From the existing guide library. Pricing, loan examples and source dates may be historical. Use current written quotes for your purchase. The worksheets use the shared calculation method.

The True Operating Cost of Piper PA-28 Cherokee

The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is one of general aviation's most economical and dependable trainers and personal aircraft. Plan for $25,000–$30,000 annually in operating costs at 100 flight hours, or $250–$300 per hour. The Cherokee's proven Lycoming engines, simple systems, and low fuel consumption make it an affordable entry point for owner-pilots seeking financing and long-term value.

Quick Specs: Piper PA-28 Cherokee

Specification Value (PA-28-140 / PA-28-180)
Engine Lycoming O-320 (140 hp) / Lycoming O-360 (180 hp)
Propeller Fixed-pitch (most common)
Fuel Burn (cruise) 4.5–5.0 gal/hr (140) / 5.5–6.0 gal/hr (180)
Cruise Speed 105 mph (140) / 120 mph (180)
Useful Load 1,000 lbs (140) / 1,100–1,150 lbs (180)
Seats 4
Range 800–1,000 nm (with reserve)

TL;DR: Piper PA-28 Annual Operating Cost Summary

  • Fixed costs: $9,000–$12,000/year (insurance $1,000–$1,800, hangar $3,000–$4,500, annuals $800–$1,200, subscriptions $0–$600)
  • Variable costs at 100 hours (PA-28-140): $15,000–$17,000/year (fuel, oil, mx reserves)
  • Total at 100 hours (PA-28-140): $24,000–$29,000/year (~$240–$290/hour)
  • At 50 hours: ~$18,000–$22,000/year (~$360–$440/hour)
  • At 200 hours: ~$39,000–$45,000/year (~$195–$225/hour)
  • Finance a $130,000 Cherokee: Add $1,900/month ($22,800/year) at 6.5% over 7 years

What Counts as Operating Cost

Operating costs divide into fixed (monthly regardless of flight) and variable (per-hour).

Fixed Costs

  • Insurance: $1,000–$1,800/year for a $120,000–$150,000 aircraft with 500+ pilot hours (lower-time pilots pay $1,800–$2,500/year)
  • Hangar/tie-down: $2,400–$5,400/year hangar; $600–$1,800/year tie-down (Cherokees handle outdoor storage well)
  • Avionics subscriptions: $0–$600/year (basic steam-gauge vs. modern glass cockpit Garmin)
  • Annual inspection: $600–$1,200 labor (parts $200–$400 if issues found)

Variable Costs (per flight hour)

  • Fuel (PA-28-140): 4.8 gal/hr × $6.50/gal = ~$31/hour
  • Fuel (PA-28-180): 5.8 gal/hr × $6.50/gal = ~$37.70/hour
  • Oil and filter: $3–$5/hour (Lycoming engines are reliable)
  • Engine reserve: $9–$11/hour (engine overhaul ~$20,000 ÷ 2,000 TBO)
  • Propeller reserve: $5–$7/hour (prop overhaul ~$8,000 ÷ 1,500 hours)
  • Maintenance & incidentals: $12–$18/hour (vacuum pump, alternator, hoses, gaskets)
  • Landing fees: $5–$12/landing

Financing impact: A $130,000 PA-28 financed at 6.5% APR over 7 years costs ~$1,900/month ($22,800/year). This is separate from operating costs but affects total affordability. Down payment of 15–20% is standard.

Get prequalified for Piper aircraft financing »

Fuel Burn and Hourly Variable Cost

The Piper PA-28 is famously economical. The 140-hp model is particularly efficient, making it popular with flight schools and budget-conscious owners.

Fuel Cost Calculation

Formula: Fuel burn (gal/hr) × Fuel price ($/gal) = Fuel cost per hour

Example (PA-28-140 at cruise):

  • Fuel burn: 4.8 gal/hr
  • Fuel price: $6.50/gal (2025 average)
  • Hourly cost: 4.8 × $6.50 = $31.20/hour

Assumption: 100LL Avgas varies $5.50–$7.50 regionally. PA-28 cruise settings favor lean mixture and lower-altitude flying, reducing burn. Always check AirNav for local fuel prices.

