cost of operating a super yacht

Page Loading

• Vessel ltinerary
• Administration
• Dockage & Fuel
• Maintenance
• Capital Repairs & Reserves
• Total Expenses =
• Name Length Build
• # Total Expenses Date Saved

Advanced functionality coming soon.

Us flagged vessel, health insurance costs per crew, uniform cost per crew, training cost per crew, food cost per crew, crew turnover, hires using a professional crew agency.

• Restore Default
• $   | €   | £

Costs of food provisions will vary dependent upon how eloborate food Preferenaces are

Location will play huge factor in food provisons and thing may have to be folws into remorte locations.

Crew is one of the largest expenses on a superyacht and critical to the owner’s enjoyment of their vessel. As the largest crew agency in the world, we know crew. Our cost calculator contains customized crew lists for yachts ranging from 80ft to 600ft with salary information based on our reference verified salary data.

Our users also have the ability to completely tailor the crew list to the specific needs, schedule and requirements of their vessel. Each yacht is unique and may have specific owner requests in addition to the yacht’s safe manning requirements.

Management of the supplemental crew costs and strategic budgeting can help avoid significant overspend on categories such as food and uniform. This tool contains default values based on our industry expertise and recommended budget for an efficiently and safely run superyacht.

To learn more about each crew position in detail, including salary ranges, please visit our yacht department directory .

Drag the sliders to modify your results. These are not linear scales and we expect most yachts to operate within the 20-80% window. Above 80% and below 20% costs increase or decrease at exaggerated levels and we only see numbers in these levels in very rare circumstances.

This sunburst diagram is interactive. You can click into each block to see the expense break down and mouse over each block for more details.

Our chart of accounts displays seven major categories, 20 sub-categories plus a further 80 detail categories for a total of 107.

Our yacht operating cost calculator is now on it’s third major revision. We start with actual yacht expense data from our yacht management accountants and then generate formulas to extrapolate out the budget for a wide range of yachts. We have been providing accounting services to large yachts for the past 18 years.

Our operating cost calculator is tuned for yachts from 80 to 600 feet. We find operating variables create the largest variances for yachts smaller than 100 feet and larger than 250 feet. We have tested the numbers the most in the range from 100 to 250 feet.

Our budget calculator factors in the fuel burn for a range of engine sizes typically seen installed on yachts by length. By dragging the green “fuel dockage” slider to the right you will increase the projected fuel burn rate and therefore the budget cost for fuel. Our default position would be for a typical displacement fuel burn. Position the slider in the 60-80% range for fuel projections for planning hulls.

Our default values produce a budget number that we believe is generous to run a yacht to a high standard. Perfect is a very expensive word to use in the yachting industry where standards are already high. Moving the crew and maintenance sliders to 80% will provide an “industry best” quality of crew and give them the maintenance budget to operate to a very high standard. If you need to go over the 80% area then you may have unusually labor intensive equipment on the yacht.

Yes, our yacht operating cost calculator can output a budget suitable for this situation. Adjust the owner use to 2 (minimum value), owner slider to 0, crew slider to 10%, Administration to 10%, Fuel and Dockage to 0, Maintenance to 10% and then Capital Repairs to 0. This will remove all of the large charges associated with owner use and vessel movement but leave the essential base maintenance and insurance in place.

Lift on and float in yacht transport is a popular way to transport yachts across large ocean passage. The yachts that this service certainly applies to are ones that may not have the motoring range or structural integrity for blue ocean cruising. The cost of transporting a yacht twice per year is put into our budget once the “Fuel Dockage” slider hits 75%. If your yacht has the range we recommend self-sufficient ocean passages whenever possible. Whilst the transport companies sell their services based upon reportedly well oiled operated schedules the reality is that your yacht may stay waiting for pickup for a week or more with no compensation due. When factoring in all secondary factors of self-sufficient passages (increased fuel, maintenance, potential storm damage, crew time off, extra delivery crew) compared with transporting your yacht (insurance, potential loading / unloading damage, loss of schedule control, no work whilst underway, crew flights, crew accommodation) we believe that there is a 100% premium associated with float in transport and a 75% premium with lift on transport compared with self-powered.

