Cessna Citation Price: New, Used & Ownership Costs

Citation is the name of Textron Aviation's family of business jets, sold under the Cessna brand. The line runs from the small M2 up to the Longitude, and the price difference between them is wide enough that "how much does a Citation cost" has no single answer. The model, the age of the aircraft, and the equipment on board decide almost everything.

Business jets are not priced like cars. Manufacturers rarely publish a full price list, buyers negotiate, and an aircraft is delivered with the avionics, interior, and options the buyer chose. The new-aircraft figures below are typically equipped prices rather than a price sheet, so use them to see which tier fits and ask Textron or a broker for a quote.

New Citation prices start in the single-digit millions and climb into the tens of millions. The table lists the models currently in production, each as a typically equipped price.

The M2 Gen2 is the cheapest at $7,000,000. The CJ3 Gen2 and CJ4 Gen2 are light jets with more cabin and range, at $11,700,000 and $12,800,000. The midsize Ascend and Latitude cost $18,200,000 and $22,000,000, and the Longitude, the largest Citation here, costs $30,000,000.

Price follows size, range, and cabin. A larger cabin lets you stand up and carry more passengers, a longer range removes fuel stops, and newer avionics and engines add cost. These differences mostly explain the steps in the table.

Used Citations cost much less than new ones, and the market is deeper than for most business jets because the family has been built in large numbers for decades. The ranges below run from the oldest to the newest aircraft in the model's build years.

The ranges are wide. Age, hours flown, engine and component time remaining, interior condition, and avionics upgrades all matter. Two aircraft of the same model and year can differ by a large amount if one has fresh engine overhauls and a modern cockpit and the other does not. The XLS is out of production, which is why it appears only in the used table.

A pre-purchase inspection and a review of maintenance records are standard for aircraft deals. A broker or an independent aircraft appraiser can value a specific tail number.

Think about the missions first. The mission determines the size.

• M2 and CJ3/CJ4. Short and medium trips with a small group. These are the entry points and generally the cheapest to operate among the jets listed here.
• Ascend and Latitude. Midsize cabins with more room and range for longer flights or larger groups.
• Longitude. The most capable in this list, with the largest cabin and the highest price.

Many owners begin with a used light jet before moving up. Others skip ownership and use charter or a jet card, which avoids the purchase and the fixed costs entirely.

The purchase price is the beginning. Owning a jet also means paying fixed costs that continue even when it sits in the hangar, and variable costs every time it flies.

Fixed costs include crew salaries and training, hangar space, insurance, management fees, and the cost of keeping the aircraft airworthy and its databases current.

Variable costs include fuel, maintenance, engine programs or overhaul reserves, and landing, handling, and crew travel costs.

Jet fuel prices change often, and the fuel bill depends heavily on the model. Insurance depends on the pilots' experience and the aircraft's value. Engine and maintenance programs can smooth out the large overhaul costs. Ask any seller what programs are enrolled on the aircraft and whether they transfer to a new owner.

You will see different numbers for the same model on different sites. Common reasons:

1. Base versus equipped. A starting price excludes options. A typically equipped price reflects what most buyers order.
2. Model generation. An M2 and an M2 Gen2 are different aircraft. Generation updates change avionics and cabin features.
3. Asking versus selling. Used listings show asking prices. Final sale prices are often lower.
4. Dates. Business jet values move with the market, and older articles can be out of date.

The figures here come from CRAFT, checked on Oct 13, 2026, which draws on Aviation Week's purchase planning data and manufacturer announcements for new aircraft and on listing estimates for used ones.