Enter where you're flying from, where you're going, the date and how many of you there are. The private jet cost calculator above gives you an instant estimate for chartering an aircraft on that trip, priced for the whole aircraft. Alongside it sits the live board of empty legs, because a jet that's already flying your way can cost a fraction of the charter price.
There's nothing to pay and no account to create. You'll see the estimate before you're asked for an email, and you only send a request if you want a confirmed price.
How does the private jet cost calculator work?
It prices your trip the way an operator would, from the flying time and the size of aircraft your group needs. You get a range rather than one figure, because the final price depends on which aircraft is free, where it's based and what the airports charge on the day. The range comes from the global empty-leg marketplace's own pricing.
Three things move the number most:
- Flying time. Charter is sold by the hour, so a two-hour trip in a light jet costs roughly twice a one-hour trip.
- Aircraft class. Six passengers with ski bags need more cabin than two with carry-ons. The estimate is built around your group size; you can ask for a different class in the quote.
- Where the aircraft starts. On a normal charter you also pay for the jet to fly to you, and often to fly home afterwards. That positioning time is the biggest reason two quotes for the same trip can differ by thousands.
How much does it cost to hire a private jet?
As a rough guide, a light jet charters for about £2,000 to £3,200 per flying hour and a midsize jet for about £3,000 to £4,400, for the whole aircraft. A two-hour trip in a light jet therefore lands around £4,000 to £6,400 before taxes and extras. An empty leg on the same aircraft is typically 25% to 75% less.
What the calculator is working from: indicative charter rates by class
| Aircraft class | Typical seats | Charter per flying hour | 1-hour trip | 2-hour trip | Same 2 hours as an empty leg (25–75% less) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop (PC-12, King Air 350) | 6–9 | £1,400–£2,200 | £1,400–£2,200 | £2,800–£4,400 | £700–£3,300 |
| Light jet (Citation CJ3, Phenom 300) | 5–7 | £2,000–£3,200 | £2,000–£3,200 | £4,000–£6,400 | £1,000–£4,800 |
| Midsize (Citation XLS+, Hawker 900XP) | 7–8 | £3,000–£4,400 | £3,000–£4,400 | £6,000–£8,800 | £1,500–£6,600 |
| Super-midsize (Challenger 350, Praetor 600) | 8–10 | £4,400–£6,200 | £4,400–£6,200 | £8,800–£12,400 | £2,200–£9,300 |
| Heavy (Falcon 900, Gulfstream G450) | 10–14 | £6,200–£9,000 | £6,200–£9,000 | £12,400–£18,000 | £3,100–£13,500 |
Source: Harbour & Hangar indicative hourly rates, as in our private jet charter cost guide. Aircraft cost only; positioning, taxes and extras can be added on a full charter. The empty-leg column applies the typical 25–75% saving to the 2-hour charter figure; a real leg is priced by its operator.
For the detail behind those bands, see our hourly charter rates by aircraft class.
Want the figure for your own route rather than a class average? Use the calculator at the top of this page.
Estimate my trip →Why compare the estimate with empty legs?
Because the cheapest way to fly private is usually on a flight that's already happening. An empty leg is a repositioning flight: the operator has to move the aircraft with no passengers, so it sells the seats for far less than a charter. The catch is that the route and time are fixed.
That's why we show both. The charter estimate tells you what your exact trip costs on your terms. The live empty legs tell you what you could pay if you can be a little flexible on airport or day. Most of the spread between legs is aircraft size and distance.
If you can move by a day, or fly from a second airport in the same city, check the board before you book a charter. Our guide to what an empty leg really costs walks through real route prices.
What isn't in a private jet estimate?
The estimate covers the aircraft and crew for your trip. Some costs only appear on the confirmed quote, because they depend on the exact airports, aircraft and date. The common ones are below; most are small next to the flying, but de-icing and overnight crew costs can add up.
| Cost | When it applies | Usually on the estimate? |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning (flying the jet to you, or home) | Full charter where the aircraft isn't based at your airport | Confirmed on the quote |
| Landing and handling fees | Every trip; vary by airport and FBO | No, added on the quote |
| Air Passenger Duty | UK departures on aircraft of 5.7 tonnes or more, per passenger | No |
| De-icing | Cold mornings, mostly winter | No, billed if used |
| Crew overnight or waiting days | Returns with nights away | No, added on the quote |
| Catering beyond the standard | On request | No |
A confirmed quote lists these line by line. Air Passenger Duty is charged per passenger on UK departures in aircraft of 5.7 tonnes or more, and the rules for private jets have been changing, so check the current position before you rely on a figure: GOV.UK publishes the current Air Passenger Duty rates. If you want to know what each extra means before you book, read our guide to the extras on a charter quote.
