Four-seat personal touring aircraft · Single-engine piston aircraft · production 2012–present · See its reach on the 3D globe
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A Piper Archer LX costs approximately $416k (€385k) to $498k (€461k) to buy at 2023 market values, and about $37k (€34k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $459 (€425) per flight hour all-in. It seats 4, cruises at 128 kt (147 mph) and has a published range of 522 nm (967 km), needing about 1,608 ft (490 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The Archer LX is the modern PA-28-181, the aeroplane that, with the Cessna 172, has taught much of the Western world to fly, now with contemporary avionics. It is predictable, comfortable, low-wing and supported by an enormous parts and knowledge base. Performance is deliberately conservative and four-up trips demand honest weight-and-balance discipline, but that same docility is why it endures as a trainer and steady tourer. It is a low-drama aircraft for owners who value familiarity and easy support over speed.
The Archer LX is Piper's fixed-gear, low-wing four-seat trainer and personal tourer. Piper's current model page documents its configuration and published performance, keeping it distinct from earlier PA-28 variants that share the Archer name. The ownership case is conventional systems, training familiarity and a stable mission rather than exceptional speed or a promise to fill every seat with fuel and baggage.
Actual empty weight determines whether a four-person trip works, and a modest cruise turns longer travel into more engine and airframe time. On used aircraft, corrosion, fuel tanks, engine and propeller status, avionics, repairs and log continuity can overwhelm an apparent purchase advantage. Compare specific airframes and local maintenance access rather than repeating a generic price gap against a Skyhawk.
Budget-conscious buyers, flight schools and first-time owners who want a little more power than a Warrior and a cheaper entry than a Cessna.
Pilots who need to haul heavy loads, or who prefer the downward visibility and twin cabin doors of a high-wing Cessna.
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 | 1,157 kg |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 395 kg |
| Usable fuel | 182 L |
| Landing distance | 427 m |
| Engine | Lycoming IO-360-B4A, 180 hp |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 4 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 646 lb (293 kg) |
| Published planning range | 522 nm (967 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 350 nm (648 km) |
| Cruise speed | 128 kt (147 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,608 ft (490 m) |
| Landing gear | Fixed tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $22k (€20k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $189 (€175) |
Predictable, comfortable and widely supported, but performance is conservative and four-person trips require loading discipline.
Indicative cash costs at 2023 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 | $29k (€27k) | $729 (€675) | $598k (€554k) |
| 80 h / year | $37k (€34k) | $459 (€425) | $636k (€589k) |
| 120 h / year | $44k (€41k) | $369 (€342) | $674k (€624k) |
| 180 h / year | $56k (€52k) | $309 (€286) | $731k (€677k) |
Every figure above is built from a $22k (€20k) 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 $43k (€40k) 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.
Piper Archer LX 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 2023 market price for a Piper Archer LX is $416k (€385k) to $498k (€461k). 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 Piper Archer LX works out at roughly $37k (€34k) annually, which is about $459 (€425) 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 522 nm (967 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 350 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Plan on approximately 1,608 ft (490 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.
Direct comparisons against the models buyers most often weigh against this one.