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A used Boeing 737 MAX aircraft typically costs between $40 million and $70 million in 2026, depending on the airplane’s age, variant, maintenance history, and market demand. The most widely used variant, the Boeing 737 MAX 8, often sells closer to $50 to $60 million on the secondary market, despite historical list prices for the new aircraft exceeding $120 million.
That price difference is especially relevant for passengers and airlines in markets with high narrowbody operations, like in the United States. Carriers such as 
United Airlines, 
American Airlines, and 
Southwest Airlines all operate large MAX fleets on domestic routes, making it one of the most common aircraft families to encounter today. Despite the 737 MAX’s relatively young age today, the market for used 737 MAX aircraft has grown in recent years, driven by various factors contributing to their aftermarket costs. Using fleet valuation estimates and airline financial data, this article explores these factors and compares the cost of the 737 MAX to its predecessors.
The Price Of A Brand-New Boeing 737 MAX
To understand the true cost of a used Boeing 737 MAX, it’s important to start with the cost of a brand-new MAX aircraft. Historically, Boeing published official list prices for its aircraft, but it stopped doing so in 2019 as airlines increasingly obtained bulk discounts. However, prior to that change, the MAX family had catalog prices ranging from roughly $100 million to over $130 million, depending on the variant.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 has become the most popular MAX variant, and reports state that the MAX 8 typically lists for around $120 million, while larger variants like the Boeing 737 MAX 9 hover around $128 million to $130 million, and the largest and still yet-to-be certified Boeing 737 MAX 10 is estimated to run over $130 million. However, these numbers rarely reflect what airlines actually pay. Larger orders placed by airlines and leasing firms usually receive discounts of 20% to even 50% off the list price.
For example, in November 2025, UAE-based 
flydubai announced a record order for up to 150 737 MAX aircraft. At $13 billion, this puts the price of each aircraft at roughly $87 million, representing a discount of about 28%. Large orders like these provide tremendous incentive for Boeing to offer discounts, especially to prevent airlines from instead choosing a competitor’s product, like the Airbus A320neo.
In terms of leasing a brand-new 737 MAX aircraft, monthly lease rates for a MAX 8 in the mid-2020s are estimated to be in the $350,000 to $400,000 range. This provides airlines more flexibility with their fleet without as much upfront capital investment. However, for airlines that plan to use the aircraft to expand and keep them in their fleet for decades to come, purchasing new aircraft outright often makes more sense in the long run.
How Much Does A Used 737 MAX Cost?
Although the 737 MAX only entered commercial service nine years ago in 2017, there are already numerous aircraft on the second-hand market. In 2026, all used MAX aircraft are still extremely young by aircraft standards, with the oldest airframes being no older than nine years and most averaging around four to six years old.
Industry valuation estimates place the typical resale value of a used MAX at between $50 million and $100 million. Aircraft near the lower end of that range are often older, early-production examples or jets with higher flight cycles. These aircraft may be closer to needing an engine overhaul or simply have systems that are more run-down compared to aircraft rolling out of Boeing’s final assembly lines today. On the other hand, newer aircraft with more favorable maintenance histories can approach the upper end of that range.
Another factor influencing value is whether an aircraft is sold directly by an airline or returned from a leasing company. Lease returns often require more interior refurbishment or heavy maintenance checks before entering service, which can reduce the effective sale price. Meanwhile, aircraft sold directly from airline to airline can sometimes be integrated into the new operator’s fleet much faster without having to make major changes to the aircraft’s interior, as seen with 
Delta Air Lines’s acquisition of ex- LATAMAirbus A350-900 aircraft a couple of years ago.
Here’s How Much A Boeing 737 MAX Costs Compared To An Airbus A320neo
List prices are just the beginning; the real cost of a jet depends on hidden factors.
How The MAX’s Value Compares With The Boeing 737NG Family
One of the most useful benchmarks when evaluating the MAX’s value is that of the earlier Boeing 737NG, including the Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737-900, all of which preceded their MAX variants. For years, the 737NG family formed the backbone of many airline fleets and remains one of the most widely operated passenger aircraft in the world. However, as the NG family ages, more and more of these aircraft find themselves on the second-hand market.
Looking specifically at the Boeing 737-800, which is now more than a decade old, resale prices are much lower than those of newer MAX 8 jets. In 2026, a typical used 737-800 may sell for $15 million to $30 million. However, aircraft much older than average sometimes fall well below that range, depending on their maintenance status. In comparison, the official list price of the 737-800 was around $106 million, about four to seven times that of a used 737-800.
With the last 737-800 built in 2020, the aircraft’s value is now determined by key metrics like maintenance status and time remaining on major components like the engines. Given these factors, despite the higher acquisition cost of the MAX, many airlines still prefer it over the older NG series, especially given its lower fuel consumption and updated avionics, among other features. However, the 737NG still sees significant value on the second-hand market, with newer airlines like Avelo Airlines purchasing used 737s to build their fleet and expand operations.
What Drives Aircraft Value In The Aftermarket?
Aircraft pricing in the secondary market is influenced by a large set of economic and technical factors. Unlike most consumer products, a commercial aircraft is a highly regulated asset, one that must maintain strict safety and performance standards throughout its lifespan. Given that aircraft can continue flying for many decades, costs for maintenance, upkeep, and storage can run high, and these all play into the cost of a used aircraft.
One of the most important drivers of value is aircraft age and utilization. Every takeoff and landing is counted as a flight cycle, and these cycles gradually contribute to structural fatigue. Aircraft with fewer cycles and fewer flight hours mean less time before major structural inspections, which typically command higher prices. Further, large aircraft must undergo intense scheduled inspections known as C-checks and D-checks, occurring every 20–24 months and six to ten years, respectively. These can easily cost several million dollars and require the aircraft to stay grounded for a period of weeks or months, which can dramatically increase the sale price if an aircraft is approaching one of these required maintenance events.
Lastly, market demand also plays a major role. Narrowbody aircraft, like the MAX, are particularly valuable when global travel demand is strong because airlines need efficient planes for short- and medium-haul routes. During downturns, however, aircraft values can temporarily fall if many airlines return leased aircraft to the market at the same time. All these factors play into the cost of a used aircraft, but even with a low sticker price, there are still many other costs owners and operators must factor in before committing to a secondhand aircraft.
What Are The Largest Boeing 737 MAX Fleets In The World?
US carriers make up a large share of the global 737 MAX fleet.
The Hidden Costs Of Owning A Used Commercial Aircraft
The purchase price of an aircraft is only one part of the financial equation. Operating a jetliner involves a wide range of ongoing expenses that airlines must consider when evaluating whether to buy new or used aircraft. For starters, fuel remains the single largest operating expense for most airlines. Even small improvements in fuel efficiency can save airlines hundreds of thousands of dollars over time, one of the reasons the MAX has proven so attractive despite its higher upfront cost.
Additionally, as already discussed, maintenance expenses account for a major portion of the cost of aircraft ownership. Given that safety is always the top priority in aviation, all parts of the aircraft have to be inspected periodically to ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards. If anything were to break outside scheduled maintenance events, it would add further cost for the airline, a possibility that increases the older an aircraft gets.
Insurance, pilot training, cabin renewal, and spare parts inventories are all other costs that go into operating a fleet of commercial aircraft. Perhaps most notable out of these is the cost of interior upgrades or cabin reconfiguration when transferring an aircraft between operators. In some cases, these enhancements to prepare a used aircraft for operation with a new airline can easily cost millions of dollars, depending on the scale of the changes.
