Average Marina Fees UK (2026): Real Annual Costs & Prices
Updated: Aug 11
The average marina fee in the UK is around £350–£500 per metre per year. For a typical 40–45ft cruising yacht, that works out at approximately £4,500–£7,000 annually, although premium South Coast marinas can exceed £15,000. We contacted and researched marinas across the UK while looking for an annual berth for our 44ft Kelly Peterson. Prices ranged from £5,600 per year in Bristol to almost £19,000 at Hamble Point Marina. Here's what we found—and the hidden costs many first-time boat owners don't expect.
Some marinas charge by the metre, others offer discounts for annual contracts, and many have additional costs that aren't obvious at first glance. If you're planning to buy a boat, move aboard full-time, or simply budget for a season afloat, understanding marina fees is essential.
Before diving into marina costs, you might also find our guide to the cost of living on a sailboat in the UK useful.
Average UK Marina Fees at a Glance (2026)
If you're looking for a quick answer, here's what we found after researching annual berthing costs at marinas across the UK for our 44ft Kelly Peterson.
Boat size | Typical annual marina fee |
30ft (9m) | £3,000–£4,500 |
40ft (12m) | £4,500–£6,000 |
44ft (13.4m) | £5,000–£7,000 |
Premium South Coast marinas | Up to £19,000 |
Most UK marinas charge between £350 and £500 per metre per year, although location and facilities can make a significant difference.
Estimate Your Marina Costs
Wondering what your boat could cost to keep in a UK marina? Use my free Marina Cost Calculator to estimate annual berth fees based on your boat's length, location and marina type.
How Marina Fees Are Calculated
Most UK marinas charge according to your boat's Length Overall (LOA).
That means they measure the entire length of the boat, including:
Bow rollers
Davits
Dinghy lifts
Bowsprits
Stern extensions
This can catch new boat owners out. A boat sold as a "44-footer" may actually be charged as 13.5 or even 14 metres once everything is measured.
Most UK berthing fees are published as a cost per metre.
For example:
Cost Per Metre | Annual Cost for a 13.4m Boat |
£350/m | £4,690 |
£400/m | £5,360 |
£450/m | £6,030 |
£500/m | £6,700 |
Our Kelly Peterson 44 measures approximately 13.4 metres overall, so even a small difference in annual berthing costs can add hundreds or even thousands of pounds each year.
For us, marina fees became one of the biggest considerations while planning our next move. We'd happily spend a little more for somewhere with decent transport links, good shore access and a pleasant environment than save money and feel stranded all winter.
That's before considering:
Electricity
Heating fuel
Insurance
Maintenance
Haul-outs
Liveaboard surcharges
Many people focus on boat purchase prices, but over time average berthing costs often become one of the largest recurring expenses of boat ownership.
Annual UK Marina Fees by Location (2026)
While searching for a winter base for our 44ft Kelly Peterson, we researched marinas all over the South Coast and beyond. The results surprised us.
For a boat our size, annual berthing costs ranged from around £5,600 in Bristol to nearly £19,000 at Hamble Point Marina.
Some examples from our research included:
Marina | Region | Approx. Annual Cost for 13.4m Boat |
Bristol | South West | £5,600 |
Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne | South Coast | £7,000 |
Portishead | South West | £7,000 |
Brighton | South Coast | £8,000 |
East Cowes | Isle of Wight | £8,700 |
Southsea Marina | South Coast | £9,500 |
Noss on Dart | South West | £9,800 |
Haslar Marina | Solent | £10,000 |
Chichester Marina | South Coast | £10,200 |
Gosport Marina | Solent | £10,300 |
Falmouth Marina | South West | £10,400 |
Shamrock Quay | Solent | £10,500 |
Port Solent | Solent | £10,800 |
Universal Marina | Solent | £14,000 |
Lymington Yacht Haven | Solent | £17,000 |
Hamble Point Marina | Solent | £19,000 |
East Coast | £6,774 | |
East Coast | £3500 | |
East Coast | £6,770 | |
South East | £4,985 | |
Woolverstone Marina (Signature Berthing (Hammerhead) | East Coast | £7,918 |
The prices in this guide are based on official marina price lists, quotations we requested directly from marinas, and our own research while comparing annual berths for our 44ft Kelly Peterson. Prices are correct as of June 2026 and will be updated whenever we receive new information. Last updated: August 2026
As you can see, average marina fees in the UK vary enormously depending on location. For a 44ft yacht like ours, annual costs ranged from £5,600 to nearly £19,000—a difference of more than £13,000 a year.
In the end, this research was one of the reasons we decided to keep cruising rather than commit to an expensive marina berth. If we're going to spend that kind of money each year, we'd rather spend it travelling and exploring new places.
That said, marina life can be much cheaper if you're prepared to make compromises. Our mud berth in Brightlingsea cost around £3,500 per year, less than half the cost of many marinas. On the other hand, we suspect sitting in the mud may have contributed to rudder damage that later cost us around £1,000 to repair. Like most things in boating, there's usually a trade-off between cost, convenience and wear on the boat.
