Cost guides
Boat lift-out cost UK: crane, hoist, pressure wash and standing charges
Marine Match · · 5 min read
Lift-out pricing looks opaque because yards use different units — per metre, per lift, per direction, per hour of crane time. Once you know which unit you are being quoted in, comparison is straightforward.
Per lift or per direction
Some yards quote a single figure covering out and back in; others charge each movement. Always confirm which, and whether the pressure wash is inside the number.
Standing time
Hard standing is typically per metre per month, with cradle or chock hire on top if you do not own your own. Long lay-ups are usually cheaper per month than short ones.
Booking around the rush
October and April are the pinch points at almost every UK yard. Lifting slightly outside those windows gets you a slot, and sometimes a better rate.
Stack the work
The lift is a fixed cost, so it pays to have antifoul, anodes, prop, sterngear and any survey all done in one period ashore rather than lifting twice in a year.
Indicative costs
Indicative UK lift-out and hard standing rates
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lift, wash and return same day | £180 – £450 | Under 10m, boatyard hoist |
| Lift out only, 10–12m | £250 – £600 | Per lift, per direction at some yards |
| Crane lift (mast or vessel) | £150 – £500 | Often charged per hour with a minimum |
| Pressure wash | £60 – £180 | Sometimes bundled into the lift |
| Hard standing, winter | £30 – £80 per metre per month | Cradle hire may be extra |
| Mast unstep and store | £200 – £600 | Rig length dependent |
Guide ranges compiled by the Marine Match team from UK quotes and published yard tariffs. Prices vary by region, yard and vessel condition — always get your own quotes.
Frequently asked
- How much does it cost to lift a boat out in the UK?
- For a typical 10m yacht, a lift with pressure wash commonly falls in the low hundreds of pounds, with hard standing charged separately per metre per month.
- Do I need my own cradle?
- Not usually — most yards hire cradles or use props and chocks, but the hire is often a separate line on the invoice.