Home / Hangar vs tie-down
Hangar vs tie-down
A hangar costs more each month, but it can trim insurance and saves paint, interior and avionics from sun and hail.
Formula
Net extra cost of hangaring = (hangar − tie-down) × 12 − insurance × discount − outdoor costs avoided. Owned hangar per year = price ÷ years + yearly costs (ignores resale value and interest).
Defaults: median hangar $263/mo and median tie-down $65/mo across published airport fee schedules (Pilot-Next); BWI says hangared airplanes often insure for 10–15% less. The $600/yr outdoor wear figure (covers, more paint and interior wear) is an assumption; set it to what matters for you. Some airports have hangar waiting lists of several years.
Sources
- Pilot-Next: hangar rental at 21 US airports (median cheapest single-engine hangar $263/mo, range $75–$860; median tie-down $65/mo, range $25–$340; fee schedules read Oct 26, 2026)
- 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)
- BWI Aviation Insurance: how premiums are determined (Cessna 172 $100k hull $1,100–$1,800; Piper Archer $150k $1,200–$1,900; Cirrus SR22 $450k $2,800–$4,800; 100-hour pilot ~$1,700 vs 1,000-hour IFR pilot ~$1,200) and BWI 2026 rates (light single $1,200–$2,800; high-performance single $3,000–$6,000; hangared often 10–15% less)
Common questions
How much does a hangar cost per month?
Across 19 US public airports, the cheapest single-engine hangar had a median rent of $263 a month, ranging from $75 to $860. Flying puts T-hangars at about $400 to $600.
How much is a tie-down?
A median of $65 a month at 15 airports, with a range of $25 to $340.