Private jet charter in the U.S. typically runs from roughly $2,000 an hour for a turboprop to $14,000–$18,500 or more an hour for an ultra-long-range jet, before or after taxes depending on whose numbers you read. On top of the hourly rate, every domestic charter carries a 7.5% federal excise tax plus a $5.30 per-passenger, per-segment fee in 2026, and the final invoice also reflects repositioning, daily minimums, crew overnights, and airport and seasonal charges.
The wide spread in published rate tables is the first thing most buyers notice, and it is the most useful thing to understand. This guide explains what each aircraft category actually costs to charter, why two reputable sources can quote ranges that are thousands of dollars apart, and how to compare quotes on a like-for-like basis.
The table below puts two current published ranges side by side: BlackJet’s 2026 guide, which quotes base hourly rates before taxes and fees, and Stratos Jet Charters’ pricing page, which quotes estimated hourly rates for quotes it describes as including taxes, landing and handling fees. Neither is a price list; both are directional. The gap between them is mostly the difference between a base rate and an all-in rate, plus how each defines a “billable” hour.
| Category | Typical seats | Typical nonstop range | BlackJet base rate (per hour) | Stratos estimated rate (per hour) | Examples in the Silver Air managed fleet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | 6–8 | Up to ~1,500 nm | $2,000–$3,000 | $4,000–$4,900 | Pilatus PC-12 NG |
| Light jet | 6–7 | ~1,200–2,000 nm | $3,000–$5,000 | $8,929–$9,868 | Citation CJ3, Citation Ultra |
| Midsize jet | 7–8 | ~2,000–2,800 nm | $5,000–$8,000 | $9,793–$10,824 | Hawker 900XP |
| Super-midsize jet | 8–10 | ~2,700–3,500 nm | $7,000–$10,000 | $11,786–$13,027 | Challenger 350, Citation Latitude, Citation X / X+ |
| Heavy jet | 10–14 | ~4,000–4,500 nm | $8,000–$12,000 | $15,077–$16,664 | Challenger 605, Gulfstream G-IV SP |
| Ultra-long-range | 12–18 | 6,000+ nm | $10,000–$14,000+ | $15,200–$18,500 | Global Express, Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream GV |
Fleet ranges and seat counts are from the Silver Air fleet page; seats vary by cabin configuration. Silver Air’s own hourly rates by category: [NEEDS NUMBER FROM OPS]. We would rather show real numbers than borrowed ones here, and we will add them once confirmed.
Base rate versus all-in rate. Some sources quote only the aircraft’s hourly charge. Others fold in federal excise tax, fuel surcharges, landing and handling fees. Adding 7.5% tax plus fees and a share of repositioning to a base rate can move it 15% to 40%, which explains most of the gap in the table above.
What counts as a billable hour. Operators bill on flight time, block time (engine start to shutdown), or occupied time plus positioning. A one-hour hop billed on block time with a 0.3-hour taxi allowance on each end is really 1.6 hours on the invoice. Always ask which clock the quote uses.
One-way versus round trip. If the aircraft must fly home empty, someone pays for that leg. Many published hourly rates assume a round trip or a well-positioned aircraft. A true one-way often costs close to a round trip unless the operator can sell the return or the aircraft happens to be based at your destination.
Specific aircraft, not just category. A 2019 Challenger 350 with Wi-Fi and a refreshed cabin and an older super-midsize with no connectivity sit in the same category but rarely at the same price. Category tables smooth over that.
Demand. Super-midsize is one of the most in-demand charter categories. WingX data published by Private Jet Card Comparisons shows 462,709 U.S. super-midsize charter and fractional departures in 2025, up 8% year over year, against total U.S. business aviation departures of 2,633,282 (up 5%). Tight supply in the most popular category shows up as higher rates on peak days.
These are fixed by law for U.S. commercial (Part 135) charter. Figures are the 2026 rates published by the FAA in its Aviation Excise Tax Structure for calendar year 2026.
Variable charges that depend on the trip:
This is an illustration with round, hypothetical numbers, not a Silver Air price. Four passengers fly round trip on a super-midsize jet, 2.5 hours each way, same-day return, with an assumed base rate of $9,000 per hour.
Total before airport fees: about $48,400, or around $9,700 per flight hour. Change one assumption, such as an aircraft based 1.5 hours away, an overnight, or a winter de-ice, and the total can rise by 10% to 30%. That is why the per-hour number on a rate table rarely matches the per-hour number on an invoice.
Silver Air is an FAA Part 135 operator founded in 2008 that operates a managed fleet spanning every category in the table, from the Pilatus PC-12 to the Gulfstream G550 and Global Express. Because we operate the aircraft ourselves, a quote from us names the actual aircraft and crew, and we hold operational control for the flight. Silver Air holds Wyvern Wingman PRO certification and IS-BAO compliance.
If you are comparing categories for a specific trip, the most useful thing we can do is quote the same itinerary on two aircraft sizes so you can see the real price difference rather than a rate-table estimate. Start with our charter page or contact the charter team. Typical quote turnaround: [NEEDS NUMBER FROM OPS].
How much does it cost to charter a private jet for one hour?
Published 2026 ranges run from about $2,000–$5,000 for turboprops and light jets on a base-rate basis to $15,000–$18,500 for ultra-long-range jets on an all-in basis. Most trips are billed with a daily minimum, so a one-hour flight rarely costs just one hour.
What is the cheapest category of private aircraft to charter?
Turboprops such as the Pilatus PC-12, followed by light jets. For trips under about 500 miles, a turboprop is often within minutes of a jet’s door-to-door time and can use shorter runways.
Is a super-midsize jet worth the extra cost over a midsize?
It usually is when you need coast-to-coast range without a fuel stop, a stand-up cabin for a longer flight, or more baggage. For trips under three hours with four or fewer passengers, a midsize or light jet often does the same job for less.
What taxes apply to a private jet charter in the U.S.?
For 2026, a 7.5% federal excise tax on the transportation charge, a $5.30 per-passenger domestic segment fee, and a $23.40 per-passenger international arrival or departure tax, per the FAA’s published 2026 rates.
Why is a one-way charter almost as expensive as a round trip?
Because the aircraft usually has to reposition empty to its base or next trip, and that time is billed. One-ways are cheaper when the aircraft is already positioned or the operator has a return trip to sell.
How much does a coast-to-coast private flight cost?
A transcontinental flight is typically 5 to 6 hours in a super-midsize or heavy jet. At published super-midsize rates of roughly $7,000–$13,000 per hour, that is about $35,000–$78,000 one way before repositioning and fees, depending on the aircraft and whose rate basis you use.
Does the price change by season?
Yes. Holidays, ski season and major events raise demand, and winter adds de-icing and hangar costs. BlackJet cites peak-period surcharges of 15% to 30%.
Which companies publish private jet charter prices?
Brokers and operators including BlackJet and Stratos Jet Charters publish hourly rate ranges by category. Treat them as directional; only a quote for a specific aircraft, date and route is a real price.
Sources: FAA, Current Aviation Excise Tax Structure and Rates 2026; BlackJet, Private Charter Flight Costs (2026); Stratos Jet Charters pricing page (2026); WingX data via Private Jet Card Comparisons; Silver Air fleet page.
Reviewed November 2, 2026 by the Silver Air team.
