If you love being out on the water as much as we do, you probably have dreams of owning your own boat one day. A pontoon boat can be a fantastic way to get out onto the water with friends and family and they’re a great vessel for people looking to invest in their first boat. Many retailers, however, don’t actively advertise the prices of their pontoon boats out of a fear that buyers could ultimately drive down prices. Unfortunately, this leaves many of us would be pontoon-owners to scratch our heads and wonder, “How much do pontoon boats cost?”
The average cost of a new pontoon boat is about $41,000 (the median cost is $35600). Base prices vary between $19,000 and $100,000+, with the most popular boats falling in the $20,000-$40,000 range.
Example Prices for Pontoon Boats
Here is a summary of pontoon prices from 4 major brands (prices are rounded to the nearest $100, but are subject to change depending on lots of reasons):
By the way, as an Amazon Associate, I earn when buying qualified products through links on my site.
| Length (ft) | Brand | Model | Base Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Lowe Boats | Ultra 160 Cruise | $19,700 |
| 19 | Lowe Boats | Ultra 180 Cruise | $23,000 |
| 21 | Lowe Boats | Ultra 200 Cruise | $25,100 |
| 22 | Lowe Boats | SS21DL | $28,800 |
| 22 | Lowe Boats | SF 212 | $29,200 |
| 24 | Lowe Boats | SF 232 | $33,000 |
| 26 | Lowe Boats | SS 250CL | $35,400 |
| 22 | Lowe Boats | SS21CL | $35,600 |
| 26 | Lowe Boats | SS 250DL | $35,800 |
| 24 | Lowe Boats | SS23CL | $42,800 |
| 24 | Lowe Boats | SS23DL | $43,100 |
| 23 | Lowe Boats | Retreat 230 WT | $58,800 |
| 27 | Lowe Boats | Retreat 270 WT | $62,300 |
| 25 | Lowe Boats | Retreat 250 WT | $63,400 |
| 16 | Sun Tracker Boats | Bass Buggy 16 XL Select | $18,600 |
| 18 | Sun Tracker Boats | Bass Buggy 18 DLX | $22,000 |
| 18 | Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 18 DLX | $24,800 |
| 20 | Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 20 DLX | $26,900 |
| 20 | Sun Tracker Boats | Fishin’ Barge 20 DLX | $28,400 |
| 22 | Sun Tracker Boats | Fishin’ Barge 22 DLX | $35,000 |
| 22 | Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 22 DLX | $37,000 |
| 22 | Sun Tracker Boats | SportFish 22 DLX | $37,000 |
| 22 | Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 22 RF DLX | $38,000 |
| 24 | Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 24 DLX | $41,000 |
| 24 | Sun Tracker Boats | Fishin’ Barge 24 DLX | $41,000 |
| 22 | Sun Tracker Boats | Fishin’ Barge 22 XP3 | $44,000 |
| 22 | Sun Tracker Boats | Sportfish 22 XP3 | $47,000 |
| 22 | Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 22 XP3 | $48,000 |
| 22 | Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 22 RF XP3 | $48,000 |
| 16 | Suncatcher | Select 16C | $28,700 |
| 18 | Suncatcher | Select 18C | $32,500 |
| 20 | Suncatcher | Select 20RC | $32,800 |
| 24 | Suncatcher | Select 24RC | $32,900 |
| 22 | Suncatcher | Select 22RC | $41,400 |
| 22 | Suncatcher | Select 322RC | $46,600 |
| 22 | Suncatcher | Fusion 22C | $47,100 |
| 22 | Suncatcher | Fusion 22RC | $48,600 |
| 24 | Suncatcher | Select 324RC | $50,400 |
| 24 | Suncatcher | Fusion 24RC | $51,200 |
| 22 | Suncatcher | Fusion 322C | $54,000 |
| 22 | Suncatcher | Fusion 322RC | $55,500 |
| 24 | Suncatcher | Fusion 324RC | $58,100 |
| 26 | Suncatcher | Elite 326C | $75,100 |
| 14 | Tahoe Pontoons | Sport Cruise | $27,300 |
| 16 | Tahoe Pontoons | Sport Cruise | $29,000 |
