How much does a Boeing 737-800 cost?

Boeing published an official price list for years; in its last edition (2021) the 737-800 was listed at $106.1 million. That figure was almost theoretical: airlines and leasing companies negotiated discounts of 40 to 50% on large orders, so the real price of a new 737-800 was between $50 and $60 million. The model stopped being manufactured for commercial customers in 2019-2020, replaced by the 737 MAX 8, so today it cannot be bought new except in its military (P-8 Poseidon) and executive (BBJ2) derivatives.

The 737-800 is one of the most common aircraft in the world, with almost 5,000 units built, which makes its used market very liquid. The value depends mainly on the year of manufacture, the accumulated hours and cycles, and the condition of the CFM56-7B engines, which can account for more than half the value of the aircraft. As an order of magnitude, a roughly ten-year-old example was priced between $20 and $30 million, and one over twenty years old, between $8 and $12 million (as of December 2024). Many airlines don't buy: they lease under 6- to 12-year contracts with lessors such as AerCap or Avolon, for monthly rents of $150,000 to $250,000 depending on age.

The initial outlay is only part of the cost. On top of the purchase come spare parts, crew training, heavy maintenance (a major structural check can cost several million), and above all fuel, which at around 2,500 kg per flight hour is the largest operating expense. Conversion to a freighter (737-800BCF or SF) also costs around $5 million, which explains why many veteran aircraft end up carrying parcels.