Annual Fuel Cost by Hours Flown

Annual Hours Fuel (PA-28-140) Cost @ $6.50/gal Fuel (PA-28-180) Cost @ $6.50/gal
50 240 $1,560 290 $1,885
100 480 $3,120 580 $3,770
150 720 $4,680 870 $5,655
200 960 $6,240 1,160 $7,540

Maintenance & Engine Reserves

Lycoming engines in Cherokees are proven workhorses. Many airframes exceed 10,000 hours with regular maintenance.

Engine and Propeller TBO

  • Lycoming O-320: 2,000 hours TBO; overhaul $18,000–$22,000
  • Lycoming O-360: 2,000 hours TBO; overhaul $20,000–$24,000
  • Fixed-pitch prop: ~$8,000 overhaul (less frequent than CS props)
  • Common ADs: Exhaust stack deterioration ($500–$1,200 replacement), landing gear (if retractable) inspection/overhaul ($1,500–$3,000)

Reserve Math

Engine reserve: $20,000 ÷ 2,000 TBO = $10/hour

Prop reserve: $8,000 ÷ 1,500 hours = $5.33/hour

Combined: ~$15.33/hour

Annual and Inspection Costs

  • Annual inspection: $600–$1,200 labor; parts $200–$400
  • Incidental maintenance: $12–$18/hour (vacuum pumps, alternators, hoses, spark plugs)
  • Budget: $50–$80/month for surprises

Assumption: Check FAA Airworthiness Directives for your specific Cherokee model year. Early variants (1960s) have more ADs than newer models (1980s+).

Insurance & Hangar

Insurance Premiums

Piper Cherokees have an excellent insurance track record, making premiums competitive.

  • $130,000 hull value, 500+ pilot hours, private use: $1,000–$1,400/year
  • $130,000 hull value, 100–250 pilot hours: $1,600–$2,200/year
  • $150,000 hull value, low-time pilot: $2,000–$2,500/year
  • Business/charter use: +30–50% premium

Storage Options

Option Monthly Annual Notes
Indoor Hangar $200–$450 $2,400–$5,400 Protects paint; limited availability in urban areas
Tie-Down $50–$150 $600–$1,800 Cherokees weather well; corrosion risk after 5+ years
Rural Strip $25–$75 $300–$900 Lowest cost; limited services

Annual Ownership Scenarios

Operating Cost: PA-28-140 (Not Financed)

Annual Hours Fixed Costs Variable Costs Total Cost/Hour
50 $10,500 $7,500 $18,000 $360
100 $10,500 $15,000 $25,500 $255
150 $10,500 $22,500 $33,000 $220
200 $10,500 $30,000 $40,500 $202.50

Total Cost of Ownership (With Financing)

Assume $130,000 PA-28 at 6.5% APR, 7 years, $22,800/year debt service.

Annual Hours Operating Finance Total TCO Cost/Hour
50 $18,000 $22,800 $40,800 $816
100 $25,500 $22,800 $48,300 $483
150 $33,000 $22,800 $55,800 $372
200 $40,500 $22,800 $63,300 $316.50

Financing is a separate question from hourly cost

A Cherokee is often financeable because the fleet is large and the type is familiar. That is not a rate. There is no federal credit-score minimum and no income floor this site will invent. Personal-use pistons are often discussed around 15 to 20 percent down. The APR is whatever a lender writes down. Jaken Aviation is a brokerage, not the lender. Use the worksheet below for the airplane and the loan calculator for the debt.

Operating-cost worksheet

Defaults are round assumptions, not a shop quote. AOPA’s worksheet splits fixed costs (insurance, hangar, the annual), direct costs (fuel and maintenance), and a reserve (overhaul cost divided by hours to TBO). Their old teaching example used half the hourly fuel bill as a maintenance starting point. Type your own gph and prices.

Stop dividing one year’s costs by too few hours

The expensive mistake on a Piper Pa 28 Cherokee is to take insurance, hangar, and an annual, divide by 80 or 100 hours, and call the result the cost of flying. Those bills arrive if you fly or not. AOPA’s operating-cost worksheet treats them as fixed costs, then adds direct costs that do move with hours: fuel, oil, and maintenance. A reserve for the engine or propeller is a third bucket, optional in their sheet and not optional in real life if you intend to keep the aircraft through an overhaul. The worksheet on this page follows that split. Any annual dollar range printed higher up on this page, if it does not cite an invoice or AOPA, is an illustration. Do not repeat it as a quote.

Sources