constant, is on the methodology page.
| Aircraft category | 1 hour | 2.5 hours | 5 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | $2,000–$3,100 $500–$2,300 | $5,000–$7,800 $1,300–$5,900 | $10,000–$15,500 $2,500–$11,600 |
| Very light jet | $2,700–$3,500 $700–$2,600 | $6,800–$8,800 $1,700–$6,600 | Beyond range |
| Light jet | $3,500–$5,500 $900–$4,100 | $8,800–$13,800 $2,200–$10,400 | Beyond range |
| Midsize jet | $5,000–$8,000 $1,300–$6,000 | $12,500–$20,000 $3,100–$15,000 | $25,000–$40,000 $6,300–$30,000 |
| Super-midsize jet | $7,500–$11,000 $1,900–$8,300 | $18,800–$27,500 $4,700–$20,600 | $37,500–$55,000 $9,400–$41,300 |
| Heavy jet | $9,000–$15,000 $2,300–$11,300 | $22,500–$37,500 $5,600–$28,100 | $45,000–$75,000 $11,300–$56,300 |
| Ultra-long-range jet | $14,000–$22,000 $3,500–$16,500 | $35,000–$55,000 $8,800–$41,300 | $70,000–$110,000 $17,500–$82,500 |
Model estimate, not a quote. See how we calculate prices.
What do popular routes cost?
London to Paris is estimated at $3,500–$5,500 one way on a light jet.
| Route | Distance | Aircraft | Block time | One-way charter (est.) | Empty leg (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London to Paris | 185 nm | Light jet | 0h 44m | $3,500–$5,500 | $900–$4,100 |
| Paris to Nice | 370 nm | Light jet | 1h 13m | $4,300–$6,700 | $1,100–$5,000 |
| London to Geneva | 403 nm | Light jet | 1h 19m | $4,600–$7,200 | $1,200–$5,400 |
| London to Nice | 555 nm | Light jet | 1h 43m | $6,000–$9,400 | $1,500–$7,100 |
| London to Ibiza | 759 nm | Light jet | 2h 15m | $7,900–$12,400 | $2,000–$9,300 |
| New York to Miami | 949 nm | Light jet | 2h 45m | $9,600–$15,100 | $2,400–$11,300 |
| Dubai to London | 2,954 nm | Super-midsize jet | 6h 58m | $52,200–$76,600 | $13,100–$57,500 |
Model estimate, not a quote. See how we calculate prices.
Every route page on the site carries the same table for all seven categories. Published one-way examples elsewhere sit in the same bands: IONA Jets quotes London to Paris on a light jet at $5,000–$9,500 and London to Dubai on a heavy jet at $50,000–$75,000 (IONA Jets, 2026).
What is not included in the price?
Taxes, airport charges, positioning and extras are added to the hourly rate on every quote.
- Taxes. US domestic flights carry a 7.5% Federal Excise Tax plus segment fees (Paramount Business Jets, 2026); UK departures carry Air Passenger Duty; EU flights may carry VAT. Rates change, so we quote the current figure rather than publish one here.
- Airport charges. Landing, handling and parking, which vary by airport and aircraft weight.
- Positioning. Flying the aircraft to you and home again on a one-way charter.
- Crew costs. Overnight expenses when the crew stays away from base.
- Weather and extras. De-icing in winter, catering beyond the standard offering, cabin attendants on aircraft that do not carry one as standard.
How much cheaper is an empty leg?
Typically 25–75% below the standard one-way price for the same aircraft and route.
The operator has already been paid for the positioning flight by the original charter, so any revenue from it is extra (Business Travel Executive, 2023). The largest discounts appear close to departure on routes with little demand; popular routes at peak times are discounted less. Listed flights on the board show the operator’s actual price plus our booking fee rather than an estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a private jet for an hour?
Published 2026 guides put a light jet at $3,500–$5,500 per block hour and a midsize jet at $5,000–$8,000, before taxes, positioning and airport charges. Most operators bill a minimum of one hour per sector.
Why is a one-way private jet flight so expensive?
Because the aircraft has to get back. A one-way charter usually carries the cost of the positioning flight to or from the aircraft’s base, which is why a one-way quote can approach the price of a round trip. Empty legs are the other side of that coin.
What is not included in the hourly rate?
Government taxes such as US Federal Excise Tax, landing and handling fees, crew overnight costs, de-icing, catering beyond the standard offering and positioning flights. Published guides agree that the hourly rate is not the final trip price.
How are the prices on this site calculated?
Listed empty legs show the operator’s price plus our booking fee. Every other figure is a model estimate: great-circle distance, a block-time formula and published hourly-rate bands per aircraft category, with empty legs modelled at 25–75% below the charter estimate. The method, sources and exchange-rate date are on the methodology page.
How much can you save with an empty leg?
Typically 25–75% against the standard one-way charter price for the same aircraft and route. The largest discounts appear close to departure on routes with little demand. Popular routes at peak times are discounted less.
Sources
- Paramount Business Jets, "Private Jet Rental | Jet Cost & Hourly Rates (2026)", 2026-08 (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Amalfi Jets, "Private Jet Cost Per Hour 2026: Rates by Jet Type", 2026-06-15 (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Jetvice, "Private Jet Charter Hourly Rates 2026", 2026-09-01 (accessed 2026-09-20)
- IONA Jets, "How much does it cost to charter a private jet in 2026?", 2026-07-31 (accessed 2026-09-20). Published one-way price examples: London–Paris light jet $5,000–$9,500; New York–Miami light jet $8,000–$14,000; London–Dubai heavy jet $50,000–$75,000; London–New York ultra-long-range $65,000–$100,000.
- Business Travel Executive, "Empty Legs, Empty Promises?", 2023-02-02 (accessed 2026-09-20). XO estimate that 30–50% of the charter fleet often flies empty; Victor on savings of up to 75%; Chapman Freeborn on change and cancellation risk.
- European Central Bank euro foreign exchange reference rates (via frankfurter.dev), 2026-09-18 (accessed 2026-09-20). Rates used for USD, EUR and GBP conversions.
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.
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