The short answer: a yacht costs anywhere from around $1 million to well over $600 million, depending on size, builder, age, and condition. But the purchase price is only part of the picture. Annual running costs typically add 10% of the yacht’s value per year, which is where most first-time buyers get surprised.
We’ve brokered hundreds of yacht sales at Moran Yacht & Ship, from 24-meter explorer yachts to 100-meter-plus new builds. Below is what we tell clients when they ask us this question.
What Kind of Yacht Are You Buying?
Yacht price tracks type as much as it tracks length. A 30-meter explorer built for long-range ocean passages costs more than a 30-meter motor yacht built for Mediterranean cruising, even if they’re the same length. Before you look at price by size, it helps to know which category you’re shopping in.
Sailing yachts. At 24 to 40 meters, a pre-owned sailing yacht typically runs $500,000 to $10 million depending on builder, age, and condition. Performance builds and custom race yachts go higher. Annual running costs for sailing yachts are generally lower than for motor yachts of similar length: smaller crew requirements and fuel consumption that’s a fraction of what a comparable motor yacht burns.
Motor yachts. The most common category in the brokerage market. Pre-owned motor yachts from 24 to 50 meters range from $1 million to $35 million. Builder, vintage, and refit history drive the spread within any given size tier. A new-build motor yacht from a recognized European yard runs 20 to 50% above comparable pre-owned pricing.
Explorer yachts. The premium within the motor yacht category. Built for range, rough-water stability, and extended time away from marinas. A 35-meter explorer from a yard like Damen or Admiral commands more than a 35-meter semi-displacement motor yacht of the same vintage, often by $3 to $8 million. Pre-owned explorers in the 30-to-55-meter range list for $4 million to $45 million, with the high end reflecting newer builds from top yards and ice-class certification.
Superyachts. The industry definition is generally any vessel 24 meters and above, but in market terms “superyacht” describes yachts from about 50 meters. Pre-owned superyachts in the 50-to-70-meter range list for $25 million to $80 million. A Feadship or Lürssen in that range holds value better than most competitors and typically carries a premium of 15 to 30% over the category average.
Mega yachts. 90 meters and above. Pre-owned listings in this tier start around $150 million and can exceed $600 million for recent builds from top-tier yards. New-build commissions at this size run from $200 million to $500 million or more and take four to six years from contract to delivery.
Yacht Prices Ranges by Size
These ranges reflect real asking prices across the brokerage market. New-build pricing runs 20–50% higher for equivalent size.
Here’s what the market looks like in 2026 for pre-owned yachts in good condition:
| Size Range | Typical Price Range | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 24–30m (80–100 ft) | $1M – $8M | Entry-level yacht |
| 30–40m (~100–130 ft) | $5M – $20M | Mid-size yacht |
| 40–50m (130–165 ft) | $12M – $35M | Large yacht |
| 50–70m (165–230 ft) | $25M – $80M | Superyacht |
| 70–90m (230–300 ft) | $60M – $180M | Large superyacht |
| 90m+ (300+ ft) | $150M – $600M+ | Mega yacht |
The overlap between adjacent tiers exists because condition, builder, and refit history can push a well-maintained yacht to the top of its range or a neglected one to the bottom of the tier above.
You can browse current listings and asking prices on our yachts for sale page.
New vs. Pre-Owned Yacht Pricing
New and pre-owned yachts occupy different markets. Each carries a different risk profile, timeline, and total cost picture.
New builds. A new-build 50-meter yacht from a top-tier European yard will cost $45 to $70 million and take three to four years to deliver. You pick the designer, the builder, the hull configuration, and every system aboard. You also take delivery risk: builds run over schedule and over budget more often than not. Factor in professional project management (typically 3 to 5% of build cost) and a contingency reserve (another 10 to 15%) when planning your budget. A new build is the right choice for buyers who want the yacht built around their specific program and who can absorb the construction timeline.
Pre-owned yachts. A comparable 5-year-old pre-owned yacht might list for $25 to $35 million, but the sticker price is only the starting point. Condition determines value more than age does.
The buyer’s survey matters. A professional pre-purchase survey from a certified marine surveyor runs $5,000 to $25,000 depending on vessel size. It catches deferred maintenance, hull issues, and system failures that don’t show up on a marina walk-through. A sea trial protects the buyer: a yacht can look immaculate tied up at a dock and still have engine problems, steering issues, or navigation system failures that only reveal themselves once the engine is pushed to speed on open water. We recommend both, always.
Depreciation. Motor yachts depreciate most steeply in the first five years. A yacht that sold new for $15 million in 2019 might list today at $10 to $12 million in clean, maintained condition, or at $7 to $9 million if the owner deferred maintenance. Top-tier yards like Feadship hold residual values significantly better than the broad market.
Refit value. A 10-year-old yacht that just completed a $5 million refit can be worth more than a 5-year-old yacht that’s been neglected. The key is what the refit covered: engine replacement, generator overhauls, updated navigation systems, and reconfigured crew accommodations carry resale value. Interior refreshes alone rarely recover their cost on resale.
