How Much Does a Jet Ski Cost?

How Much Does a Jet Ski Cost? (Models and List of Brands)

We’ve all been out on the water or the beach and have seen someone shoot past in one of those popular jet skis, possibly doing tricks on the waves. They seem like a hot commodity along certain coastal—and inland—beaches, but how do you get one of your own, and what model should you pick?

Affordable and used jet skis start at about $5,000, while newer, high-performance jet skis can cost up to $20,000. A personal jet ski also incurs other costs such as maintenance, cleaning, winterizing, and storage, which can total up to $2,500 annually.

Before looking into purchasing your own, there’s much to learn about personal watercraft or jet skis. What are the best brands, and what makes each one different? What should you consider before purchasing your own? Read on to find out more.

About the PWC

The first thing to note when looking into jet skis is that they’re not technically called jet skis—they’re “personal watercrafts” or PWC.

The first built personal watercraft was created, invented, and designed by Clayton Jacobson II. He first created a stand-up model. Eventually partnered with a Canadian company to create the first marketed jet ski, a sit-down model, but it was fairly unsuccessful until Kawasaki created their own model, which was called the Jet Ski.

How to Choose Your Own

When investigating your options on personal watercraft, you have to consider what kind of experience you want. It matters when shopping for your own whether you want to stand up, sit down, go faster, or have some storage.

While deciding to purchase your own jet ski may feel like you have too many options on the market, you first have to consider whether you intend on using it enough to garner purchasing one. Renting is an option if you don’t intend to use it all the time and may be better for the less frequent riders.

When looking into types of jet skis, there are three styles that you can consider—luxury, performance, and recreation, or rec-lite.

Luxury jet skis tend to have the same engine specifications as the performance category, but they are often heavier to allow for smoother rides. Not as agile, they usually have more features for your comfort rather than your speed.

Performance jet skis are just that—your high-speed personal watercrafts that allow for more maneuverability and faster acceleration. Usually, performance engines come supercharged, which tends to jack up the price.

Recreation or rec-lite jet skis are both recreationally focused. Rec-lite tends to be smaller than the recreation jet skis, allowing for more tricks and faster speeds. These aren’t the most luxurious of jet skis, but they get the job done—they’re best for families and for tow sports, along with being great for beginner riders. These tend to be the jet skis for first-time buyers.

Costs (and Hidden Costs) of Buying a Jet Ski

Personal watercrafts are not cheap—the widest range of jet ski prices go from $5,000 all the way to $20,000 for the best brands. Because they are technically vehicles, you will incur the typical maintenance costs that you would make on a car or a motorcycle.

These watercrafts also require fuel, so you will have to keep it fueled up, which costs extra funds. Keeping your jet ski oiled is also key, just like a vehicle. Depending on your location, fuel may cost up to $4 a gallon, so you may be spending $30 to fill the tank for three to four hours out on the water.

Their engines are some of the first and most expensive things you would need to replace—while purchasing a used jet ski may seem cheaper, a four-stroke engine on a jet ski usually lasts about 300 to 500 hours of use. If the previous owner used it frequently, you may be replacing that engine sooner rather than later. Depending on the model, you could be looking at a cost of anywhere between $500 and $4,000 to replace an engine.

Cleaning your jet ski is also a consideration, and you should clean and flush your ride every time you go out—especially if you’re riding in saltwater because saltwater can corrode your ride. Keeping your jet ski washed and waxed could run you about $30 for supplies. You should also flush your jet ski after every ride, which means you need to get a flushing kit, which usually ranges about $20.

If you need to winterize your jet ski, you need winter storage and to drain the fluids from it like you would a motorcycle that you’re putting away for winter.

Seasonal costs to take care of your jet ski could be anywhere between $50 and $200. Purchasing your own stand and cover for it is usually a one-time cost of around $400, while storage could cost you upwards of $1,000 if you wish to store it in a facility.