Abandoned yachts crash in value. We recommend that even if you are trying to sell your yacht that you use the yacht for a minimum of two weeks per year so that systems are tested and working every six months. There is nothing worse for a yacht than not being used. If you truly are not going to use the yacht then you should sell it immediately for the first genuine offer as every dollar you put into maintenance will not be recovered at the time of the sale.

We did not build this version with sailing yachts in mind. Early in our development of this version we decided to exclude sailing yachts as a few of the major cost drivers scale very differently for sailing yachts compared with motor yachts. For example: To calculate paint costs we reviewed the surface area of over 100 large yachts and created a formula for painted surface area to length. Sailing yachts just don’t scale in a consistent way. Similarly crew numbers don’t scale in the same manner that they do for motor yachts. If there is sufficient demand we may build a sailing selector switch into a future version of this tool.

We hate to hear when yacht owners were told by their broker to factor in 10% of the purchase price to operate the yacht. This over used saying is sadly right occasionally (particularly for newer yachts in the $20-30M range)… but just because a broken watch tells the right time twice a day you shouldn’t rely upon it to tell the time. As yachts get older their capital value decreases but their maintenance costs increase. There is no way that a fixed 10% of purchase cost rule can be true… if your broker told you this rule then you need a new yacht broker… we know some good ones. 😊

Advanced functionality coming soon…

We are building advanced tools to allow you even greater control over our operating cost calculator. Please enter your email address below to be advised when it is available.

Save this version

Share your calculations.

Please save version before sharing LuxYacht - Calculator!!

You must be logged in to save this version of the cost calculator that you have customized for your yacht..

Yacht Operations Calculator How Much Does it Cost to Own a Superyacht?

Owning a superyacht is a dream for many, but understanding the costs involved is essential to making that dream a reality. Our cost calculator helps you estimate the annual running costs of a yacht based on its length, type, age, value, and number of crew. While the calculator provides valuable estimates, for a more accurate and personalised quote , we recommend contacting our Team to speak with one of our yachting experts. Explore the details below and use our tool to make informed decisions.

Yacht Operations Calculator

Select a length and yacht type to see crew recommendations.

Our recommended number of crew based on LOA would be Crew Members.

Total Operational Costs

Fill in the form and click the button to see the calculations.

Initial Purchase Price

The cost of purchasing a yacht can vary widely based on several key factors. Size is a primary determinant, with larger yachts commanding higher prices due to increased materials, engineering complexity, and luxury features. For instance, a 20-30m yacht might cost between USD 2 million and USD 5 million, while a 70m+ superyacht can exceed USD 100 million.

Yacht Type: Motor or Sail

The type of yacht also plays a significant role in pricing. Motor yachts, known for their speed and range, tend to be more expensive than sailing yachts of similar size due to the complexity of their engines and systems. Additionally, custom new builds, tailored to an Owner’s exact specifications, typically cost more than semi-custom or series yachts, which follow pre-designed platforms. If you can’t decide whether a motor or sailing yacht is right for you, check out our motor yacht vs sailing yacht guide to find out more.

Age and Builder

Age is also crucial. Newer yachts often have the latest technology and require less immediate maintenance, reflecting higher prices. In contrast, pre-owned yachts can offer significant savings but might come with higher maintenance costs and require costly updates. The reputation and craftsmanship of the builder are also important; yachts from Northern European shipyards like Feadship or Lürssen often command premium prices due to their quality and brand prestige.

Furthermore, the condition of the yacht, including its maintenance history and any refits or upgrades, can significantly affect its price. Well-maintained yachts with recent overhauls or modern amenities will generally cost more than those needing refurbishment.

Leverage Our Team’s Exceptional Commercial Expertise

That’s where we come in. We support you in the valuation of your current yacht or one you are considering purchasing. With their expertise and current market knowledge, our sales & purchase consultants and yacht managers can confidently value a yacht, considering a plethora of factors including everything from the recent sales of similar yachts (both on and off market),to external market pressures and detailed yacht surveys.

How Much Does It Cost To Run A Yacht?

