The cheapest private jets, new and pre-owned
The two tables on this page rank the least expensive private jets. New, by manufacturer list price. Pre-owned, by our estimate for a representative aircraft of each type. They come from the same catalogue and valuation model as the rest of the site, so they move when a price moves.
The bottom of the new market belongs to very light jets: four to six seats, often a single pilot, and enough range for a domestic or short regional trip. Pre-owned, the light and very light jets of the 2000s and 2010s are the cheapest way into a jet at all.
The cheapest new private jet today is the Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 G2+, at about $3.25M.
The least expensive new private jets
| Model | Category | New |
|---|---|---|
| Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 G2+ | Very light jet | $3.25M |
| Embraer Phenom 100EX | Very light jet | $4.5M |
| Nextant 400XTi | Light jet | $5.6M |
| Cessna Citation M2 Gen3 | Light jet | $6.15M |
| Honda HondaJet Elite II | Very light jet | $6.95M |
| Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen3 | Light jet | $10.4M |
| Embraer Phenom 300E | Light jet | $11M |
| Pilatus PC-24 | Light jet | $11.5M |
| Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 | Light jet | $11.9M |
| Cessna Citation XLS Gen2 | Midsize jet | $15.5M |
The least expensive pre-owned private jets
| Model | Category | Typical year | Pre-owned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eclipse 550 | Very light jet | 2017 | $1.29M – $1.44M |
| Cessna Citation CJ1+ | Light jet | 2010 | $1.29M – $1.44M |
| Cessna Citation Mustang | Very light jet | 2017 | $1.4M – $1.56M |
| Embraer Phenom 100 | Very light jet | 2013 | $1.61M – $1.79M |
| Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 | Very light jet | 2018 | $1.66M – $1.86M |
| Cessna Citation Excel | Midsize jet | 2004 | $1.73M – $1.93M |
| Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 G2 | Very light jet | 2019 | $1.76M – $1.96M |
| Beechcraft Premier 1A | Light jet | 2013 | $2.02M – $2.26M |
| Embraer Phenom 100E | Very light jet | 2017 | $2.06M – $2.3M |
| Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 G2+ | Very light jet | 2021 | $2.18M – $2.43M |
Computed from our catalogue and valuation model, and updated with every price change. Pre-owned: indicative ranges for a representative aircraft, not inspected.
What the low price leaves out
A very light jet is a different tool from a midsize jet, not a smaller copy of it. Cabins are short and often lack a full washroom. Range with every seat taken is limited, and baggage space runs out before the seats do.
Older aircraft add a second set of questions. Avionics that no longer meet airspace mandates, engines close to overhaul, an inspection programme that has lapsed. Each one can cost a large share of what the aircraft itself is worth.
Running costs do not shrink with the price
Crew, hangar, insurance and training cost much the same on a cheap jet as on a slightly larger one. That is why the annual budget falls far less than the purchase price as you move down the market.
Before financing and depreciation, a light jet flying 250 hours a year costs about $980,000 to operate. Set that against the purchase price before deciding that the cheapest aircraft is the cheapest choice.
An aircraft bought cheaply with a heavy inspection due next year is not cheap. Ask for the maintenance forecast before you ask the price.
When the cheapest is the right choice
For an owner pilot, or for regular one to two hour trips with two or three passengers, a very light jet is often the rational choice. It uses short runways, costs less per hour, and single pilot certification keeps crew costs down.
Beyond that, compare the cheapest jet with charter before buying. At a few hundred hours a year, charter usually costs less, and our cost guide shows the calculation line by line.
Private jet prices, every model
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cheapest private jet?
- New, the Cirrus Vision Jet SF50 G2+, at about $3.25M. Pre-owned, our estimate for a 2017 Eclipse 550 runs from $1.29M to $1.44M. Both tables on this page come from our catalogue and change when a price changes.
- How much does a cheap private jet cost to run?
- Before financing and depreciation, about $980,000 a year for a light jet flying 250 hours. A very light jet flown by a single pilot costs less, but not in proportion to its price: crew, hangar and insurance are there whatever the aircraft cost.
- Is an old, cheap jet a good buy?
- Sometimes. An older aircraft costs a fraction of a new one, but the next heavy inspection, an engine overhaul or an avionics upgrade can cost a large share of its value. Price the next five years of maintenance before the aircraft itself.