You will also be required to carry certain items, like a personal flotation device and a fire extinguisher, on board which raises the price past the sale price. If you aren’t living directly on the water you wish to enjoy, you’ll also need to have a trailer to haul your jet ski to the water.

Comparisons: Brands

There are many brands on the market to choose from, and looking from a broad perspective, you can compare the few in different ways.

Kawasaki

Being the first to coin the term “jet ski” means that Kawasaki has a handle on the market. These jet skis are very high-end, giving you either a sit-down or stand-up version of the PWC.

Things to remember about Kawasaki brands include the fact that they’re fast. If you want a jet ski that’s going to emulate the ride of a motorcycle on the water, this is the brand for you. Some of the Kawasaki jet skis can reach speeds of 60 miles per hour or more.

They are also performance vehicles. They are high-end and well-designed. Kawasaki jet skis are also fairly affordable, compared to other brands. Their versions of the jet ski usually range from $9,000 to $18,000.

Kawasaki brands are limited, though, because they have a limited range and they do not offer recreational models—everything is high performance and high-end.

Yamaha

Yamaha branded jet skis came onto the market in the middle of the 1980s as Kawasaki dominated. While Kawasaki was selling their stand-up jet ski,

Yamaha took a different route in creating the WaveRunner, a sit-down jet ski that could carry two people instead of just one. Where Kawasaki created the term “jet ski,” “WaveRunner” became the name of sit-down personal watercraft.

Because they were already established as a motorcycle company, Yamaha had that advantage when selling their WaveRunner models. They’ve come out with more since the 1980s, including the SuperJet, which is comparable to Kawasaki’s Jet Ski.

Yamaha’s tend to be more multi-purpose than Kawasaki’s as a whole. Many are created to carry more than one person, and they are affordable when considering the high-performance Kawasaki’s start around $9,000—you can find a new Yamaha ranging from just $6,000 to $17,000.

Bombardier Recreational Products, or Sea-Doo

The original creator of the personal watercraft, the Canadian company that started off the jet ski craze has come back with a new design—the Sea-Doo. They considered both Kawasaki and Yamaha’s versions of the jet ski and combined the best features of both into the Sea-Doo, which both allow for high performance in a sit-down version.

The main characteristic of the Bombardier personal watercrafts are affordability and value. They are the most inexpensive of the three brands, coming in around $5,000 to $18,000. Because they are so well made and have combined the best of both of the other brands, you can be comfortable and sit down while still having the ability to enjoy high speeds.

The Bombardier products are also fantastic for newer riders, considering that they are primarily sit-down vehicles. One downside, though, is that if you want something flashy or comfortable, these may not be the brands for you—that is where they sacrifice to give you the best price.

Which is the best jet ski brand?

When it comes down to it, it depends on what you want out of your personal watercraft that can help you decide on a model. Kawasaki has high-performance, high-speed vehicles that come at a price and may not be as comfortable. Yamaha tends to focus on comfort but has a higher price tag. Bombardier, with their Sea-Doo, is great for beginners, fast, and affordable, but sacrifices comfort and luxury. It all depends on what you’re looking for out of your jet ski.

Most Affordable Jet Skis

Sea-Doo Spark

If you’re focused on pricing but still want the experience of owning your own personal watercraft, one of the best on the market right now is the Sea-Doo Spark. Starting at about $6,000 with a commodity surcharge, the 2022 model is currently accepting pre-orders. Besides being fuel-efficient, it is lightweight and scratch-resistant, includes a portable audio system and a slim seat profile. Because it is considered “rec-lite,” it is a lighter PWC with less power but more affordability. You can also do tricks on this style of a jet ski.

Yamaha EX

While a little more expensive than its Sea-Doo counterpart, the Yamaha EX is another rec-lite version of the jet ski, coming in at around $7,200. While more expensive than the Sea-Doo, it features all the same things but allows for up to three riders compared to the Sea-Doo’s two. It tops out at around 50 miles per hour with a 100 horsepower engine. You can also upgrade to more expensive models, as Yamaha has an entire EX Line of jet skis to choose from.