Operating a yacht requires a skilled crew. Below, we present the basic crew you can expect on board a superyacht, but the number of crew members and their salaries will generally depend on the yacht’s size. For a 40m yacht, expect to have around 8 to 10 crew members, costing approximately USD 500,000 to USD 600,000 annually.

Various positions on board, such as ETO/AV/IT specialists, sous chefs, pursers, masseuses, nurses, and personal trainers, can be required based on the Owner’s preferences as well as the yacht’s size with the industry standard Safe Manning Document outlining the appropriate numbers of crew relating to the size of the vessel.

Crew Roles, Responsibilities, and Average Salaries:

• Captain: Manages the yacht, ensures safety, and oversees all operations. Average salary: USD 80,000 – USD 200,000 annually.
• First Officer: Assists the Captain and manages deck crew. Average salary: USD 70,000 – USD 120,000 annually.
• Chief Engineer: Maintains the yacht’s mechanical and electrical systems. Average salary: USD 84,000 – USD 144,000 annually.
• Engineers: Support chief engineer to maintain the yacht’s mechanical and electrical systems. Average salary: USD 40,000 to USD 70,000 annually.
• Chef: Prepares meals for guests and crew. Average salary: USD 70,000 – USD 150,000 annually.
• Chief Steward: Responsible for maintaining the interior and managing the team that supports it, they are also the first point of contact for guests on board. Average salary: USD 60,000 – USD 84,000 annually.
• Deckhands and Stewards: Perform maintenance, assist with navigation, and ensure guest comfort. Average salary: USD 30,000 – USD 60,000 annually.

The crew plays a crucial role in ensuring a positive onboard experience, so it’s important to find the right fit for the yacht. This means offering a well-balanced work-life environment with competitive salary and leave packages to attract experienced crew members who can make the experience truly memorable.

2 Maintenance and Repairs

Regular maintenance is crucial to keep your yacht in prime condition.

• Routine Maintenance: Scheduled checks and services, such as hull cleaning, engine servicing, and electronic system checks, costing about USD 100,000 – USD 500,000 per year. This ensures the yacht remains in excellent working condition and complies with safety standards.
• Unexpected Repairs: Unplanned issues can arise, such as engine faults or cosmetic damage, leading to additional costs. Budgeting an extra 10-20% of the maintenance budget for these can be wise. For example, a major engine overhaul can cost upwards of USD 200,000.

3 Insurance

Yacht insurance covers a range of potential risks, from accidents to natural disasters.

Types of Coverage:

• Hull Insurance: Protects against physical damage to the yacht.
• Liability Insurance: Covers legal liabilities, including injury to guests or crew.
• Crew Insurance: Ensures crew members are covered for medical expenses and accidents.

Cost Factors:

Premiums vary based on the yacht’s value, size, age, and cruising areas. A larger, older yacht cruising in high-risk areas will have higher premiums. For instance, annual premiums for a 40 to 50 metre yacht can range from USD 70,000 to USD 120,000 but depends on factors such as hull value and cruising area which could increase the costs further.

Ocean Independence Insurance Services

While we don’t directly offer insurance for your yacht, our in-house operational yacht managers offer insurance management services to take the stress out of your yacht ownership experience. Our services include:

• Policy Selection / Insurance Coverage Assessment: Advising on the best insurance policies tailored to your yacht’s operations and cruising area.
• Claims Management: Handling all aspects of insurance claims, from filing to settlement, ensuring a smooth and efficient process.

4 Berthing Fees

Berthing fees are one of the highest expenditures for yacht owners. Generally, berthing is priced by the length of the yacht and per night, although long-term contracts are also an option for those looking to acquire a home berth with most marinas offering the option to purchase a dedicated berth for a year.

It is also worth considering how much you will use your yacht and where you intend to go. Marinas vary significantly in price, with the most sought-after locations incurring the highest costs. For instance, visiting the most exclusive berths in destinations with limited space like Portofino can cost north of USD 10,000 per night during the high season (not including additional services like electricity, water, and waste removal), and these spots are often booked well in advance.

