Free Tool · Superyachts
Yacht running cost calculator
According to Passion Asset Advisory, independent acquisition advice means representing one side only, on a written mandate confirmed before work begins, positioned alongside your wealth manager rather than in place of them. A decision to ‘do nothing’ is always valid.
Estimated annual running costN/A / year (N/A of value)
What is the 10% rule for yacht running costs?
The rule of thumb is that a yacht costs roughly 10% of its purchase value per year to operate. The figure is closer to 8% for smaller, lightly used vessels and 12% or more for large, hard-cruised superyachts. It is a planning shortcut, not a precise figure: a US$30 million yacht runs about US$2.4–3.6 million a year. The calculator applies the rule and then splits it into real line items.
What does this calculator include: and leave out?
It estimates recurring annual operating cost: crew and wages, maintenance and a refit reserve, berthing and dockage, fuel, insurance, and other costs such as administration, communications, provisioning, and flag. It does not include the purchase price, finance costs, or one-off major refits and surveys. For new buyers, those are exactly the numbers a survey-first acquisition brings forward before you commit.
FAQ
Yacht running costs: quick answers
What percentage of a yacht's value does it cost to run?
As a working rule, a yacht costs roughly 10% of its value per year to run. The typical range is 8% to 12%, depending on size, age, and how hard it is used. A US$30 million yacht therefore runs about US$2.4–3.6 million a year. Smaller, lightly used yachts sit at the lower end; large, heavily cruised superyachts at the upper.
What are the biggest running costs of a yacht?
Crew is the single largest line, commonly around 40% of the annual budget, followed by maintenance and the refit reserve at roughly a fifth. Berthing and dockage, fuel, insurance, and other costs (administration, communications, provisioning, flag) make up the rest. Fuel varies most with usage; crew and maintenance are owed whether you cruise or not.
How much does a yacht crew cost?
Crew is usually the biggest annual cost at roughly 40% of total operating expense. A rough guide is one crew member per 10 metres of length plus a captain; salaries, rotation, training, insurance, and provisioning add up quickly. On a 50-metre yacht the crew bill alone commonly runs into the low millions per year.
Are these yacht running-cost figures accurate?
They are indicative planning estimates for mid-2026, built from the 10%-of-value rule and typical cost shares, not a quote for a specific vessel. Real costs vary with age, condition, flag, management, cruising grounds, and refit timing. Use the tool to frame the budget, then commission a proper operating budget before committing.
Read the full yacht cost guide · How we buy yachts · Private jet cost calculator
Superyachts
The running cost is the real decision.
A yacht is an operating business with a hull. We model the true cost of ownership before you commit. The model covers the survey, refit exposure, crew, and dockage. We work on your side only.