How much is my used paraglider worth? Depreciation, hours and what buyers actually pay
TL;DR
- Age matters more than hours until the wing passes about 5-6 years, then condition (porosity, lines, inspection) decides everything.
- Asking price is not value. Value is what comparable wings sell for, adjusted for service status and condition.
- A current inspection report with measured values is the single cheapest way to protect your price.
Asking prices are not sale prices
Look at listings and you will see wings priced optimistically. Many sit for months because the price assumes the wing is in perfect condition and the seller has no urgency. The only number that counts is the price someone pays.
The free wing value tool on this site compares your wing against 12,000+ European listings, filtered by model, size and year. Use it as a range, not as a promise. Listing data shows what sellers ask, so treat the lower half of the range as realistic for a quick sale.
What drives the price
1. Age
Age is the first filter buyers use. As a rule of thumb, not a law:
- The largest drop happens in the first one to two years, when a wing loses its "new" status. A common rule of thumb is a loss of roughly a quarter to a third of the new price in the first two years.
- After that, depreciation slows to something like 8-12 percent of the original price per year.
- Past 6-8 years, buyers start to assume a service bill is coming, and prices fall faster unless the paperwork is excellent.
These are general market patterns, not model-specific figures. A popular model in a common size holds value better than a rare size or a model that has just been replaced.
2. Airtime
Typical lifespan is 300-500 hours. A wing with 50 hours is clearly worth more than the same wing with 250 hours, but the effect is smaller than most sellers expect. Buyers care about hours as a proxy for wear, and then they check the actual wear. A well-kept wing with 300 hours and good test values sells better than a neglected wing with 100 hours.
Hours need a source. "About 100" without a logbook or flight tracking is a guess, and buyers discount guesses.
3. Inspection status
This is where sellers gain or lose the most money.
- Inspected within the interval (usually 24 months or 100 hours, check the manual) with a report showing porosity, line strength and trim: buyers pay a premium or at least buy quickly.
- Inspection due or overdue: buyers subtract the cost of the check and a risk margin on top.
- No papers: buyers assume the worst-case outcome.
If your inspection is nearly due, doing it before you list usually pays for itself, because the report answers every question a buyer will ask. See what the check measures.
4. Condition
Buyers look for:
- Faded or stiff leading edge
- Porosity values near or below the manufacturer limit
- Repairs, especially in structural areas
- Line shrink, uneven lines, worn brake lines
- Smell, mould, sand
A clean wing with a clear condition description beats a better wing with vague photos.
5. Class and size
EN-A and EN-B wings have the biggest pool of buyers, because students and returning pilots buy them. High-performance wings (EN-C, EN-D) have fewer buyers but they are more informed. Sizes in the middle of a model's weight range sell faster than sizes at the edges. Read how class and weight range affect the buyer pool in the EN class guide.
6. Model lifecycle
When a manufacturer releases a successor, prices for the old model drop. This is a market effect, not a quality effect. If you are not in a hurry, check whether a replacement is expected.
A practical way to price your wing
- Run the wing value tool for your model, size and year.
- Check currently listed wings of the same family to see what sellers ask.
- Adjust: subtract for missing inspection, overdue service, worn lines or repairs. Add nothing for "it flies great".
- Set the price at the middle of the realistic range if you can wait, or at the lower end if you want to sell within weeks.
- If there is no interest within two to three weeks, the price is too high or the listing is weak. Fix the listing first (photos, serial number, inspection values), then the price.
Selling a wing with harness and reserve
Sold as a set, the total is often lower than the sum of parts, because each buyer wants a different harness size and a reserve repack date that fits. Selling separately usually brings more money but takes more time. For the rules on harness and reserve value, see the harness and reserve guide.
Where the money is lost
- Listing too high and dropping the price repeatedly. Buyers see the history and wait.
- Selling without the service. The buyer's discount for an overdue inspection is usually larger than the cost of the inspection.
- Poor photos. Show the whole wing laid out, the leading edge, the serial label, the lines at the risers and the inside of a cell.
- Waiting too long. Each year costs you the depreciation you read about above.
Selling quickly
If you want a firm price instead of waiting for a private buyer, the sell page explains how Paramarket buys gear outright, without consignment. It is one option among several; compare it with other places to sell.
FAQ
How much value does a paraglider lose per year? As a rule of thumb, the largest drop comes in the first one to two years. After that, 8-12 percent of the original price per year is a typical range. These are general patterns, and a specific model can differ.
Do hours or age matter more? Age matters more up to roughly 5-6 years. After that, condition and test values matter more than either.
Is a wing with 400 hours worthless? No. Typical lifespan is 300-500 hours, so it is near the end of the range, but the price depends on porosity, lines and papers. Expect a low price and a smaller buyer pool.
Should I service my wing before selling? If the inspection is due or will be due within a few months, yes. The report is worth more to the buyer than the cost to you.
What is the wing value tool based on? It is built on 12,000+ European listings and shows a range for your model, size and year. It is an estimate based on asking prices, not a guaranteed offer.