Purchasing A Home Berth

If you plan to return to the same marina regularly and to own your yacht for several years, purchasing a long-term lease for a berth can offer a range of benefits. While the initial purchase is often significant, it guarantees a comfortable berth in a prime location, even during the busy high season. A strategically located berth can also help reduce other costs by mitigating crew turnover, thereby reducing recruitment, training, and inefficiency expenses.

Additionally, long-term leases present diverse revenue streams. Even though these won’t cover ownership costs, they significantly offset financial burdens. Typically, owners utilise their fixed moorings as a secure homeport during the off-season, ensuring maintenance, crew satisfaction, and peace of mind. While, during peak cruising season, your berth can be leased out, further countering ownership costs.

5 Fuel Costs

Fuel costs are also a significant portion of the annual operating expenses for a superyacht. Fuel consumption varies depending on the yacht’s size, engines, and hull design. As a general guide, a 50m displacement yacht can burn about 500 litres of fuel per hour at cruising speed. Thus, a yacht that is used regularly or is used for long-distance cruising can incur substantial annual fuel costs.

Fuel prices vary globally, and even within the Mediterranean , owners can make significant savings with strategic refuelling. It’s advisable to fill up in regions with lower fuel prices and avoid high-cost areas.

6 Brokerage and Management Fees

Electing to hire a professional yacht manager with Ocean independence offers numerous benefits, including operational efficiency, cost savings, and peace of mind.

We assign a dedicated yacht manager to your vessel, serving as your personal point of reference and delivering regular reports on all aspects of your yacht’s operation, including onboard inspections. Our comprehensive operational management package ensures your yacht is always operated safely and smoothly.

We also uphold a strict non-commission policy for services rendered to our clients under a management agreement. Additionally, all discounts we obtain from suppliers are fully credited to the owners, with no mark-up on our services.

Our Operational Yacht Management Services

Yacht Compliance and Safety Management Services

Technical Support Services for Superyachts

Financial Services for Superyachts

Employment Services for Superyachts

Corporate Support Services for Superyachts

Specialist yacht operations.

If you feel ready to purchase your dream yacht, or still have some unanswered questions, contact our Team for personalised guidance and professional consultation.

Need help or advice?

The yachting journey can be complex with many decisions to be made. Get in touch with Ocean Independence, and one of our specialist consultants will help you make the right choices.

As a truly global company with 15 offices worldwide, we’re available 24/7 to help with any enquiries.

Stay in the know

Sign up to our newsletter to find out about all things yachting, including new listings, global events and the latest news in the industry.

Follow us on socials

Enter a search term below to search our website.

• Frank Magazine
• Denison History
• Virtual Tours
• Alaskan Yachts
• Azimut Yachts
• Back Cove Yachts
• Beneteau Yachts
• Benetti Superyachts
• Bertram Yachts
• Boston Whaler
• Broward Yachts
• Buddy Davis Sportfish
• Burger Yachts
• Cabo Yachts
• Carver Motoryachts
• Center Console
• Chris-Craft Yachts
• Cruisers Yachts
• DeFever Trawlers
• Dufour Sailboats
• Fairline Yachts
• Feadship Yachts
• Ferretti Yachts
• Formula Yachts
• Fountaine Pajot Cats
• Grady-White
• Grand Banks Trawlers
• Hargrave Yachts
• Hatteras Yachts
• Hinckley Picnic Boats
• Horizon Yachts
• Hydra-Sports
• Intrepid Boats
• Jarrett Bay Sportfish
• Jeanneau Yachts
• Kadey-Krogen Trawlers
• Lazzara Yachts
• Lekker Boats
• Luhrs Sportfish
• Marlow Yachts
• Maritimo Yachts
• Marquis Yachts
• McKinna Motoryachts
• Meridian Yachts
• Midnight Express
• Mochi Craft
• Neptunus Motoryachts
• Nordhavn Trawlers
• Nordic Tugs
• Numarine Yachts
• Ocean Alexander Yachts
• Offshore Yachts
• Oyster Sailing Yachts
• Pacific Mariner Yachts
• Palmer Johnson Yachts
• Pershing Yachts
• Prestige Yachts
• Princess Yachts
• Pursuit Yachts
• Riva Yachts
• Riviera Yachts
• Sabre Downeast
• San Lorenzo Yachts
• Sea Ray Boats
• SeaVee Central Consoles
• Selene Trawlers
• Scout Yachts
• Sunseeker Yachts
• Tiara Yachts
• Trinity Superyachts
• Viking Yachts
• Westport Yachts

