From the occasional jet charter to purchasing your own Embraer Phenom 300, there are countless ways for private fliers to take to the skies. Sitting somewhere between fractional ownership and a private jet membership or jet card, a private plane lease offers the benefits of fractional ownership without the maintenance costs and depreciation risks of an asset.

But how much does it cost to lease a private plane? The cost of leasing a private plane depends on several factors, including:

  • The type of aircraft, with larger and more luxurious planes bringing a larger investment
  • The length of your lease, with longer leases typically bringing lower monthly costs
  • The location of the aircraft and the availability of planes in the area and your lessor’s fleet

Typically, you can expect to spend more than a jet card, which costs about $25,000, and less than the initial investment in fractional ownership, which often starts at around $300,000.

While there are consumer-facing private jet lease programs on the market—such as NetJets’ lease program that gives lessees more than 25 hours of annual flying time on a three-year commitment or Flexjet’s 30-to-60-month terms with a minimum of 50 hours per year—leases in the private jet industry are more common between a private jet owner and an operator.

In this private aviation business model, operators lease a private owner’s jet to use for charter flights. This helps the lessor offset the cost of ownership and provides high-quality aircraft to private fliers.

Leasing a private plane vs chartering a private jet

Depending on your needs and how often you fly, chartering a private jet as needed or purchasing a private jet membership may suit your needs better than leasing an aircraft. 

When you charter a private jet with Stratos, you have access to more than 2,500 of the safest and most well-maintained private jets in the world. This network enables you to always charter the right jet for the mission.

When you lease a private jet, you typically lock in one jet or one class for the duration of your lease. That means, if you need a larger jet capable of bringing the family to Maui for the summer or your flight from Miami to the Bahamas would be better served by a smaller aircraft, you might need to look outside your lease program when planning your trip.

Is it cheaper to lease or rent a jet?

If you fly the same route or the same distance for more than 50 hours per year, it may be cheaper in the long run to lease a private jet. How much does a private jet cost to rent? The cost to charter a private jet ranges from about $2,000 to $18,000 per hour, depending on the jet, your route and aircraft availability.

For most travelers, chartering a private jet is the most affordable way to experience private aviation.

Want to learn more about the different private aviation business models and how they impact private fliers? We’ve created an in-depth look at the private aviation industry as part of our ultimate guide to private jets.