Hourly rates by category
These are all-in market ranges — aircraft, crew, fuel and standard fees — for on-demand charter in the United States:
| Category | Hourly rate | Cruise speed | Seats | Typical aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | $2,000–$3,500 | 310 mph | 6–8 | Pilatus PC-12, King Air 350 |
| Light Jet | $3,500–$5,500 | 440 mph | 6–8 | Phenom 300, Citation CJ3+ |
| Midsize Jet | $5,500–$8,000 | 500 mph | 7–9 | Citation Latitude, Learjet 60XR |
| Super-Midsize | $8,000–$10,000 | 530 mph | 8–10 | Challenger 350, Citation X |
| Heavy Jet | $10,000–$18,000 | 560 mph | 10–16 | Gulfstream G650, Global 7500 |
Hourly rates by aircraft model
Category ranges hide real differences between airframes. Sixteen of the most chartered aircraft in North America, with their current hourly brackets:
| Aircraft | Category | Seats | Cost per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilatus PC-12 | Turboprop | 8 | $2,000–$2,800 |
| King Air 350 | Turboprop | 9 | $2,400–$3,200 |
| Citation CJ3+ | Light | 7 | $3,500–$4,800 |
| Phenom 300E | Light | 8 | $3,800–$5,200 |
| Learjet 75 | Light | 8 | $4,200–$5,500 |
| Citation XLS+ | Midsize | 9 | $5,200–$6,800 |
| Learjet 60XR | Midsize | 7 | $5,500–$7,000 |
| Citation Latitude | Midsize | 9 | $6,000–$7,800 |
| Challenger 350 | Super-mid | 10 | $8,000–$9,800 |
| Citation X | Super-mid | 9 | $8,000–$10,000 |
| Gulfstream G280 | Super-mid | 10 | $8,500–$10,000 |
| Falcon 2000LXS | Heavy | 10 | $9,500–$12,000 |
| Challenger 605 | Heavy | 12 | $10,500–$13,500 |
| Gulfstream G550 | Heavy | 14 | $12,000–$15,000 |
| Gulfstream G650 | Heavy | 16 | $14,000–$17,500 |
| Global 7500 | Ultra-long-range | 16 | $15,000–$18,000 |
Flight hours vs billed hours
The rate applies to billable time, which is a little more than time in the air. Three rules cover almost every quote:
- Leg minimums: each flight is billed at a minimum of one hour, even if wheels-up to wheels-down is 40 minutes.
- Daily minimums: committing an aircraft for a day usually carries about two hours of minimum billing, which is why a same-day round trip often costs little more than two one-hour legs.
- Taxi allowance: most operators add a fixed 6–12 minutes per leg for taxi time rather than billing the clock.
Worked example: New York to Miami is about 2 hours 40 minutes in a midsize jet at $5,500–8,000/hour. That's $14,850–$21,600before extras — matching the $16,000–24,000 you'll see in real quotes. Ourcalculator runs this arithmetic for any of 75+ airports.
How to lower your effective hourly cost
- Step down a category when the trip allows it — the single biggest saving. A light jet does almost everything a midsize does on legs under two hours.
- Fly older airframes. Same speed, same safety oversight, 15–30% lower rate.
- Catch an empty leg and the hourly-rate framework stops applying — repositioning flights sell at flat discounts of 30–75%.
- Avoid peak days, when the same aircraft carries a 30–100% demand premium.
For the complete picture — fees, jet cards vs on-demand, and factor-by-factor pricing — read the full private jet cost guide.
Cost-per-hour FAQ
How much does it cost to rent a private jet per hour?
Between $2,000 and $18,000 per flight hour in 2026. Turboprops run $2,000–3,500, light jets $3,500–5,500, midsize jets $5,500–8,000, super-midsize $8,000–10,000, and heavy jets $10,000–18,000 — all-in market rates including fuel and standard fees.
What is included in the hourly rate?
Aircraft, crew, fuel and standard landing/handling fees. Federal excise tax (7.5% domestic), premium catering, de-icing and international fees are typically added on top. Always ask for an itemized, all-in quote.
Is there a minimum number of hours?
Most operators bill a minimum of 1 flight hour per leg and around 2 hours per calendar day the aircraft is committed to you. A 35-minute hop is usually billed as a full hour.
Why is the hourly range so wide within one category?
Aircraft age and cabin refurbishment, operator cost base, fuel prices and demand on your specific dates. A 2010 light jet mid-week sits at the bottom of the range; a 2023 aircraft on a holiday weekend sits at the top.