The Real Costs of Owning a Superyacht [Complete Guide]

November 25, 2019 1:00 pm

Owning a  superyacht  is a status symbol available only to the world’s wealthiest individuals and corporations. Although there is no strict definition, the Red Ensign Group Yacht Code is applicable to “motor or sailing vessels of 24 meters in load line length and over…and which, at the time, is in commercial use for sport or pleasure and carries no cargo and no more than 12 passengers 1 .” There are currently just over 10,000 superyachts in the world with around 200-250 new builds delivered each year. The vast majority are  motor yachts , with sailing yachts counting for less than 20% of the total. The world’s largest private vessel, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s 180m (590-foot) AZZAM,  cost $600 million to build when it was delivered in 2013. Eight of the ten most expensive luxury acquisitions of all time were superyachts.

Purchase Cost

Buying a new or used superyacht will most likely cost the buyer several million dollars. Pricing varies widely based on the yacht size, age, and other factors such as builder, guest capacity, speed, range, and more. The market is worldwide and extensive. Any potential buyer would be well-advised to engage a professional, certified broker to guide them in the selection of their dream yacht and through the myriad of complications in making the purchase.

• • Financing the Purchase
• • Immediate Post Purchase Costs

Operating Costs

In years past, owners and their brokers would work on 10% of the purchase price as an estimate of annual operating costs, but the vast range of yacht size, operating location, and usage profile makes this approach less useful without giving the question more thought. Building a budget for a yacht requires consideration of the following elements:

Crew – Salary, payroll taxes, recruitment fees, uniform, health insurance, food, and travel for vacation and repatriation are all crew-related costs. A good guide for salary costs is published by Dockwalk magazine every year based on an extensive survey of the crew and placement agents. Using their most recent article as a guide, a crew of eight full-time crew on a 150-foot yacht will cost over $650,000 per year in salary alone. Get a complete crew cost breakdown.

Dockage – Unless the owner plans to spend the year at anchor, then keeping the yacht in a marina incurs a significant cost. Dockage is normally sold per foot of the yacht’s full length and per night, although contract rates for longer periods may be available. High-quality marinas in peak seasons are currently running in the $6-8 per foot per night range. Electricity, fresh water, and waste removal are all additional costs to be considered.

Fuel – The captain or engineer should be able to provide the fuel consumption per hour at any given speed, so if a yacht owner knows roughly how much he wants the boat to travel, then he can estimate the total fuel consumption and budget the fuel cost. There is also the fuel cost for generators, particularly at anchor. A typical 150-foot motor yacht cruising at 12 knots will consume in the region of 150 U.S. gallons per hour. At today’s fuel prices, that’s going to be close to $500 per hour. 500 hours per year will give us the main engine fuel budget of around $250,000. To this, we must also add the generators’ fuel consumption at anchor plus any additional cost for tenders.

Communications – Everyone onboard, crew and guests, want to remain connected to their social media, streaming services, and email. The technology available in this area moves fast and with 5G coming online, near-shore costs will likely come down. For those who want broadband speed while offshore, costs are high and depend on the upload/download speeds required. Start with an estimate of $4-5,000 per month and work from there. Additional communications costs include satellite TV subscriptions, crew cell phone costs, mail, freight, and more. Get a complete communication cost breakdown.

Maintenance, Consumables, and Other Operating Costs – Having considered crew payroll, marina costs, fuel, and internet, the budget will start to materialize. One must take all other costs into account, such as hull insurance, liability insurance, maintenance and consumables, warehousing, safety and survey costs, upkeep of the navigation outfit, computing support, car rental, and more.   

Looking for more details?

Receive the complete Cost of Yacht Ownership Guide including:

• • Offsetting Expenses With Charter
• • Superyacht Financing
• • Budget Development + More

This should not be considered a financial guide. For a more accurate estimate, contact Clive McCartney .

