BoatRentalPrice calculator
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Calculator · 586 prices · 89 operators · 15 places · checked Oct 14, 2026

How much does it cost to rent a boat for a day?

A pontoon rental has a US median of $900 for 8 hours; a yacht has a median of $3,200 for 8 hours. Use the calculator above to compare your trip’s price range and median, then check the added costs.

4 hours · pontoon · you drive · 8 guests · any US place

$641

Median total · middle half: $545–$832

$390 lowest$545–$832 middle half$1,242 highest

Based on 29 prices from 17 operators, checked Oct 14, 2026.

130°W120°W110°W100°W90°W80°W70°W60°W10°N15°N20°N25°N30°N35°N40°N45°N50°N55°NATLANTICOCEANGULF OF MEXICONMiamifew here · FL $687Chicagofew here · US $641Lake Tahoemedian $1,093 · 9San Diegomedian $1,003 · 7Lake Travisfew here · US $641New York Cityfew here · US $641Fort Lauderdalefew here · FL $687Key Westmedian $465 · 6Lake Havasufew here · US $641Lake of the Ozarksmedian $432 · 8Destinmedian $786 · 9Lake Lanierfew here · US $641Torontofew here · Canada CA$965Kelownamedian CA$969 · 13Vancouverfew here · BC CA$969
Reading the chartfigures = this choice at each place: median total and number of prices · ring = selected place
123456789101112131415
  1. Miamifew here · FL $687
  2. Chicagofew here · US $641
  3. Lake Tahoemedian $1,093 · 9
  4. San Diegomedian $1,003 · 7
  5. Lake Travisfew here · US $641
  6. New York Cityfew here · US $641
  7. Fort Lauderdalefew here · FL $687
  8. Key Westmedian $465 · 6
  9. Lake Havasufew here · US $641
  10. Lake of the Ozarksmedian $432 · 8
  11. Destinmedian $786 · 9
  12. Lake Lanierfew here · US $641
  13. Torontofew here · Canada CA$965
  14. Kelownamedian CA$969 · 13
  15. Vancouverfew here · BC CA$969

How this number is built

  • One price per boat. Prices for exactly your hours come first; other lengths are scaled to your hours when fewer than 5 match.
  • A median needs 3 prices, the middle half needs 5. With fewer, the board shows the lowest and highest price.
  • Few prices at a place? The board widens to the state or province, then the country, and says so.
  • Fuel is an estimate from the boat’s typical burn and the road fuel price, unless the operator includes it.
  • The deposit is shown apart from the total: it comes back if the boat does.

United States, boat rate only

Prices by boat type for short, middle and long rentals

Median and middle half of published prices before captain, fuel, tip and tax. Lengths differ by boat: jet skis rent by the hour, fishing charters by the trip.

Boat typeShortMiddleLongOperators
Pontoon boat2 hours$350$295–$419 · n=164 hours$555$453–$736 · n=308 hours$795$645–$1,200 · n=2921
Bowrider or deck boat2 hours$380$325–$493 · n=74 hours$680$599–$940 · n=68 hours$1,520few prices · n=36
Center console2 hours$448$320–$518 · n=114 hours$495$375–$623 · n=278 hours$695$595–$800 · n=1710
Wake or ski boat2 hours$450$440–$480 · n=94 hours$880$875–$955 · n=98 hours$1,720$1,395–$1,770 · n=87
Yacht2 hours$985$700–$1,925 · n=324 hours$1,600$1,200–$3,600 · n=298 hours$3,200$2,340–$7,400 · n=2315
Sailboat2 hours$560$325–$675 · n=74 hours$650few prices · n=48 hours$1,300few prices · n=44
Catamaran2 hours$3,300$2,550–$4,050 · n=74 hours$6,600$5,100–$8,100 · n=78 hours$13,200$10,200–$16,200 · n=71
Party boat2 hours$445$241–$700 · n=234 hours$678$395–$921 · n=248 hours$735$630–$1,100 · n=239
Fishing charter4 hours$900$625–$1,175 · n=156 hours$1,395$1,223–$1,500 · n=108 hours$1,940$1,740–$2,175 · n=148
Jet ski1 hour$105$95–$138 · n=152 hours$200$190–$238 · n=184 hours$450$380–$495 · n=149
Electric boat1 hour$219$210–$225 · n=52 hours$444few prices · n=44 hours$888few prices · n=43

Canada, in CA$

Canadian prices by boat type

Toronto, Kelowna and Vancouver. Prices stay in Canadian dollars; the calculator can show a US-dollar estimate at the Bank of Canada rate.

