Ten-to-fourteen-seat utility and regional turboprop · Single-engine turboprops · production 1984–present · See its reach on the 3D globe
A Cessna 208 Caravan costs approximately $2.68m (€2.48m) to $3.21m (€2.97m) to buy at 2026 market values, and about $231k (€214k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $2,889 (€2,675) per flight hour all-in. It seats 14, cruises at 159 kt (183 mph) and has a published range of 875 nm (1,621 km), needing about 3,661 ft (1,116 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The Caravan is the most successful utility turboprop ever built: one PT6, a huge square cabin, a cargo pod under the belly, and a record of flying freight, floats, skydivers and passengers into places no pressurised turboprop can reach. Its fleet size means parts, training and resale are all straightforward. It is deliberately unsophisticated. It is unpressurised, slow next to a PC-12 or TBM, and its icing history is significant enough that operators must take the airframe icing limitations and the associated regulatory restrictions seriously rather than as paperwork. Buy it for load, access and supportability, with an operation that respects what it is not certified to do.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 3,629 kg |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 1,499 kg |
| Usable fuel | 1,257 L |
| Landing distance | 495 m |
| Maximum operating altitude | 25,000 ft |
| Maximum climb rate | 1,234 ft/min |
| Stall speed | 61 KCAS |
| Baggage weight | 147 kg |
| Engine | Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A, 675 shp |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 14 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 2,222 lb (1,008 kg) |
| Published planning range | 875 nm (1,621 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 586 nm (1,085 km) |
| Cruise speed | 159 kt (183 mph) |
| Runway need | ~3,661 ft (1,116 m) |
| Landing gear | Fixed tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Jet A-1 |
| Fixed annual base | $140k (€130k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $1,134 (€1,050) |
Rugged, flexible and globally supported, but unpressurized cruise and commercial-scale operating requirements limit private appeal.
Indicative cash costs at 2026 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $186k (€172k) | $4,644 (€4,300) | $3.84m (€3.56m) |
| 80 h / year | $231k (€214k) | $2,889 (€2,675) | $4.07m (€3.77m) |
| 120 h / year | $276k (€256k) | $2,304 (€2,133) | $4.3m (€3.98m) |
| 180 h / year | $345k (€319k) | $1,914 (€1,772) | $4.64m (€4.29m) |
Every figure above is built from a $140k (€130k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $1,134 (€1,050) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $255k (€237k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Cessna 208 Caravan cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
On top of a pilot certificate, this aircraft obliges the person flying it to hold the following. Each one is time and money before the first trip, and insurers usually attach their own minimums on top.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 2026 market price for a Cessna 208 Caravan is $2.68m (€2.48m) to $3.21m (€2.97m). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Cessna 208 Caravan works out at roughly $231k (€214k) annually, which is about $2,889 (€2,675) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $1,134 (€1,050).
Published range is 875 nm (1,621 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 586 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Cessna 208 Caravan requires type rating. 14 CFR 61.31(a) requires a type rating for any airplane above 12,500 lb maximum takeoff weight. Most owner-flown turboprops sit below it and the cabin-class types sit above, so this is the line that separates a checkout from a formal type course. PlaneFit does not store maximum takeoff weight, so check this type's certificated weight rather than assuming either way. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.
Plan on approximately 3,661 ft (1,116 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.