1 Red Ensign Group Yacht Code Section A 1.2(1) 

Latest News

NEWS | October 18, 2024

80′ azimut 2018 sold by aderbal coelho [deep blue].

80′ Azimut 2018 Sold by Aderbal Coelho [DEEP BLUE] DEEP BLUE, an 80′ Azimut built in 2018, was sold by Aderbal Coelho, who introduced the Buyer. Mike Doyle with MarineMax represented the Seller. DEEP BLUE features a thoughtfully designed layout with four cabins and heads, including an extra bed

NEWS | October 15, 2024

Baglietto t52 new build sold by alex g. clarke [hull #4].

Baglietto T52 New Build Sold by Alex G. Clarke [Hull #4] Denison Yachting is pleased to announce the sale of a new construction Baglietto T52. Hull #4 of the model was sold by Alex G. Clarke, who represented the Seller along with Jim Evans of SuperYachtsMonaco. James Corts of MarineMax represented

NEWS | October 14, 2024

Top charter yachts packed with the best water toys.

Top Charter Yachts Packed with the Best Water Toys Book a luxury yacht charter loaded with fun. Explore top charter yachts equipped with an exciting range of water toys, perfect for guests seeking adventure and fun on the water. Dive into unforgettable experiences with jet skis, paddleboards, and more!

• Charter & Brokerage
• Yacht Design & New Builds
• Tenders & Toys
• Superyacht Events Calendar
• Career & Training
• Departments
• Superyacht Crew Finances
• Sustainability
• Shipyards and Marinas
• Health & Wellbeing
• Polar Region
• Our Services
• Meet the Team

How Much Does A Superyacht Cost?

The superyacht market has experienced a significant surge in demand, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more growth expected over the next decade. Currently, there are about 15,000 yachts worldwide that require professional crew, highlighting the thriving luxury yacht industry despite the hefty price tags associated with these vessels. But how much does a superyacht cost to buy and maintain? If you’re curious about the price of these luxurious yachts, we’ve got a summary of the costs, both initial and ongoing, in 2024.

Building a Superyacht

Constructing a custom superyacht is a complex and time-consuming process. According to Stuart Bray of Bray Marine International, the steps include selecting designers, shipyards, and outfitting the yacht with everything from engines to interiors. On average, the cost to build a custom superyacht is around £1.5 million per square metre, and it can take three to four years to complete.

Alternatively, purchasing a second-hand yacht can be a quicker, more affordable option, though it still comes with a price tag averaging around £20 million. However, customization of an existing yacht can quickly drive up costs.

Operating Costs

Owning a superyacht comes with ongoing expenses, often reaching 20% of the vessel’s original purchase price annually. These costs include fuel, crew salaries, dockage, maintenance, and insurance. For example, a yacht costing £1 billion could have yearly operating expenses exceeding £200 million.

Fuel alone can be a significant expenditure, with larger yachts consuming around 500 liters per hour and racking up fuel bills of over £24,000 per overnight cruise. Additionally, crew salaries can reach over £1.2 million per year for a 60m yacht with a 16-person crew, while maintenance work every five years adds more to the bill.

Hidden Costs

Dockage fees, insurance, and maintenance are just the beginning. Docking in prime marinas during luxury events like the Cannes Film Festival can cost up to £60,000 for two weeks, and insurance for a high-value superyacht can easily surpass £8 million per year.

Owning a superyacht is undoubtedly a mark of luxury, but it comes with a steep price tag – not just for the initial purchase, but for the upkeep and running costs year after year.

To keep up to date with the latest Superyacht Content News, click here .

Sign up to our Newsletter below:

Newsletter Signup

• Your Name First Last
• Your Email *

Maisie Granger

Related articles, motor yacht loon: the first superyacht to live stream the entire atlantic crossing, how much does it cost to charter a superyacht, ‘med season’ vs ‘caribbean season’ – what is the difference for superyacht crew.