What Drives the Price
Two yachts at the same length from the same year can list at very different prices. Here’s what accounts for the gap.
Builder and pedigree. A Lürssen, Feadship, or CRN commands a premium because of build quality, engineering standards, and resale value. These yards attract buyers who plan to own for ten or more years, and the resale market reflects that. A comparable-length yacht from a less established yard might sell for 20 to 40% less.
Age and refit history. The maintenance log and the refit record tell you more about a yacht’s true condition than a survey report alone. When we represent a buyer, we read both.
Interior design. A yacht with a custom interior by a recognized designer (Winch Design, Nuvolari + Lenard, Reymond Langton) holds value better because buyers can verify provenance and because the work was done to a standard that resists dating. Generic builder-spec interiors don’t command the same premium.
Equipment and systems. Navigation electronics, stabilizers, watermakers, and communications systems all have replacement costs. A yacht whose systems are current doesn’t require the buyer to factor in immediate capital expenditure after purchase. Replacing outdated gear from scratch can run $500,000 to $2 million or more.
Flag state and compliance. A yacht in full MCA or USCG compliance, with current certifications and a clean class record, trades at a premium over a yacht requiring remediation work. The compliance cost on a non-compliant vessel often exceeds what the buyer expected to save on the purchase price.
Annual Cost of Owning a Yacht
The 10% rule is a market shorthand: plan to spend roughly 10% of the yacht’s purchase price per year to keep it running. The real range across the market is 8 to 20%, depending on usage intensity, crew size, and how actively the owner operates the vessel.
Smaller Yachts (24–30m, 3 to 5 Crew)
Running a 24-to-30-meter motor yacht costs roughly $150,000 to $500,000 per year. The wide range reflects crew configuration. An owner running a captain-and-one-steward setup is at the low end. A full-time five-person crew on a year-round schedule pushes toward $500,000 before fuel and major maintenance. This is the size range where owners get real operational experience without the complexity of a larger vessel.
Mid-Size and Large Yachts (50m Superyacht, 10 to 12 Crew)
The table below uses a $30 million, 50-meter superyacht as the benchmark.
| Expense Category | Estimated Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Crew (captain + 9–12 crew) | $1.2M – $1.8M |
| Fuel (8–12 weeks cruising) | $300K – $600K |
| Insurance | $200K – $400K |
| Dockage and marina fees | $200K – $500K |
| Maintenance and repairs | $500K – $1.5M |
| Management fees | $150K – $300K |
| Miscellaneous | $150K – $300K |
| Total Annual Cost | $2.7M – $5.4M |
That’s roughly 9 to 18% of hull value per year for a yacht of this size and usage pattern.
How Much Does a Yacht Crew Cost?
Salaries typically account for 30 to 40% of total annual operating costs regardless of vessel size. A captain on a 50-meter yacht earns in the range of $100,000 to $180,000 per year. Chief engineers and chief stewards on large yachts command comparable compensation. The crew roster scales with the vessel: a 70-meter superyacht typically carries 15 to 20 crew. Crew costs on a mega yacht at 90 meters or more can reach $3 million to $5 million annually before any other category.
Fuel Costs Scale with Usage
A 50-meter motor yacht running at cruise speed burns 200 to 400 liters per hour. Twelve weeks of active cruising at that rate produces the $300,000 to $600,000 fuel figure in the table above. An explorer yacht optimized for range burns 30 to 40% less fuel at cruising speed for equivalent distance. The difference is hull design and propulsion efficiency.
What Changes the 10% Rule
The 10% estimate assumes moderate usage and a properly maintained vessel. Owners who cruise heavily, change itinerary frequently, or run a charter program should plan for the higher end of the range. The three largest variables, in order, are crew configuration, usage intensity, and whether you’re funding deferred maintenance from prior ownership.
Charter Revenue: Offsetting Ownership Costs
A well-managed charter yacht can generate $500,000 to $3 million or more per year in charter revenue, depending on size, season, and itinerary. This doesn’t eliminate the annual operating cost, but it reduces it substantially for owners who commit to the program.
A 30-meter motor yacht chartering in the Mediterranean in high season typically earns $50,000 to $100,000 per week before APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance). A 50-meter superyacht in peak demand earns $150,000 to $250,000 per week. Revenue depends on booking density, broker relationships, and whether the yacht holds charter certification for the relevant flag state.
Moran’s charter management team handles the full program: marketing, crew placement, charter agreements, APA management, and flag-state compliance. We’ve run charter programs for owners across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Pacific since 1988.
The Bottom Line
Yacht pricing isn’t a single number — it’s a matrix of purchase price, operating costs, depreciation, and (potentially) charter income. The single biggest mistake we see buyers make is focusing on the asking price and underestimating the annual commitment.
The second biggest mistake is not getting independent guidance. Unlike real estate, there’s no MLS and no standardized pricing. An experienced yacht broker knows what a yacht is actually worth versus what it’s listed at, and that gap can be millions of dollars in your favor.
If you’re considering a purchase, we’re happy to talk through the real numbers for the size and type of yacht you’re looking at. No obligation, no pressure—just straight information from people who do this every day.