| 16 | Tahoe Pontoons | STX Cruise | $29,375 |
| 18 | Tahoe Pontoons | Sport Cruise | $29,900 |
| 18 | Tahoe Pontoons | STX Cruise | $30,075 |
| 20 | Tahoe Pontoons | Sport Cruise | $31,000 |
| 18 | Tahoe Pontoons | SLT Quad Lounge | $31,100 |
| 21 | Tahoe Pontoons | GT Cruise | $32,500 |
| 20 | Tahoe Pontoons | SLT Quad Lounge | $32,600 |
| 22 | Tahoe Pontoons | Sport Cruise | $32,854 |
| 22 | Tahoe Pontoons | SLT Quad Lounge | $33,900 |
| 23 | Tahoe Pontoons | GT Cruise | $34,100 |
| 25 | Tahoe Pontoons | GT Cruise | $35,500 |
| 21 | Tahoe Pontoons | Cascade Cruise | $54,300 |
| 23 | Tahoe Pontoons | Cascade Cruise | $55,900 |
| 25 | Tahoe Pontoons | Cascade Cruise | $57,900 |
| 25 | Tahoe Pontoons | Cascade Platinum Elite Windshield | $96,000 |
| 27 | Tahoe Pontoons | Cascade Platinum Elite Windshield | $98,000 |
Math:
- Average price of a pontoon boat: $40,966
- Median price of a pontoon boat: $35,600
Before you dip into your life’s savings for that new pontoon boat, however, there are some things you ought to know. To help you become a more informed future pontoon boat owner, we’ll give you some insight into the different pontoon boat brands, the pros and cons of new and used pontoon boats, their average cost for different boat lengths, and the change in their value over time. We’ll also discuss the costs of owning and maintaining a pontoon boat and whether or not you should consider a tritoon instead. Here we go!
I’m going to first start out with some average costs per length of the boat to give you an idea of how the size of the deck impacts price.
How Big Of An Engine Do I Need With My Pontoon Boat?
This is a simple question with a surprisingly complex answer. For passable power, you can get by with a 90 HP motor for boats 22 feet and shorter, while 115 and 150 HP engines are preferred for boats 22 feet up to 25 feet.
I did a lot of research on this topic and I put all the data from 60+ pontoon boat owners and found the top speeds compared with boat length and engine HP. Make sure and check our article out if you want to learn more.
How Does Pontoon Boat Length Affect Price?
I was fascinated to see the price differences in pontoon boats based on different factors.
Pontoon Boat length is actually not the most strong indicator of the pontoon boat price. Truly, the accessories and engine power make a much bigger price difference.
As a way to see some real-life price examples, I’ve broken down deck length and cost for you,.
How Much Does A 16 Foot Pontoon Boat Cost?
The average cost of a 16-foot Pontoon Boat is $26,419, with the least expensive brand (SunTracker) at around $18,600, while Suncatcher and Tahoe Pontoons are tied at around $29,000.
How Much Does A 18 Foot Pontoon Boat Cost?
The average cost of an 18-foot Pontoon Boat is $27,154, with the least expensive brand (Lowe Boats) at around $19,700, while the most expensive brands, Suncatcher and Tahoe Pontoons, are tied at around $30,000.
How Much Does A 20 Foot Pontoon Boat Cost?
The average cost of a 20-foot Pontoon Boat is $30,340, with the least expensive brand (SunTracker) at around $27,000, while Suncatcher and Tahoe Pontoons are tied at around $32,000.
How Much Does A 22 Foot Pontoon Boat Cost?
The average cost of a 22-foot Pontoon Boat is $41,450, with the least expensive brand (Lowe Boats) at around $30,000, while the most expensive brands, SunTracker and Suncatcher, are in the $48,000-$53,000 range.