Popular Posts

• Top 5 Superyachts of 2020
• Life After Yachting: From Yacht Captain To Founder Of OceanWave Monaco
• Is This Facebook Group The Answer To Referencing For Yachties?
• AYSS Members Map: Seamless Access To Superyacht Support
• Life After Yachting With Leah Tennant: “I Founded Washdown To Disrupt the Industry”

Superyacht Content

Social media influencer and digital brand expert.

Superyacht Content brings you the latest in social news for the superyacht industry.

Keep up to date with us across our social channels, and don’t forget to hit that share button!

• Superyacht News
• Superyacht Jobs
• Superyacht Marketing

Join our Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 Superyacht Content | Website Design by Zonkey

Privacy | Credits | Get in Touch

• Sustainability
• The Ripe Guarantee
• Refer A friend

The cost of owning a superyacht in 2024

Written by Chloe - Thursday, April 06, 2023

Superyacht sales  surged  during the COVID-19 pandemic, and there’s no sign of this slowing down as the demand for superyachts is  set to increase  over the next 10 years.   

There are currently  15,000 yachts  worldwide that are large enough to require a professional crew. A clear insight into how much the luxury yacht industry is thriving, despite their eye-watering price.

Given the exclusivity of the superyacht market, there’s limited information available on exactly how much they cost to own. So, we’ve dug into the details for you. Here you’ll find how much it costs to buy and maintain a superyacht in 2024. 

Building a superyacht is no mean feat. Stuart Bray, Director of personal yacht brokerage firm  Bray Marine International  talked us through the build process, which is as follows:

• The exterior and interior designers are selected
• A shipyard is chosen ahead of the build
• The hull is always constructed first, followed by the fitting of the engines, running gear, water treatment, A/C, and pumps
• The superstructure is built and attached to the hull
• The interior fit-out takes place
• The exterior is painted
• Sea trails are carried out
• The yacht is handed over for warranty work

It sounds simple enough, but building a custom superyacht costs an eye-watering £1.5m per m² on average and takes up to  three to four years .

Many prospective owners choose to purchase a second-hand superyacht, which costs £20m ($24m) on average, according to Rightboat , but the cost increases dramatically if any customisation takes place.

Fitting out a new or used vessel costs around £35m, but this can vary massively depending on size.

The overall operating cost of running a superyacht is 20% or more of its original price. So, a vessel costing £1bn will set you back £200m per year after paying for fuel, dockage, crew, maintenance, insurance, etc.

Just under a decade ago, the operating cost was around 10% of a vessel’s original price, demonstrating a huge increase in running costs due to soaring inflation. 

Fuel is one of the biggest superyacht costs starting at £2,000 per hour and over £24,000 per overnight cruise. A 70-metre vessel is estimated to use around 500 litres of fuel per hour.

Annual fuel costs were estimated at around £327,000 ($400,000) back in 2012 but are now estimated to hit £419,000, representing a 25% increase overall.

Bray of  Bray Marine International  says a 60m yacht will have a 16-person crew, setting the owner back around £1.2m per year based on industry-standard pay rates. Owners of superyachts of 100m and beyond will pay significantly more to staff their vessels.

Bray also states the annual operating costs of a superyacht are as follows—12% for the first four years, 15% for the next three years, and 20% annually from then onwards. 

They must come out of the water every five years for routine maintenance such as painting, underwater work, gear checks, and antifouling. 

This equates to 10-12% of the vessel’s original price, so a superyacht that costs £1bn would require around £1m of maintenance work per year. 

Insurance costs are difficult to pinpoint as many factors determine this, such as value, cruising area and usage, but a superyacht costing £1bn could cost £8m or more to insure. 

Alison Melia, a marine insurance specialist at  Insure4Boats , says that fire, theft, loss of tender, onboard injury, and collisions are the most common claims received from yacht owners. 

Not all superyachts are created equal. While a 60m vessel is enough to impress most people, they are easily surpassed by those purchased by some of the world’s wealthiest individuals.

The longest superyacht on our list is a whopping 183m and comes with a price tag of £300m, just to put their sheer size and annual running costs into perspective.

Superyacht costs go far beyond the initial build or purchase price, especially when used as a base for luxury holidays or experiences such as the Cannes Film Festival.

