Hourly rates, side by side
Typical 2026 US charter rates per flight hour. The single biggest cost driver is aircraft size — everything else is routing, positioning and dates.
| Category | Typical hourly | Seats | Example models | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | $1,500 – $2,300 / hr | 6 – 8 | Pilatus PC-12, King Air 350i | Short hops under 500 nm, small airports, ski & golf trips |
| Light Jet | $2,600 – $3,800 / hr | 6 – 8 | Embraer Phenom 300, Citation CJ3+ | Regional trips of 2–3 hours — NYC–Miami, LA–Vegas |
| Midsize Jet | $3,800 – $5,200 / hr | 7 – 9 | Citation XLS+, Learjet 75 | Stand-up cabin comfort on 3–4 hour sectors |
| Super-midsize | $5,200 – $7,500 / hr | 8 – 10 | Challenger 350, Citation Latitude | Coast-to-coast nonstop with a full load |
| Heavy Jet | $8,000 – $13,000 / hr | 10 – 14 | Gulfstream G450, Global 6000 | Transcontinental groups, overnight international legs |
| Ultra-long-range | $12,000 – $16,000+ / hr | 12 – 16 | Global 7500, Gulfstream G650ER | New York–London, LA–Tokyo nonstop in a stateroom cabin |
Rates are indicative market ranges for 2026 and exclude positioning, de-icing and peak-date premiums. Your estimate above prices specific aircraft from our network.
Our aircraft, priced per hour.
Real rates from the fleet behind our calculator — crew and fuel included. Click a category for its full cost page with sample trip pricing.
| Aircraft | Category | Hourly rate | Seats | Cruise | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embraer Phenom 300 | Light | $3,500 / hr | 7 | 453 kts | 2,010 nm |
| Cessna Citation CJ3+ | Light | $3,200 / hr | 7 | 416 kts | 2,040 nm |
| Cessna Citation XLS+ | Midsize | $4,500 / hr | 8 | 441 kts | 2,100 nm |
| Learjet 75 | Midsize | $4,800 / hr | 8 | 465 kts | 2,040 nm |
| Bombardier Challenger 350 | Super-midsize | $6,500 / hr | 9 | 470 kts | 3,200 nm |
| Cessna Citation Latitude | Super-midsize | $5,800 / hr | 9 | 446 kts | 2,700 nm |
| Gulfstream G450 | Heavy | $9,500 / hr | 14 | 476 kts | 4,350 nm |
| Bombardier Global 6000 | Heavy | $12,500 / hr | 13 | 513 kts | 6,000 nm |
Category deep-dives: light jet cost · midsize jet cost · super-midsize jet cost · heavy jet cost.
Five levers on your quote.
1. Positioning
The aircraft has to reach you first. Deep-supply markets (New York, South Florida, Dallas, LA) often position free; thin or seasonal airports add an hour or more of ferry time at the full hourly rate. Two identical jets can quote $4,000 apart on the same route purely on where they slept last night.
2. The calendar
Thanksgiving week, Christmas–New Year, Presidents' Day and big-event weekends (Art Basel, the Masters, the Super Bowl) add 20–40% on affected corridors as supply tightens. Mid-week, mid-September and late January are the buyer's market.
3. Fuel
Jet-A swings flow through as rate adjustments or explicit surcharges of $200–$800 per hour. Rates in this guide assume fuel included at current prices — confirm the same on any third-party quote.
4. Airport choice
Teterboro vs Morristown, Opa-locka vs Miami International: reliever fields cut landing fees, slot friction and ground delays. The hourly rate is unchanged, but the block time it multiplies shrinks.
5. Lead time and flexibility
Booking 2–4 weeks out with a day of date flex lets operators slot your trip around existing flying — the single biggest lever after aircraft size. Rigid, same-week requests price at whatever the remaining supply demands.
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All-in quotes
Crew, fuel and standard catering included in every estimate.
Rate questions, answered.
What is the average private jet hourly rate?
Across the US market in 2026, charter rates average roughly $5,000–$6,000 per flight hour — but the average hides everything: turboprops start near $1,500/hr, light jets $2,600–$3,800/hr, super-midsize $5,200–$7,500/hr and heavy jets $8,000–$13,000/hr.
Why do hourly rates vary so much for the same jet?
Operator cost bases differ (owned vs managed aircraft, home-base fuel contracts, crew seniority), and rates float with demand. A Gulfstream quoting $9,500/hr on a quiet Tuesday can legitimately quote $13,000/hr over Thanksgiving — same aircraft, different market.
Is the hourly rate charged on flight time or block time?
Most operators bill block time — flight time plus taxi — and many enforce a two-hour daily minimum per flight day. A 40-minute hop therefore bills as two hours. Ask which convention a quote uses before comparing rates.
Do hourly rates include fuel and crew?
Reputable quotes include both. During fuel price spikes some operators add a surcharge of $200–$800 per hour instead — always confirm a rate is all-in for fuel, and remember catering upgrades, de-icing and international handling still price separately.
How can I lock a lower hourly rate?
Jet cards lock rates at a 15–30% premium in exchange for certainty; memberships cap rates for $3,000–$15,000 a year in dues. If you simply want the lowest rate on a given day, flexible dates, reliever airports and empty legs beat any lock.
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Know your number in thirty minutes.
Tell us the route and the budget — a charter advisor replies with firm, all-in options from vetted Part 135 operators, day or night.
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