Short answer: There is no reliable price per metre for a yacht refit. The cost depends on the scope, the yacht’s condition once she is opened up, her size and access, the approvals and testing involved, and how well changes are controlled once work starts. For long-term planning, yacht brokers often quote total annual running costs of around 10 to 15% of a yacht’s value, and some suggest setting aside about 0.5 to 1% of hull value each year specifically for refits. These are annual ownership benchmarks, not an estimate for any single refit; a project budget needs a defined scope and a yard quotation.
The useful question is not “what does a yacht refit cost?” in general. It is: what exactly is the yard being asked to change, and how much of that is still unknown?
How Much Does a Yacht Refit Cost?
A yacht refit can cost anything from a modest sum for a single cosmetic package to a large share of the yacht’s value for a major refit or rebuild. Two yachts of the same length can need very different work, so the industry does not publish per-metre or per-square-metre refit prices.
What owners can use are budgeting rules of thumb from brokers and yacht managers. They help set expectations before a yard gives a quote:
| Benchmark | Typical figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total annual running costs | About 10 to 15% of the yacht’s value | Galati Yachts |
| Total annual running costs (wider range) | 10 to 20% of the yacht’s value, depending on use and standards | Ocean Independence |
| Annual maintenance | 5 to 10% of purchase value | Fraser Yachts |
| Annual routine maintenance (well-managed yacht) | 2 to 5% of hull value | Drivas Yachts |
| Annual refit reserve | 0.5 to 1% of hull value, on top of routine maintenance | Drivas Yachts |
| Annual insurance | 0.5 to 2% of the vessel’s value | Fraser Yachts |
Treat these as planning ranges only. The sources use different bases (purchase price, hull value or current value), their ranges are not directly comparable, and some overlap, so do not add them together. The real refit budget comes from a defined scope and a yard quotation.
What Drives Yacht Refit Cost?
Most refit budgets move because of a small set of drivers:
| Cost driver | How it changes the cost | What the owner’s team should clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Size and access | Larger yachts need more staging, lifting, protection, labour and coordination | Haul-out plan, work zones, crew access, expected yard period |
| Condition after opening up | Hidden corrosion, damp, old repairs and worn systems add work | Survey history, known defects, past refit records, system age |
| Scope mix | Paint, interior, machinery, electrical, HVAC, deck and structural work each carry different access and integration costs | Which packages are essential, which are optional, where they interact |
| Approvals and testing | Class, flag, surveyor visits, commissioning and sea trials add inspection stops and paperwork | Approval path, witnessed stages, test records needed before redelivery |
| Change control | Owner choices, emergent work and supplier delays move cost and schedule | Who decides, procurement status, variation process, reporting |
This is why length alone is a weak guide. A clearly defined refit on a 40 m yacht with good records can be easier to price than a smaller yacht with hidden structural problems and open decisions.
Cost by Type of Work
Paint, interior, technical and structural work are each priced differently, because they carry different amounts of preparation, access, approval and uncertainty.
Paint and exterior
Most of the cost of a paint refit sits in preparation and control, not in the paint itself: removing hardware, inspecting and preparing surfaces, fairing, corrosion treatment, masking, staging and a controlled environment. In a January 2026 SuperyachtNews article, coatings consultant Kay Wrede said that labour, rather than material, now makes up the larger share of paint refit cost. See also paint system application and yacht painting.
A yacht on the hardstand beside covered work sheds. Most of the cost of a paint refit sits in preparation and control.
How much does a yacht interior refit cost?
The cost of a yacht interior refit depends mainly on how much of the existing layout changes. From the lowest to the highest cost level:
- Soft refurbishment (soft furnishings, loose furniture, refinishing) is the lowest-cost level.
- Joinery and finishes (new built-in joinery, stone, flooring, ceilings) add design, production and fitting time.
- Layout changes (moving bulkheads, cabins or galleys) add engineering, new routes for pipes and cables, and often approvals.
- Systems behind the panels (lighting, AV, IT, HVAC ducting) add integration and commissioning work.
On yachts certified under codes such as the Red Ensign Group Yacht Code, interior materials such as upholstery and furniture foams can also be subject to fire-safety requirements, depending on the yacht and the space. This limits material choice and can raise cost. Bespoke items such as custom furniture or stone often have long lead times, so late design decisions are expensive. See yacht interior redesign.
The cost of an interior refit depends mainly on how much of the existing layout changes.
Technical systems
Technical work costs more than the equipment price. Machinery, electrical systems, piping, HVAC, controls and navigation systems all need access, installation, compatibility checks, commissioning, records and, in many cases, survey attendance. An engine overhaul or a new system only adds value once it is installed, commissioned and documented.
Technical work costs more than the equipment: access, installation and commissioning add up.
Structure
Structural work can carry substantial uncertainty. Steel, aluminium or composite modifications bring engineering, approvals, fabrication sequence and testing. Extensive structural changes may turn the project into a rebuild.
Why Do Yacht Refit Costs Rise After the Project Starts?
Refit costs usually rise for five reasons: opening up the yacht reveals hidden condition, access takes longer than planned, owner decisions change, survey findings add work, and one trade delays another. Each issue can be managed on its own. The expensive problems start when several of them stack up in the same yard period.
The most common pressure points sit between work packages:
- A finishing trade waits for technical work to be completed.
- A late owner decision shifts procurement.