How do I turn an estimate into a confirmed price?
Press "Request confirmed pricing" under your estimate. Add your email and any detail that matters (bags, pets, a flexible day) and send it. The global empty-leg marketplace checks real aircraft for your date and sends a fixed quote to your inbox. Nothing is booked until you accept it and pay.
If you find an empty leg on your route, open it on the board instead and press "Get my fixed quote". You'll see its live price first, then confirm. Each leg is a single flight on a fixed date and aircraft, so once someone books it, it comes off the board.
Nothing matching your dates today? Most first searches don't find a leg. Let us watch the route for you.
Set up a route alert →Is a private jet cheaper per person?
It can be, once the seats are full. Divide the whole-aircraft price by the number of passengers: a two-hour light-jet charter at £5,000 shared by six is about £830 each, and an empty leg on the same jet at £2,500 is about £415 each. Our guide shows how to split the cost per person by aircraft and group size.
No leg on your route today?
Most searches won't find a matching empty leg the first time. Save a route alert and we'll email you when one is listed, usually days rather than weeks before it flies. It's free, and it's the easiest way to catch a leg before it sells. Read more about how a route alert works, or browse live empty legs now. If you're after the lowest price rather than a particular route, our cheap private jet hire page shows the aircraft that usually come up cheapest.
Flying in the United States? Our destination pages cover the airports and live legs: Houston, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Palm Beach.
Private jet cost calculator: common questions
How accurate is the private jet cost calculator?
It gives an indicative range from the global empty-leg marketplace's pricing for your route, date and group size. The confirmed quote can land above or below it, mainly because of where the available aircraft is based and the airport fees on the day. Treat it as a planning figure, then request confirmed pricing.
Is the private jet price calculator free?
Yes. There's no charge and no account. You see the estimate before you're asked for any details, and you only share an email if you want a confirmed quote.
How much does it cost to hire a private jet for one hour?
As a guide, about £1,400 to £2,200 for a turboprop, £2,000 to £3,200 for a light jet and £3,000 to £4,400 for a midsize jet, for the whole aircraft. Many operators charge a minimum number of hours on short flights, so a 40-minute hop can be billed as an hour or more.
Does the estimate include the return flight?
The estimate prices the trip you enter, one way. If you want a return, say so when you request confirmed pricing. A one-way charter can still carry positioning costs if the aircraft has to fly home empty, which is exactly why one-way empty legs are cheaper.
Why is an empty leg cheaper than the charter estimate?
The operator is flying that aircraft anyway, to get it home or to its next job. Any fare it sells covers part of a cost it would otherwise carry alone, so legs are typically priced 25% to 75% below a full charter on the same aircraft.
Is the price per person or for the whole aircraft?
For the whole aircraft. Divide by the number of passengers to see the cost per head. Six people sharing a £5,000 two-hour light-jet charter pay about £830 each; on a £2,500 empty leg, about £415.
Can I choose the aircraft?
On a full charter, yes: the estimate is built around your group size, and you can ask for a bigger or smaller aircraft in your request. On an empty leg the aircraft is fixed, and it's shown on the listing.
What costs are added to a private jet estimate?
Landing and handling fees, Air Passenger Duty on UK departures in aircraft of 5.7 tonnes or more, de-icing in cold weather, crew overnight costs on trips with nights away, and any special catering. The confirmed quote lists each one, so you see the full total before you accept.
How far ahead should I get an estimate?
Any time. For a full charter, asking a couple of weeks ahead gives you more aircraft to choose from, and peak weeks such as Christmas in the Alps or a big race weekend fill earlier. Empty legs are usually listed days before they fly, so set a route alert if your dates are fixed.
Can I book straight from the calculator?
You can request confirmed pricing straight from your estimate. A fixed quote then comes to your inbox, and you book by accepting it. For an empty leg, open the leg on the board and request a quote on that flight.