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Cessna 172 Ownership Cost (2026)
The Skyhawk is the benchmark: well known, easy to insure, cheap parts.
| Item | Low | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance ($100k–$200k hull) | $1,200 | $1,700 | BWI quotes |
| Tie-down / T-hangar per year | $600 | $7,368 | Airport fee schedules |
| Annual inspection, all in | $2,500 | $4,500 | Flying (May 2026) |
| Fuel per hour (8.1 gph × $7.40) | about $60 | AOPA, AirNav | |
| Oil per hour | $2 | $4 | Flying, Lycoming |
| Engine reserve per hour | $14.35 | $19.75 | $28,700–$39,500 / 2,000 h |
| Per hour at 100 h, before loan | about $121 | about $223 | AirplaneHub arithmetic |
AOPA's 1975 172M example came to $225 an hour at 100 hours and $108 at 300, including a loan. Wet rentals run $150–$210 an hour. Plug in your numbers in the calculator.
Estimates only. These results are estimates for planning, not quotes, and not financial, insurance or maintenance advice. Real costs depend on the airplane, the airport, your insurer and your mechanic. Get quotes.
Sources
- AirplaneHub: cost to own a Cessna 172 (2026) (citing Flying, May 2026: T-hangar $400–$600/mo, tie-down $75–$300; annual inspection base $1,500–$2,200, $2,500–$4,500 total on a healthy airplane, $8,000–$12,000 if maintenance was deferred; oil change $100–$200 every 50 h; O-320/O-360 overhaul $28,700–$39,500 from Corona, Gann and Airworx; Lycoming SI 1009BF TBO 2,000 h; ForeFlight $130–$390/yr)
- AOPA: Hypothetical operating cost calculation (1975 Cessna 172M: insurance $1,200/yr, hangar $250/mo, 8 gph, maintenance $25/hr at 100 h or $13.34/hr at 300 h, engine reserve $17/hr; total $225/hr at 100 h, $108/hr at 300 h; own vs rent break-even just under 100 h/yr vs a $135/hr wet rental)
- Pilot-Next: airplane insurance cost (BWI quotes Jun 2025–Jun 2026: C172 $50k–$100k hull $700–$1,250, $100k–$200k $1,200–$1,700; PA-28-140 $850–$1,400; PA-28-180 $750–$1,300; Sunset SR22 $800k hull: $8,000 private+IFR, $14,000 working on IFR, $21,000 student)
- AirNav fuel price report (nationwide 100LL average $7.40/gal, min $4.45, max $15.42; report dated Nov 5, 2026)
- Aviatize: flying club vs renting vs owning (C172 wet rental $150–$210/hr, often ~$175; club dues a few dozen to a couple hundred dollars a month)
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a Cessna 172 per year?
Roughly $12,000 to $22,000 a year at 100 hours before a loan, based on published insurance, storage, annual, fuel and engine reserve figures.
What is the TBO of a 172 engine?
Lycoming lists 2,000 hours after overhaul for the O-320 and O-360 (2,400 for the O-320-H), and overhaul within 12 years.