Used Airplane Prices in 2026: Buyer’s Market or Holding Steady?

If you want to start a lively argument at the airport, skip politics and bring up used airplane prices. Just ask what a used 182 is worth these days. You’ll get the fellow who swears values are crashing, the fellow who just bought one and swears they’re rock solid, and the fellow who’s been trying to sell his for nine months and isn’t talking to either of them.

The truth, as usual, is less exciting than the hangar debate. Used piston airplane values are easing, slowly and politely, from the highs of a few years ago. Here’s what the 2026 numbers say, and what it means whether you’re buying, selling, or just keeping an eye on the value of the airplane in your hangar.

How We Got Here

Used airplane prices shot up during and after the pandemic. In November 2022, asking prices for used piston singles were up nearly 15% from a year earlier, and turboprops and jets were setting all-time records too (Sandhills Global). One broker places the peak around 2022, with values softening gradually since about 2023 (Texas Top Aviation).

That’s the backdrop for everything below. Values aren’t falling off a cliff. They’re coming down the stairs, one step at a time, holding the handrail.

What the 2026 Numbers Say About Used Airplane Prices

Asking prices: basically flat

According to Sandhills Global, asking prices for used piston singles in the U.S. and Canada rose just 0.09% from June to July 2026 and were 0.37% below a year earlier (AVweb / Sandhills). Earlier in the year, Sandhills described piston-single asking prices as trending sideways (Sandhills via Aviation Trader).

Actual values: down a few percent from the peak

Asking prices are what a seller hopes for. What a buyer actually pays is another story. One Texas broker, citing VREF data for the trailing 12 months, reported values down roughly 5% on average across the piston single segment, with clean older Cirrus SR20s and SR22s down about 3%, classics like Bonanzas flat to down a few points, and some higher-end singles down 8% to 13% (Texas Top Aviation).

The gap between asking and selling is widening

In that same broker’s closings, airplanes sold about 4.6% under asking price in 2025 and about 5.7% under in 2026. Average time from listing to closing grew from about three months to more than four (Texas Top Aviation). That’s one firm’s small sample, so treat it as a direction, not a law of physics.

Inventory: depends who you ask

Here’s where it gets a little confusing. Sandhills reported that listings of used piston singles in the U.S. and Canada fell 17% year over year in July 2026 (AVweb / Sandhills). Yet the same Texas broker described buyers enjoying fuller inventory in certain models, with roughly 480 Cirrus singles listed at one point (Texas Top Aviation).

Both can be true. Overall listings can shrink while specific popular models have plenty of choices. The lesson: look at the market for your airplane, not “the market.”

Why the Market Slowed

• Financing costs. Expected interest rate cuts kept getting pushed back, and some lenders tightened down payments and loan limits (Texas Top Aviation). See Aircraft Loan Rates in 2026.
• Tax timing. The return of 100% bonus depreciation pulled some business buyers into late 2025 (Texas Top Aviation). More in 100% Bonus Depreciation Is Permanent.
• New airplanes are selling. Piston shipments rose 6.4% to 381 airplanes in the first quarter of 2026, with Cirrus delivering 196 (GlobalAir / GAMA). More new airplanes give buyers more options.
• Higher cost of owning. When hangar, insurance, and maintenance bills climb, some would-be buyers do the math and decide to keep renting. We covered that in The True Annual Cost of Owning an Airplane in 2026.

What Keeps a Floor Under Values

It’s not all downhill. New-airplane prices keep climbing. A new Cessna 172 now runs $450,000 to $500,000 (Flying). When a new trainer costs as much as a nice house in a lot of towns, a well-kept used one looks pretty good by comparison. And because new buyers typically pay list price, used values have a higher floor to stand on (GlobalAir).

If You’re Buying

1. You have some leverage. With longer time on market and wider ask-to-sale gaps, there’s room to negotiate. Use it politely. Sellers are people too, mostly.
2. Buy condition, not price. The cheapest airplane on the market is often the most expensive one you can own. Paperwork, logbooks, and a thorough pre-buy are worth more than a few thousand dollars off the ask. See How to Build an Annual Maintenance Budget.
3. Find the hangar first. Seriously. Here’s why.
4. Check avionics support. Some older avionics are reaching the end of manufacturer support, which can hit value later (Texas Top Aviation).

If You’re Selling

1. Price to today’s market, not 2022’s. Airplanes that sit for months usually started out overpriced (Texas Top Aviation). Your airplane is special to you. To the buyer, it’s a spreadsheet with wings.
2. Get your records in order. Complete logbooks and squared-away ADs and service bulletins help airplanes sell faster.
3. Small cosmetic fixes can pay. A detailed exterior or refreshed interior can help an airplane stand out.

If You’re Holding

No need to panic. Values are easing gradually, not collapsing. But it’s a good time to update the value of your airplane in your financial plan and, while you’re at it, check that your insurance agreed value still matches reality (more on agreed value here). An airplane is often one of a family’s larger assets. It deserves a line in your financial plan, not just a spot in the hangar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are used airplane prices going down in 2026?

Slowly. Asking prices for used piston singles were essentially flat in mid-2026, while one broker’s data showed actual values down about 5% on average from a year earlier. It’s a gradual softening, not a crash.

Is 2026 a good time to buy a used airplane?

For many buyers, yes. Airplanes are taking longer to sell and the gap between asking and selling prices has widened, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Condition and records still matter more than price.

How much below asking price do airplanes sell for?

One broker reported its 2026 closings averaged about 5.7% below asking price, up from about 4.6% in 2025. Results vary widely by model and condition.

What keeps used airplane values from falling further?

New-aircraft prices keep rising, with a new Cessna 172 now around $450,000 to $500,000, which makes well-kept used airplanes look like good value.

Sources

1. AVweb, “Used piston aircraft inventory falls 17% from last year,” August 11, 2026, citing Sandhills Global.
2. Texas Top Aviation, “Where Things Stand in Q2 2026” (PDF), June 2026.
3. Sandhills Global via Aviation Trader, “Pre-owned jet, piston-single aircraft, and turboprop inventory and asking prices lower than last year,” April 2026.
4. Sandhills Global, “Asking values for used piston single, turboprop, and jet aircraft hit record highs,” December 7, 2022.
5. GlobalAir, “The 2026 Cirrus SR22 buyer’s map,” June 22, 2026, citing GAMA.
6. Flying, “MOSAIC was supposed to fix this.”

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or investment advice. Market data reflects published reports and one broker’s sample; values for any specific aircraft depend on its condition, history, and equipment. Consult a qualified financial advisor, tax advisor, and an aircraft appraiser or broker before buying or selling.

Thinking about buying, selling, or upgrading? Schedule a free initial consultation and we’ll look at how the move fits your financial plan.