A two-week holiday in Marbella could cost you £60,046 in dockage alone, without considering the cost of fuel or refreshments. It’s easy to see how superyacht owners can rack up almost £300,000 in dockage fees per year on average.

Building & purchase costs: https://braymarineinternational.com/

https://www.rightboat.com/blog/the-real-costs-of-owning-a-superyacht

https://www.burgessyachts.com/en/editorial/how-long-to-design-a-yacht

VAT: https://www.superyachtnews.com/owner/considering-a-superyacht-think-about-vat

Operating cost: https://www.worldwideluxuryyacht.com/blog/real-cost-to-own-a-yacht/

https://www.workonasuperyacht.co.uk/yacht-blog/2015/1/3/what-does-it-cost-to-run-a-super-yacht

https://www.superyachtcontent.com/superyacht-crew-lifestyle/yachts-and-fuel-how-much-do-they-really-consume/

http://www.denisonyachtsales.com/2012/06/the-various-costs-of-owning-a-boat-or-yacht/#sthash.SMvlyv8a.dpuf

Dockage: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/082015/can-i-afford-super-yacht.asp

Crew: https://braymarineinternational.com/

Insurance: https://www.worldwideluxuryyacht.com/blog/real-cost-to-own-a-yacht/

Maintenance: https://www.rightboat.com/blog/the-real-costs-of-owning-a-superyacht

Marinas: https://www.marineinsight.com/boating-yachting/yacht-marinas-in-the-world/

https://www.seesainttropez.com/marinas/

https://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Ranking-The-worlds-15-most-expensive-marinas/-83130?source=google

https://barcheamotore.com/quali-sono-i-porti-piu-cari-del-mediterraneo-lo-svela-unindagine/this/?lang=en#:~:text=With%20a%20berthing%20fee%20of,expensive%20marina%20in%20the%20Mediterranean .

https://www.portofinoyachtmarina.com/en/rates/

https://www.charterworld.com/news/top-10-expensive-marinas

https://www.yachting-pages.com/articles/top-15-elite-superyacht-marinas-worldwide.html

Cannes Film Festival: https://www.cornucopia-events.co.uk/cannesfilmfestival/

https://www.insider.com/inside-expensive-hotel-le-majestic-cannes-film-festival-photos-2021-7

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/apr/22/secrecy-sex-and-sun-captain-reveals-life-aboard-superyachts

Please note the information provided on this page should not be taken as advice and has been written as a matter of opinion. For more on insurance cover and policy wording, see our homepage.

Sign up to our newsletter

Read stories from boat owners like you, and why they love the boat life. Plus, get all our latest offers and giveaways, and learn about any updates that might affect you on the water.

Please enter a valid email address.

Please select your boat type.

Please confirm your preferences by selecting from the options below.

We also work with a few, carefully selected retail and leisure partners. Please click below if it's ok for us to send you offers and information from these partners from time to time.

Yes please , I'd like to receive partner news and offers from Ripe

No thanks, I don't want to receive partner news and offers from Ripe

Thank you for subscribing, you'll be hearing from us soon!

Got a question?

0800 668 1661

Call our FREEPHONE UK call centre

Award-winning insurance

Insure4Boats is a Ripe Insurance Services product

Check out our other products:

Sports Insurance

• Golf Insurance
• Cycling Insurance
• Shooting Insurance
• Extreme Sports Insurance
• Sports Player and Teams Insurance
• Sports Team Coaching Insurance

Leisure Insurance

• Boat Insurance
• Music Insurance
• Photography Insurance
• Caravan Insurance

Personal Insurance

• Valuables Insurance

Business Insurance

• Drone Insurance
• Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor Insurance
• Small Business Insurance
• DJ Insurance
• Our products
• Work for us
• How to Complain
• Terms of Business
• Terms of use
• Privacy Policy

© Copyright Ripe Thinking Limited 2024

Insure4Boats® is a registered trademark and a trading name of Ripe Insurance Services Limited which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No.313411. Registered office: The Royals, Altrincham Road, Manchester M22 4BJ. Registered in England No. 04507332.