Yacht broker commission: how much and why
A yacht broker's commission usually runs between five and ten per cent of the sale price, is paid by the seller unless otherwise agreed, and covers valuation, marketing, viewings, negotiation and coordination of the transfer documentation.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- The standard commission runs 5 to 10 per cent of the sale price.
- Smaller boats usually carry a minimum fee per transaction.
- The agreement may be exclusive or open.
- Survey and lift out for inspection are charged separately.
The figure looks high until you compare it with the cost of selling badly: months of berth fees paid and a final price below what could have been achieved.
What the commission covers
Valuation against real evidence rather than asking prices. Photography and a full technical specification. Listing across trade channels and within the broker's own client base. Filtering and accompanying viewings, which on an island with a seasonal buyer market saves the owner a great many wasted trips. Negotiation. And coordination of the transfer documentation, which in the marine sector is more complex than for a vehicle.
| Item | Amount | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Standard commission | 5 to 10 % of price | seller |
| Minimum per transaction | 1,500 to 4,000 € | seller |
| Pre purchase survey | 600 to 2,500 € | buyer |
| Lift out for inspection | 300 to 900 € | buyer |
| Delivery to another port | by distance | as agreed |
| Transfer documentation | usually included | seller |
| Term of the mandate | 3 to 12 months |
Exclusive or open
Under an exclusive mandate one broker handles the sale for an agreed period, usually 3 to 12 months, which normally brings greater marketing effort and sometimes a slightly lower rate. Under an open arrangement several brokers offer the same boat, with the risk of it appearing at different prices in different places, which reads badly to buyers and tends to push the achieved price down.
What the agreement should say
The asking price and the minimum authorised price. The commission percentage and the base it is calculated on, whether final price or asking price. The duration of the mandate and how it renews. Whether it is exclusive. Which costs each party bears. And when the commission is earned, which should be on completion and receipt of funds rather than on an accepted offer.
It is also worth agreeing in writing who pays the berth while the mandate runs, since over a year that can exceed the commission itself on a smaller boat.
Choosing one
By knowledge of the specific segment: whoever sells 12 metre cruising yachts does not handle the same buyer list as someone selling 7 metre motorboats. By genuine presence in the channels where that type of buyer looks. And by transparency in valuation, since a broker who accepts an asking price 30 per cent above the market to win the mandate is doing nobody a favour.
Frequently asked
+What does a yacht broker charge?
Between 5 and 10 per cent of the sale price, with a minimum fee on smaller boats.
+Who pays the commission?
The seller, unless the brokerage agreement provides otherwise.
+Is an exclusive mandate better?
It usually means more marketing effort and avoids the boat appearing at different prices in several places.
+Which costs are separate?
The pre purchase survey and the lift out for inspection, usually borne by the buyer.
+When is the commission earned?
It should be on completion and receipt of funds, not on an accepted offer.
Sources
- 1Boletín Oficial del Estado, BOE (August 2026)
- 2Govern de les Illes Balears, Govern de les Illes Balears (August 2026)