Why Do Marina Prices Vary So Much?
At first, we assumed marina prices would be fairly similar across the UK. After researching dozens of locations, we quickly realised that's far from the case.
Several factors affect UK berthing fees, including location, demand and the facilities available.
Marinas on the South Coast, particularly around the Solent, are often the most expensive because they're close to some of the UK's busiest cruising grounds. Berths in places such as Hamble, Lymington and Chichester are in high demand and frequently have waiting lists.
In contrast, annual berthing costs are often much lower in parts of the East Coast, Bristol Channel and some northern marinas, where demand isn't quite as intense.
Other factors that influence average berthing costs include:
Whether you choose an annual or monthly contract.
Your boat's overall length (LOA).
Liveaboard status, if permitted.
Included services such as Wi-Fi, showers and parking.
Electricity charges and meter rates.
Ease of access to towns, transport and cruising areas.
We've found that paying a little more can sometimes represent better value if it saves long commutes, offers better facilities or makes everyday life aboard more enjoyable.
The Hidden Costs Most People Forget
Electricity
Many marinas charge separately for electricity.
If you're living aboard through winter, you'll likely be running:
Battery chargers
Dehumidifiers
Water heaters
Heating circulation pumps
Computers and office equipment
Those costs can add up surprisingly quickly.
If you're planning to work aboard, you'll also want to budget for internet. Here's exactly how much Starlink costs to run on a boat, based on our own setup.
Heating
British winters can be damp and cold. Whether you use diesel heating, electric heaters or a combination of both, heating costs should be part of your marina budget.
We also discovered that managing condensation is just as important as keeping warm. You can read about the methods that worked for us in How to Stop Condensation on a Boat.
Maintenance
Every boat requires maintenance.
Typical annual expenses may include:
Antifouling
Anodes
Engine servicing
Rigging inspections
Lift-outs
Some years these costs are minimal. Other years they can be significant.
Is Living at Anchor Cheaper?
In purely financial terms, yes.
But the reality isn't always that simple.
Living at anchor or on a swinging mooring can dramatically reduce costs, but it also means giving up some conveniences.
For many people this works well. If you're considering remote work afloat, check out our guide to working remotely from a boat.
For others, especially those who:
Work ashore
Work remotely
Have pets
Need regular deliveries
Live aboard year-round
a marina berth can make life much easier.
Like many liveaboards, we're constantly balancing cost against convenience.
What Should You Budget for Living Aboard?
For a realistic UK liveaboard budget in 2026, we'd suggest something along the following lines:
Expense | Typical Annual Cost |
Marina berth | £4,500–£7,000 |
Electricity | £200–£800 |
Heating fuel | £300–£1,500 |
Insurance | £300–£1,000 |
Maintenance | £500–£3,000+ |
The exact figure depends heavily on boat size, location and lifestyle.
Some liveaboards spend far less. Others spend considerably more.
Our Search for the Right Marina
As I write this, we're still weighing up our own options.
We've looked at marinas across the East Coast and beyond, trying to find the right balance between cost, comfort and practicality. For us, it's not simply about finding the cheapest berth.
We want somewhere with:
Good public transport
Easy access ashore
Work opportunities nearby
A pleasant environment to spend winter
And, of course, somewhere suitable for Luna.
The longer we've lived aboard, the more we've realised that the cheapest marina isn't always the best value. Sometimes paying a little more makes everyday life significantly easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are average marina fees in the UK?
Most UK marinas charge between £350 and £500 per metre annually. For a typical 40–45ft cruising yacht this often works out at between £4,500 and £7,000 per year.
Do UK marinas allow liveaboards?
Some do, some don't, and many operate somewhere in between. Always check directly with the marina before committing to a berth.
How much does it cost to berth a 40ft boat in the UK?
A 40ft yacht (around 12 metres) will typically cost between £4,000 and £6,000 per year depending on location and facilities.
What is the cheapest way to keep a boat in the UK?
Swing moorings and drying moorings are usually cheaper than marinas, although they often involve compromises in convenience and shore access.
Are marina electricity charges included?
Sometimes. Many marinas now charge electricity separately using metered hookups, particularly for larger boats and liveaboards.
Are marina fees cheaper in winter?
Some marinas offer discounted winter berthing packages, particularly for cruising yachts that don't require year-round moorings. Discounts vary considerably, so it's always worth contacting marinas directly to ask about seasonal offers.
Final Thoughts
When people ask how much it costs to live on a boat in the UK, marina fees are usually the single largest regular expense. The good news is they're also one of the easiest costs to predict.
The challenge is finding a marina that suits your lifestyle, not just your budget.
After months of research, we've come to the conclusion that the right marina isn't necessarily the cheapest one. It's the place that makes everyday life easier, whether that's getting to work, accessing shops, maintaining the boat or simply enjoying life afloat. And that's worth considering before you focus solely on the numbers.
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