Four-seat avgas composite training and touring aircraft · Single-engine piston aircraft · production 2013–present · See its reach on the 3D globe
A Diamond DA40 XLT costs approximately $566k (€524k) to $677k (€627k) to buy at 2025 market values, and about $41k (€38k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $513 (€475) per flight hour all-in. It seats 4, cruises at 137 kt (158 mph) and has a published range of 847 nm (1,569 km), needing about 1,476 ft (450 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The XLT is the later avgas DA40, bringing an updated interior and current Garmin avionics to a design that had already proven itself in flight schools and private hangars alike. It flies exactly like the DA40 everyone recommends, which is the point, and it holds value well for the same reason. It is a trim generation, not a new aeroplane. Buyers routinely pay a premium for the badge over an XLS of identical performance, the Lycoming still burns what a Lycoming burns, and the rear cabin remains best understood as occasional rather than daily seating for adults. Buy it if you want the newest avgas DA40 panel, and compare the price against an XLS with an avionics upgrade.
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 | 1,200 kg |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 408 kg |
| Usable fuel | 189 L |
| Landing distance | 620 m |
| Maximum operating altitude | 16,400 ft |
| Maximum climb rate | 780 ft/min |
| Engine | Lycoming IO-360-M1A, 180 hp |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 4 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 714 lb (324 kg) |
| Published planning range | 847 nm (1,569 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 567 nm (1,050 km) |
| Cruise speed | 137 kt (158 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,476 ft (450 m) |
| Landing gear | Fixed tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $26k (€24k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $189 (€175) |
Responsive, efficient and spacious for training, but the canopy cabin and avgas engine offer less all-weather practicality than some competitors.
Indicative cash costs at 2025 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 | $33k (€31k) | $837 (€775) | $783k (€725k) |
| 80 h / year | $41k (€38k) | $513 (€475) | $821k (€760k) |
| 120 h / year | $49k (€45k) | $405 (€375) | $859k (€795k) |
| 180 h / year | $60k (€56k) | $333 (€308) | $915k (€848k) |
Every figure above is built from a $26k (€24k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $189 (€175) 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 $47k (€44k) 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.
Diamond DA40 XLT 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.
Nothing beyond a pilot certificate for the category and class. With fixed tricycle gear and no endorsement requirement of its own, this is among the simplest certified aircraft to qualify in, which is a real part of why it is cheap to insure and easy to check out in.
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 2025 market price for a Diamond DA40 XLT is $566k (€524k) to $677k (€627k). 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 Diamond DA40 XLT works out at roughly $41k (€38k) annually, which is about $513 (€475) 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 $189 (€175).
Published range is 847 nm (1,569 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 567 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Plan on approximately 1,476 ft (450 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.