Boat typeShortMiddleLongOperators
Pontoon boat2 hoursCA$449CA$371–CA$498 · n=104 hoursCA$996CA$773–CA$1,056 · n=68 hoursCA$1,992CA$1,579–CA$1,992 · n=55
Bowrider or deck boat2 hoursCA$274CA$247–CA$316 · n=64 hoursCA$476–CA$556few prices · n=28 hoursCA$952–CA$1,112few prices · n=22
Center console2 hoursCA$298few prices · n=34 hoursCA$476–CA$596few prices · n=28 hoursCA$952–CA$1,192few prices · n=21
Wake or ski boat2 hoursCA$509CA$429–CA$560 · n=144 hoursCA$824few prices · n=48 hoursCA$1,199–CA$1,549few prices · n=24
Yacht2 hoursCA$328few prices · n=44 hoursCA$1,125few prices · n=48 hoursCA$3,440–CA$4,800few prices · n=22
Party boat2 hoursCA$515CA$458–CA$1,229 · n=64 hoursCA$2,920–CA$4,160few prices · n=28 hoursCA$5,840–CA$8,320few prices · n=22
Jet ski1 hourCA$169few prices · n=32 hoursCA$249–CA$289few prices · n=24 hoursCA$429–CA$499few prices · n=22

Boat rental prices by type and hours

The middle half of US pontoon prices is $645–$1,200 for 8 hours, compared with $2,340–$7,400 for 8 hours for yachts. Those bands represent 29 pontoon prices and 23 yacht prices, not every rental available nationwide.

The table above compares available prices for 2, 4 and 8 hours by boat type. Its middle half runs from the lower quartile to the upper quartile, rather than showing the lowest and highest listing prices. Prices are as checked on Oct 14, 2026, across 586 published prices from 89 operators in 15 places.

Location also changes the comparison: pontoon medians are $450 for 4 hours at Lake of the Ozarks and $836 for 4 hours at Lake Tahoe. Use boat rental prices by city and lake to compare places, keeping Canadian-dollar prices separate from US-dollar prices.

For more detail, compare pontoon rental prices, day yacht charter prices and party boat prices for groups. Separate pages cover jet ski rentals, fishing charter costs, sailboat rentals and catamaran rental and charter prices.

What changes your rental total

Boat type and booked hours change the starting price, while fuel and other charges can change the final bill. Compare the same duration before deciding that one boat costs less.

Fuel is not always included: the pontoon listings include fuel-inclusive rentals, rentals charged by gallons used and rentals that leave the policy unstated. Ask how the operator measures usage and what fuel price applies.

A security deposit is separate from the rental charge; listed pontoon deposits range from $200–$300 per rental. Check the hold, release and damage terms using the deposit and insurance guide before signing.

  • Confirm the boat’s length and the minimum billable hours.
  • Ask whether a captain is included or charged separately.
  • Request any platform fee and weekend or peak-season surcharge in writing.
  • Check whether gratuity is included before adding a tip.

How the calculator builds your total

The calculator combines the published base price with applicable captain charges, a fuel estimate, tip and fees, while showing the deposit separately. Review its line items rather than treating the base rental price as your entire budget.

The fuel estimate uses consumption assumptions and US Energy Information Administration road gasoline prices; it is not a marina fuel quote. The agency lists US regular gasoline at $4.354 per gallon for the week of Oct 5, 2026, and marina fuel docks can charge differently.

“Few prices” means you should treat the comparison cautiously: the sailboat median of $650 for 4 hours represents only 4 prices. Check the result’s price count and dates, and confirm captain charges through the guide to renting with a captain.

Notes

Questions people ask

Note AWhat are the minimum boat rental hours?

Ask the operator for its minimum billable duration. A pontoon rate quoted per hour should not be treated as confirmation that you can book only an hour.

Note BIs fuel included in the boat rental cost?

Some pontoon listings include fuel, some charge by gallons used, and others do not state the policy. Ask which arrangement applies to your booking.

Note CDo I pay a deposit to rent a boat?

Some listings require a security deposit: published pontoon deposits range from $200–$300 per rental. Confirm the amount and release terms with the operator.

Note DIs the captain’s tip included?

Ask before paying; George Yachts says crew gratuity is paid directly and is not included in APA, the advance provisioning allowance. See the captain and crew tipping guide when budgeting.

Note EAsk before you pay

  1. Is fuel in the price, or charged for what you burn?
  2. Is the captain’s fee in the price, and how is it paid?
  3. Is sales tax added at checkout?
  4. How much is the deposit hold, and when is it released?
  5. What happens if the weather cancels the trip?

Sources

Where these facts come from

Each fact on this page comes from one of these pages. Operators change rates and rules; check the date and confirm the total with the operator before you pay.

  1. eia.gov — eia.gov · checked Oct 14, 2026
  2. georgeyachts.com — What Is APA on a Yacht Charter? 20 to 40%, Rest Refunded · checked Oct 14, 2026

Next

Keep comparing

Pontoon boat pricesYacht pricesJet ski pricesFishing charter pricesParty boat pricesSailboat pricesCatamaran pricesUS placesRenting a boat with a captainHow much to tip a boat captain, fishing guide or yacht crewBoat rental deposit, damage waiver and insurance