Guide
Boat hire prices in Spain: what a day costs by boat type, area and season
In high season, a no-licence motorboat costs €120–250 a day; a 6- to 8-metre RIB, €250–650; a 10- to 12-metre sailing boat, €400–900 bareboat; a skippered motor yacht, €900–4,000. Outside the peak, 20–40% less. On top of that come fuel, a deposit and, if there is one, the skipper.
The ranges in this guide are indicative (reviewed September 2026) and come from comparing published rates of companies in the directory (Cadaqués, Alicante, Palma, Ibiza and Tenerife, September 2026). The real price of each boat is set by the company: call or check its website.
1. Price by boat type (high season, per day)
| Type | What it is | Licence | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-licence motorboat | 4–5 m, 15 hp, 4–6 seats | None | €120 – 250 · half day €80 – 150 |
| Motorboat or RIB 6–8 m | 40 to 250 hp, 6–10 seats | ICC or Spanish PNB/PER (or navigation licence up to 6 m) | €250 – 650 |
| Sailing boat 10–12 m | 3 cabins, 6–8 berths | ICC/PER with sail, or a skipper | €400 – 900 bareboat · €600 – 1,500 skippered · week €2,000 – 5,000 |
| Catamaran 12–14 m | 4 cabins, 8–12 berths | Almost always skippered | €1,000 – 2,500 |
| Motor yacht 12–20 m | Skippered, sometimes crewed | Skipper included | €900 – 4,000 (over €10,000 for the big ones in Ibiza or Puerto Banús) |
Two quick readings of the table. First: the biggest jump in price is not the length, it is the skipper. Second: below 8 metres almost everything is hired by the day or half day; from 10 metres up, the week is the norm.
2. What the price usually includes and what is extra
Almost always included: the boat, insurance with an excess, lifejackets and the compulsory safety kit, a berth in the home harbour, an initial briefing.
Almost always extra:
- Fuel. You get the tank full and return it full, or you pay what you used. On a 15 hp boat that is €10–20 for a day; on a 150 hp RIB it can be €100 or more.
- Deposit. €300–2,000 depending on length; on no-licence boats, €150–500. Held on a card and released when the boat comes back undamaged.
- Skipper. If not included, charged per day. Their meals on board are on the group.
- Final cleaning, on sailing boats and catamarans hired by the week.
- Berths away from the home harbour, if you overnight elsewhere.
- Extras: awning, paddle board, snorkel kit, ice, catering.
Always ask for the "all-in" price for the day you want, not the boat price. The difference can be 30%.
3. How the price changes with the season
Demand for boat hire in Spain is ten times higher in August than in January. Prices follow that curve:
- July and August: top rate. Book ahead; in the destinations with most demand (Ibiza, Menorca, Mallorca, Dénia) the no-licence boats sell out at weekends.
- June and September: 10–25% less, same weather, fewer people in the coves. The best time on almost the whole Mediterranean coast.
- April, May and October: 20–40% less. The Balearics and Canaries have boats; the Cantabrian coast, few.
- November to March: many companies close. Those that stay open (Canaries, Costa del Sol, Alicante) offer low-season prices and full availability.
4. How the price changes with the area
The same boat does not cost the same everywhere. The destinations with the most companies and the most international demand (Ibiza, Puerto Banús, Palma, Barcelona) have the highest prices at the yacht and catamaran end, but also the most competition at the bottom end: in Sant Antoni de Portmany, 28 of the 89 companies advertise no-licence boats. Destinations with less choice (the Cantabrian coast, the inner Galician rías) leave less room to negotiate, but also carry less price pressure in summer.
Rule of thumb: in a destination with more than 30 companies, compare at least three. In one with fewer than 10, book early.
5. How to save without cutting corners
- Half a day instead of a full day if you only want to reach one cove and come back. It usually costs about 60% of the day rate.
- Weekdays. Some companies drop the price Monday to Thursday outside August.
- June or September. Same sea, lower price, fewer people.
- Share a skippered sailing boat between 6 or 8 people. It works out at €100–200 per person per day and nobody needs a licence.
- Book directly with the company. Marketplaces charge the owner a commission and sometimes the customer too. This directory gives you the phone number so you can call.
What not to do to save money: hire without insurance, hire from a private individual without a contract, or skip the check-in. We cover that in Contract and deposit.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a no-licence boat cost for a day? €120–250 in high season, plus fuel (€10–20) and a refundable deposit of €150–500. Half a day, €80–150.
How much does a skippered yacht cost? €900–4,000 a day depending on length and destination. The skipper is usually in that figure; meals, fuel and berths away from base are extra.
Is it cheaper to hire by the week? Per day, yes. A 10- to 12-metre sailing boat costs €2,000–5,000 a week against €400–900 a day.
Can I negotiate the price? In low season and on weekdays, sometimes. In July and August, no: demand outstrips supply in almost every destination.
Why does the same boat cost more at one company than another in the same harbour? Age of the boat, what the price includes (fuel, skipper, cleaning), the insurance excess and the deposit policy. Compare the final price for the day, not the headline price.
Do I pay in euros? Yes, everywhere in Spain, including the companies based in Gibraltar's marinas that serve La Línea, which usually take both pounds and euros.
Indicative prices reviewed in September 2026 from rates published by companies in the directory. Each company sets its own prices; check before booking.