Instrument Rating Cost Calculator
IR cost from aircraft, instructor and simulator hours — with the sim-credit strategy that cuts thousands off the rating.
61.65 requires 40 hours of instrument time, 15 with a CFII — but up to 20 hours can happen in an approved sim at a third of the aircraft rate. The sim strategy IS the budget strategy.
An AATD at $60-120/h replacing aircraft time at $185/h saves ~$1,500-2,500 across the rating — and procedures often train BETTER in the sim (pause, reposition, repeat).
With your numbers: 25 aircraft hours at 185/h, 45 CFII hours at 80/h, 1,800 in sim time and materials, 1,100 exams: roughly 11,125 for the instrument rating.
⚠️ Not for operational decisions. This is a record-keeping and planning aid only — not certified avionics, not a source of regulatory truth. Always verify against official sources (FAA) and your operator's approved documents before flying.
Disclaimer: This tool is for general informational and estimation purposes only and is not professional financial, tax, accounting or legal advice. All figures are estimates — verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Read the full disclaimer.
Free instrument rating cost calculator with the simulator-credit strategy built in: aircraft, CFII and sim components itemised — the rating that's bought smartest, not just flown.
About Instrument Rating Cost Calculator
The instrument rating's cost structure rewards strategy like no other certificate: 61.65 demands 40 hours of instrument time with 15 from a CFII, but up to 20 of those hours can run in an approved training device — at a third of the IFR aircraft's wet rate, with an instructor who can pause the approach, reposition, and run it again. This calculator builds the budget around that arbitrage: aircraft hours for what genuinely needs the aircraft (the long IFR cross-country, real ATC, real weather), sim hours for procedures (where the learning rate is honestly higher), CFII hours across both, plus the written and checkride. Students who structure sim-first commonly finish thousands cheaper AND sharper on procedures — the rare case where the cheap path is the better one.
How to use Instrument Rating Cost Calculator
- 1Price your school's IFR aircraft, CFII and sim rates.
- 2Allocate hours sim-first for procedures, aircraft for the XC and ATC work.
- 3Read the total; compare against a no-sim plan to see the strategy's value.
Why use Instrument Rating Cost Calculator?
- ✓Sim-credit strategy (up to 20 h AATD/FTD) built into the budget
- ✓Itemised: aircraft, CFII, sim, exam components
- ✓Realistic hour defaults from training-industry completion data
- ✓Quantifies the sim arbitrage: same credit, third of the rate
- ✓Instant, free, browser-only
Frequently asked questions
How much simulator time counts toward the instrument rating?+
Up to 20 hours in an approved AATD or FTD under Part 61 (more in some Part 141/142 programs, per their approvals) — half of the 40-hour instrument requirement. The device needs the appropriate FAA approval letter, sessions need proper logging with the device identified, and an instructor must conduct them for credit. At typical rate differentials that's $1,500-2,500 of identical regulatory credit.
What part of IR training genuinely needs the aircraft?+
The 250 nm IFR cross-country with its filed routing and approaches, real-ATC fluency (clearances, amendments, the rhythm sim ATC can't fake), actual IMC exposure if your training window offers it, and checkride preparation in the airframe you'll test in. Procedures — scans, approaches, holds, partial panel — train measurably faster in a device that can pause and reposition. Budget accordingly; that's this calculator's whole premise.
What does the instrument checkride cost beyond the flying?+
The DPE fee (commonly $800-1,200 for an IR practical), the written test fee, and — the hidden one — currency of preparation: a checkride postponed by a scheduling gap can need refresher flights to re-sharpen. Budget the exam line honestly and schedule the ride while training momentum is high; the most expensive instrument rating is the one that goes stale at 95% complete.
Is this tool private — who can see my entries?+
Only you. Entries live in your browser's local storage and never leave your device, so there is no account, no cloud sync and no one else with access. Because the data is device-local, export a CSV backup before clearing browser data or switching computers.
How do I back up or print these records?+
Use the Export CSV button below the table: it downloads your full rating budget as a spreadsheet-ready file. From there you can print a clean copy, archive it with your records folder, or import it into any other system. Exporting monthly is a good habit since the working data lives only in your browser.
Related Aviation tools
FAA PPL Pilot Logbook
Free digital FAA pilot logbook for PPL holders — log flights, auto-total hours and watch 90-day recency, privately in your browser.
● LiveFAA CPL Pilot Logbook
Free digital FAA pilot logbook for CPL holders — log flights, auto-total hours and watch 90-day recency, privately in your browser.
● LiveFAA ATPL Pilot Logbook
Free digital FAA pilot logbook for ATPL holders — log flights, auto-total hours and watch 90-day recency, privately in your browser.
● Live