Burning Man Cost: Prices, Fees & Ways to Save

Burning Man is a week-long event in the Nevada desert, and the ticket is only the first line of the budget. Black Rock City has no stores, no restaurants, and no running water for visitors, so everyone arrives carrying their own food, shelter, and supplies. That changes how the cost adds up compared with a typical festival.

The organizers sell tickets in tiers rather than at a single price. The tiers exist so that people who can afford more help fund programs that make attendance possible for people who cannot. This guide covers what each tier costs, which fees and taxes get added at checkout, what a vehicle pass costs, and what else to plan for.

The ticket tier you choose sets the base price, but the full cost of a trip has several parts:

• Ticket and fees. The tier price plus the per-item fee, the entertainment tax, and the card processing fee.
• Vehicle pass. Required if you plan to drive onto the playa.
• Delivery. Tickets are mailed or held at will call, and each method has its own charge.
• Getting there. Gas or a flight to Reno, plus any shuttle or rental vehicle.
• Camp and survival gear. Shelter, shade, water, food, and anything you need for dust and temperature swings.

Only the first three come from the organizers, and they are covered below. Travel and gear vary with where you live and how you camp, so price those separately before you commit.

The six tier prices are shown in the table above. The organizers describe the middle tier as the one that covers the operating cost for one participant. Lower tiers are limited in number and sell out first. Higher tiers cost more on purpose: the extra money goes toward art grants, operations, and programs that help other participants buy a ticket.

In practice, the lowest tiers are the hardest to get. If you see one at checkout, treat it as a bonus and don't plan around it. Budget for the standard tier of $775 and you will rarely be surprised.

Anyone bringing a car, truck, or RV onto the playa needs a vehicle pass in addition to a ticket. Only one vehicle pass can be bought per purchase, so groups that travel in several vehicles should plan how they will split the purchases.

Ticket Aid is a program for people with qualifying applications. Approved applicants pay a reduced ticket price plus the applicable taxes and fees, and may be eligible for a reduced vehicle pass as well. Applications are reviewed by the organizers, so apply early and read the program rules on the official site.

The sticker price is not the final price. Every order carries a flat fee on each ticket and each vehicle pass, plus delivery. The flat charges are listed here.

Percentage charges apply to the order as well.

To estimate your checkout total, take the tier price, add the vehicle pass if you need one, and then apply the percentage charges and flat fees. The entertainment tax applies to tickets, and the card fee applies to the order subtotal. The exact total appears at checkout, so use these numbers for planning only.

Yes. The organizers offer payment plans, and all ticket tiers are eligible. A plan spreads the cost over several payments instead of one large charge, which helps if you are also saving for travel and gear. Read the plan terms on the official ticketing page before enrolling, since deadlines and fees are set by the organizers.

Tickets are sold through official sales run by the organizers. These have included a registered Main Sale, a Stewards Sale for approved groups, and a later open sale with limited delivery options. Sale formats and dates change from year to year, so check the official ticketing page for the current schedule instead of relying on a forum post or a friend's memory.

Buy only from the official site and read its ticket transfer rules before you pay anyone else. An offer well below the published tiers is a warning sign.

• Share a vehicle. One vehicle pass covers a full car, so carpooling cuts both the pass cost and gas.
• Split camp costs. Shade structures, kitchens, and water storage are cheaper per person when a camp shares them.
• Apply for Ticket Aid if you meet the program's criteria.
• Use a payment plan to avoid paying everything at once.
• Choose pickup over expedited mail when it makes sense, since delivery charges differ by method.