How Much Does A 24 Foot Pontoon Boat Cost?
The average cost of a 24-foot Pontoon Boat is $43,722, with the least expensive brands and models (SunCatcher and Lowes) are tied at around $33,000, while the most expensive brand, Suncatcher, is in the $51,000-$58,000 range.
How Much Does A 25 Foot Pontoon Boat Cost?
The average cost of a 25-foot Pontoon Boat is $50,560, with the least and most expensive brand being Tahoe Pontoons, from $35,500 to $96,000.
If you would like to make more comparisons with boat length and price, see the table at the beginning of this article.
How Much Does Engine Price Factor Into a Pontoon Boat Cost?
Engines are some of the most expensive components for a pontoon boat. You can easily spend $5000-$20,000+ for an engine depending on how much power you want.
I took the engine sizes that seemed the standard for the size of the pontoon boat and put them in this table for you:
| Brand | Model | Base Price | Horsepower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowe Boats | Ultra 160 Cruise | $19,700 | 25 |
| Lowe Boats | Ultra 180 Cruise | $23,000 | 40 |
| Lowe Boats | Ultra 200 Cruise | $25,100 | 60 |
| Lowe Boats | SS21DL | $28,800 | 115 |
| Lowe Boats | SF 212 | $29,200 | 40 |
| Lowe Boats | SF 232 | $33,000 | 115 |
| Lowe Boats | SS 250CL | $35,400 | 150 |
| Lowe Boats | SS21CL | $35,600 | 60 |
| Lowe Boats | SS 250DL | $35,800 | 115 |
| Lowe Boats | SS23CL | $42,800 | 115 |
| Lowe Boats | SS23DL | $43,100 | 115 |
| Lowe Boats | Retreat 230 WT | $58,800 | 25 |
| Lowe Boats | Retreat 270 WT | $62,300 | 200 |
| Lowe Boats | Retreat 250 WT | $63,400 | 25 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | Bass Buggy 16 XL Select | $18,600 | 50 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | Bass Buggy 18 DLX | $22,000 | 60 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 18 DLX | $24,800 | 60 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 20 DLX | $26,900 | 60 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | Fishin’ Barge 20 DLX | $28,400 | 90 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | Fishin’ Barge 22 DLX | $35,000 | 115 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 22 DLX | $37,000 | 115 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | SportFish 22 DLX | $37,000 | 115 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 22 RF DLX | $38,000 | 115 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 24 DLX | $41,000 | 150 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | Fishin’ Barge 24 DLX | $41,000 | 150 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | Fishin’ Barge 22 XP3 | $44,000 | 150 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | Sportfish 22 XP3 | $47,000 | 150 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 22 XP3 | $48,000 | 150 |
| Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 22 RF XP3 | $48,000 | 150 |
| Suncatcher | Select 16C | $28,700 | 50 |
| Suncatcher | Select 18C | $32,500 | 50 |
| Suncatcher | Select 20RC | $32,800 | 50 |
| Suncatcher | Select 24RC | $32,900 | 115 |
| Suncatcher | Select 22RC | $41,400 | 90 |
| Suncatcher | Select 322RC | $46,600 | 90 |
| Suncatcher | Fusion 22C | $47,100 | 90 |
| Suncatcher | Fusion 22RC | $48,600 | 60 |
| Suncatcher | Select 324RC | $50,400 | 115 |
| Suncatcher | Fusion 24RC | $51,200 | 115 |
| Suncatcher | Fusion 322C | $54,000 | 90 |
| Suncatcher | Fusion 322RC | $55,500 | 90 |
| Suncatcher | Fusion 324RC | $58,100 | 115 |
| Suncatcher | Elite 326C | $75,100 | 150 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | Sport Cruise | $27,300 | 60 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | Sport Cruise | $29,000 | 60 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | STX Cruise | $29,375 | 40 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | Sport Cruise | $29,900 | 60 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | STX Cruise | $30,075 | 40 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | Sport Cruise | $31,000 | 60 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | SLT Quad Lounge | $31,100 | 60 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | GT Cruise | $32,500 | 60 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | SLT Quad Lounge | $32,600 | 60 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | Sport Cruise | $32,854 | 60 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | SLT Quad Lounge | $33,900 | 60 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | GT Cruise | $34,100 | 60 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | GT Cruise | $35,500 | 60 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | Cascade Cruise | $54,300 | 60 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | Cascade Cruise | $55,900 | 60 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | Cascade Cruise | $57,900 | 60 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | Cascade Platinum Elite Windshield | $96,000 | 150 |
| Tahoe Pontoons | Cascade Platinum Elite Windshield | $98,000 | 150 |
Should I Buy a New or Used Pontoon Boat
Many budget-conscious boaters question whether or not they should consider buying a used pontoon boat instead of a new one to save some money. This might seem like a no-brainer at the outset for some of us, but buying a used pontoon boat requires as much, if not more, consideration than buying a new one.