Kawasaki Jet Ski STX 160

The most expensive of the affordable jet skis, the Jet Ski STX 160 runs around $10,500 for your own. This version allows for customization while still having a high-performance engine and a decent fuel capacity. You’ll get a comfortable seat for you and another person, 35 gallons of storage, two cup holders, and electronic cruise control for your money on this affordable Kawasaki.

Do you know how to get water out of your jet ski’s engine? Here is how to do so.

Highest Performing Jet Skis

Yamaha GP1800 R SVHO

High-performing jet ski for a more affordable price, the GP1800 R SVHO starts at a little over $15,000. Allowing for up to three passengers, this jet ski has a supercharged four-stroke engine to give you all a fast ride. The racing-inspired seat, cooler storage, tow hook, and audio control only add to your experience—and it’s built for racing.

2022 Sea-Doo RXT-X

Starting at almost $18,000 with fees included, the 2022 Sea-Doo RXT-X is one of the faster jet skis on the market. With the most powerful engine ever used in a Sea-Doo, you’re looking at fast acceleration and a high-efficiency ride. This jet ski also comes with a racing seat, allowing you to hit those high speeds in comfort. This jet ski also includes storage, a large swim platform, Bluetooth audio system, supreme stability, and the ability to fine-tune your ride.

2022 Jet Ski Ultra 310LX

Not for the faint of heart, the newest Jet Ski Ultra 310LX is one of the highest-priced jet skis on the market coming in around $20,000. This jet ski comes with a supercharged four-stroke engine with a 16.8 psi maximum boost, with a fuel capacity of 20.6 gallons. It also allows for three riders and has a supreme audio system for those long rides. Straddling the line between luxury and performance, this jet ski can do both.

Best Luxury Jet Skis

2022 Sea-Doo GTX Limited

One of the luxury versions of the Sea-Doo produced by the company, the GTX Limited rivals the Jet Ski Ultra 310LX on price—it costs about $18,700 after fees. Touting “comfort, convenience, and performance,” this jet ski has on board space, storage, and focuses on luxury and speed. Because of its construction, it is stable on the water and easily allows for a debris-free pump system. This jet ski comes with the largest swim platform across any luxury jet ski.

Yamaha FX Limited SVHO

This luxury Yamaha model starts at a little over $19,000, making it one of the most expensive on the market. The SVHO can hold up to three people, making it great for families, but still has a supercharged four-stroke engine, allowing for higher speeds. You’ll have everything you need in this ride—storage, a beverage holder, audio control, and even GPS. Speed and comfort come together in this Yamaha jet ski.

Best Used or Older Jet Skis

If you’re not in the market for a new jet ski, you can consider a used one. Some of the most reliable models from past 2021 include:

2020 Kawasaki STX-15F: An older version of the STX-160 series, it’s still reliable and can be found on the market at around $10,000.
Older Sea-Doo Sparks: Sea-Doo Sparks have been around for a while, making them both some of the most consistently created jet skis, but the most reliable. You can find these around $5,000 to $9,000 on the used jet ski market.
Older Yamaha WaveRunners: Some of the original on the market, the WaveRunners, when sold used, can usually be found between $4,500 and up.

When it comes to years, the newer the model the better it will be—both in efficiency and upkeep. The older the jet ski, the more likely you’ll be spending your savings on maintenance and swapping out your engine!

Whether you’re looking for speed, luxury, or an easy ride, you can find the best jet ski on the market for you. While the Sea-Doo models are great for beginners, especially the Spark models, Kawasaki models, especially the Jet Ski Ultra versions, are great for high performance. If you’re looking for luxury, Yamaha is your brand, with the luxury series of FX WaveRunners.

If you’re looking for a used jet ski, you can still consider these brands across the board—they’ve only improved on their previous models. Following this guide will only help you get the best ride you can have, used or new.