- A survey comment adds evidence or rework.
- A commissioning problem reopens an area that already looked finished.
A realistic budget therefore keeps a contingency for provisional work and for work that emerges during the project, sized to how much of the scope is still unknown.
How to Read a Yacht Refit Quote
A refit quote is a map of scope and assumptions before it is a total. When comparing quotes, check that each one clearly shows:
- Included and excluded work, package by package
- Provisional sums and allowances for work that cannot be priced until the yacht is opened up
- Owner-supplied items and who is responsible for them
- Third-party attendance, such as class, flag, equipment makers and surveyors
- Testing and commissioning responsibilities, including the sea trial
- Yard services, such as access, staging, protection, storage, temporary services and waste handling
- Variation rates and how changes are approved
- Payment schedule and what each payment is tied to
- Redelivery: what condition, records and open-item list the yacht is handed back with
Well-defined packages are often quoted as a fixed price. Work whose extent cannot be known before opening up is usually priced through provisional sums, unit rates or time and materials (Reviva). When comparing quotes, ask how each one identifies and allocates that uncertainty.
A clear specification is the basis of a comparable refit quote.
How to Keep Yacht Refit Costs Under Control
The strongest cost control happens before the yacht arrives at the yard:
- Write a clear refit brief. Priorities, finish level and fixed dates should be agreed before quotes are requested.
- Share good records. Recent surveys, known defects and previous refit history help the yard price the real job.
- Survey early. A pre-refit marine survey turns unknowns into defined work.
- Order long-lead items early. Equipment and bespoke interior items can hold up the whole schedule.
- Agree who decides. Clear decision authority and a variation process stop small changes from stacking up.
- Use an owner’s representative or project manager on larger scopes to track scope, variations and reporting.
Once the scope widens, cost control becomes a management task. See refit project management and the superyacht refit planning guide.
Is Refitting a Yacht Cheaper Than Buying New?
It can be, but only a project-specific comparison of scope, condition and total cost will tell. A refit usually makes sense when the hull and main structure are sound and the owner wants targeted renewal. When structural change, major systems renewal and layout changes go deep enough, the comparison moves towards a rebuild or a replacement yacht. See new build vs refit and what is a yacht refit.
Getting a Refit Quote from KRM Yacht
KRM Yacht is a superyacht refit and rebuild shipyard in Tuzla, Istanbul. A quote starts with a scope review that separates fixed work from uncertain work and identifies the decisions that need to be made before the yacht arrives. During the project, owners can follow the project’s progress 24/7 through KRM’s View Your Yacht system. Learn more about superyacht refit at KRM Yacht, or request a refit quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions owners ask most often about refit cost.
How much does it cost to refit a yacht?
There is no reliable per-metre price. The cost depends on scope, condition, size, access, approvals and change control, and a project budget needs a defined scope and a yard quotation. For annual planning, brokers quote total running costs of about 10 to 15% of a yacht’s value, and some suggest a separate refit reserve of about 0.5 to 1% of hull value per year.
How much does a yacht interior refit cost?
The cost of a yacht interior refit depends on how much of the layout changes. Soft refurbishment costs least; new joinery and finishes cost more; layout changes and systems behind the panels cost the most, because they add engineering, approvals and commissioning.
What is the most expensive part of a yacht refit?
Usually the package with the most preparation, access or integration work. Depending on the yacht and the scope, that can be paint, interior, machinery, electrical systems or structure.
Why do yacht refit costs increase after the project starts?
Opening up the yacht often reveals hidden condition, and owner changes, survey findings and delays between trades add work. Keeping a contingency and a clear variation process limits the impact.
How much should I budget each year for refits?
Some brokers suggest a separate refit reserve of about 0.5 to 1% of hull value per year, on top of routine maintenance. The right figure depends on the yacht’s age, use and condition.
Does a fixed price work for a yacht refit?
A fixed price works for packages whose scope, condition and acceptance criteria are clearly defined. Hidden condition, owner choices and survey findings are better handled through provisional sums or time and materials, so the risk stays visible.
What are the red flags in a refit or equipment supplier quote?
The main red flags are a single lump sum with no breakdown, no stated assumptions or exclusions, and no provisional sums where condition is unknown. Also watch for equipment prices that exclude installation, commissioning or documentation, unclear lead times or quote validity, no variation rates, unclear responsibility for class or flag approvals, and payments that are not tied to completed milestones.
What should I include when I ask a yard for a refit quote?
Include the yacht’s particulars, its condition records and a prioritised work list. Particulars means length, gross tonnage, builder, build year, hull material, flag and class. Condition records means recent survey reports, known defects and the refit history. The work list should state the finish level you expect, any owner-supplied items, the dates and location you are working to, and any class or flag approvals involved. Ask for the quote to show a breakdown by package, assumptions, exclusions, provisional sums and the payment schedule, so that quotes from different yards can be compared.
Sources
- Galati Yachts: How much does a superyacht cost? (updated September 2026)
- Ocean Independence: How much does a superyacht cost? (April 2026)
- Fraser Yachts: Hidden costs in yacht ownership
- Drivas Yachts: Superyacht running costs (March 2026)
- SuperyachtNews: The pressures on paint refit costs today (January 2026)
- Reviva: Writing a yacht refit specification (August 2026)
- Red Ensign Group Yacht Code, Part A (July 2024 edition)