New pontoon boats are great because they come with the peace of mind that you’re not paying some of your hard-earned money for a boat that’s been improperly stored or cared for. Even if a boat has been expertly cared for, wear and tear do take its toll on a boat, so there are often higher maintenance costs on an older vessel. Plus, new pontoon boats usually come with a warranty against repairs in the first year or so of ownership, but you likely won’t be able to benefit from this warranty if you’re not the first owner.
Finally, if you buy a new pontoon boat, you can fully customize it to fit your needs. While you can likely find a used boat that has most of what you want and add on some other accessories, there’s nothing better than knowing that your stylish, new pontoon boat was made specifically to maximize your enjoyment out on the water.
That being said, for some of us, buying a new pontoon boat isn’t reasonable financially. Luckily, there are a lot of fantastic advantages to buying a used pontoon boat, which is great news for those of us who love being out on the water. First and foremost, the lower price of a used pontoon boat means you can potentially get a nicer model with more accessories for the same price as a less swanky new boat.
Used pontoon boats also have the added benefit of being time-tested against the elements. So long as they’ve been properly cared for and maintained throughout their years of service, a used pontoon boat has proven itself to be a worthy vessel, which is a for boosting your confidence in a large investment.
Average Cost of a Used Pontoon Boat
Used pontoon boats, much like new pontoon boats, vary widely in cost. An older, no-frills boat that can accommodate only a handful of passengers can be purchased for as low as $10,000- 15,000 if you find the right seller. You could certainly find a boat under that price range, but it’d likely need a significant amount of work and money to get it into shape for the water, so you might be better off investing a bit more at the outset.
Do Pontoon Boats Hold Their Value
The reason you can find a used pontoon boat at a considerably lower price than you could find a used model for is that, like cars, pontoon boats depreciate in value. While a used higher-end pontoon boat will almost always be worth more than a lesser quality boat of the same age and degree of wear and tear, all pontoon boats will decrease in value from about 25-35% after the first year or so of use.
This is one of the reasons why it’s worth considering a used version of a past season’s model as an economical alternative to a new boat. With a one or two-year-old used pontoon boat, you can experience significant costs savings while still getting a high-quality, minimally-used boat.
Cost to Maintain a Pontoon Boat
One of the longest-running jokes in the maritime industry is that “BOAT” stands for “bill out another thousand.” We’re here to tell you that this is not a joke. Although you might think that the purchasing of a boat will be the only real financial investment you’ll have, experienced mariners will tell you that you’d better set aside some funds for when things go awry or even just for regular maintenance fees.
Beyond the purchase price of your boat, you’ll probably have to pay state sales tax (which can be upwards of 6-10% of the total cost) and fees for registering your boat with the Coast Guard or other authorities. You’ll also want to get yourself some insurance to protect your investment and yourself, in the event of an unfortunate incident. Insurance varies with a number of factors but is usually somewhere in the $20-$50/month range.
Once you own your boat and it’s all licensed, registered, and insured, you’ll still have plenty of expenses to cover over the lifetime of your boat.
There are some one-time fees to cover the costs of things you’ll need just to get started:
- Boat trailer: $2,000 – $5,000
- Essential safety equipment: $1,000 – $1,500
- Training courses (for those new to boating): $250-$300
Here are a few other annual fees you might expect:
- Mooring fees: $3,000 – $15,000
- Fuel: $2.50+ per gallon
- Repairs/Maintenance: $1000+
- Cleaning fees: $450
What Brands of Pontoon Boats are The Best
This is, of course, a matter of serious contention, as everyone has a different opinion on the matter. Thus, instead of giving you a black and white answer about what pontoon brand is the best, we’ll give you a list of some of the top manufacturers out there. These brands include:
- Bennington
- Manitou
- Bentley
- Premier
- Sweetwater
- Avalon
- Suncatcher/G3
- Sun Tracker
- Tahoe
- Lowe
- Lund
Should I Buy a Tritoon Instead
Effectively, a tritoon is a triple-hull pontoon. Since pontoon boats normally have just two aluminum tubes in their hull, while tritoons have three, tritoons have a number of significant advantages, when compared to a pontoon. This makes them an attractive option to consider when shopping around for a new boat.
The third aluminum tube of a tritoon sits between the two tubes of a pontoon. This helps distribute the weight of the boat more evenly across the water, which adds stability and structure to the vessel. Thus, tritoons can manage more horsepower than your standard pontoon and are also better constructed for rougher seas.
While it might seem like a no-brainer to go out and buy a tritoon instead of a pontoon, it’s important to remember that this extra tube and stability comes at an extra cost. Thus, before you set your sights on a tritoon, you should first identify whether or not it’d actually be worth the extra money.
If all you want is to have a nice lunch or afternoon of fishing out on your boat in calm water, then you will probably do just fine with a pontoon, saving yourself some serious cash money along the way. On the other hand, if you want to go water skiing or just cruise along at your maximum speed, then a tritoon will better serve you in the long run.
How Much Does a Tritoon Cost?
The average price for a tritoon with the models I compared above is $60,347.
The range of prices for a tritoon goes from around $45,000 to over $100,000.
Tritoons have a smoother ride, and they are usually associated with bigger pontoon boats and more powerful engines. Once you’re in this territory, though, the prices jump up a lot.
| Length (ft) | Brand | Model | Base Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Lowe Boats | Retreat 230 WT | $58,800 |
| 27 | Lowe Boats | Retreat 270 WT | $62,300 |
| 25 | Lowe Boats | Retreat 250 WT | $63,400 |
| 22 | Sun Tracker Boats | Fishin’ Barge 22 XP3 | $44,000 |
| 22 | Sun Tracker Boats | Sportfish 22 XP3 | $47,000 |
| 22 | Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 22 XP3 | $48,000 |
| 22 | Sun Tracker Boats | Party Barge 22 RF XP3 | $48,000 |
| 22 | Suncatcher | Select 322RC | $46,600 |
| 24 | Suncatcher | Select 324RC | $50,400 |
| 22 | Suncatcher | Fusion 322C | $54,000 |
| 22 | Suncatcher | Fusion 322RC | $55,500 |
| 24 | Suncatcher | Fusion 324RC | $58,100 |
| 26 | Suncatcher | Elite 326C | $75,100 |
| 25 | Tahoe Pontoons | Cascade Platinum Elite Windshield | $96,000 |
| 27 | Tahoe Pontoons | Cascade Platinum Elite Windshield | $98,000 |
Conclusion
The fact of the matter is that the final cost of a pontoon boat depends as much on the brand and model of the boat as it does on the accessories and additional features you customize it with. Moreover, pontoon boats designed for different purposes, whether that be fishing, cruising, skiing, or what have you, will have different features and different final costs.