Average RV Prices: Class A, B & C (Helpful Examples)

In this post, we’ll go over RV prices.

For RENTAL prices, check this post.

See exactly how much to expect to pay for a class A, class B, or class C motorhome.

If you don’t have much experience with motorhomes, you might want to start by reading our post on the different types of motorhomes. It’s a GREAT guide that anybody can understand the many differences and similarities between Class A, B & C motorhomes.

We’ll be breaking this post down into the different types so it is important that you know what the differences are between each type.

In general, class A motorhomes will cost more than class C motorhomes and class C motorhomes will cost more than class B motorhomes.  However, this can vary depending on the size, the brand, and the types of amenities being offered in the motorhome.

You may find that the class B motorhome you want ends up costing you more than a similar class C motorhome might cost. 

You’ll see why as you read through this post.

Class A RV Prices

I’ve never owned a class A RV motorhome but I’ve always read that a person can expect to spend well over $100,000.00 to buy one on the lower end and well over a million dollars to buy one on the higher end.

My assumption was that the average class A motorhome probably costs a few hundred thousand dollars.

Of course, I didn’t want to answer this question based off of my assumptions so I went to RVTrader.com to see what class A motorhomes were actually selling for.

This search was conducted at the end of May so it was right around the time people would be searching for RVs and I knew there would be many listed on the site.

When doing a search for new class As nationwide, over 8,000 listings came up.  The highest price listing was at $1,999,999.00 and the lowest was at $65,998.00.

The high number didn’t surprise me, but the lower number did.  I hadn’t even thought it possible to buy a new class B motorhome for a price that low.  Average these prices out and you get a price of $1,032,998.50.

Of course, this isn’t a very accurate way to determine what the real cost of the average motorhome is so I went a little deeper. 

I then went on to do searches within the ranges that the website lets you search within.  Take a look at the chart below to see my findings.

Here’s how much used RVs typically cost.

Average Prices On New CLASS A RVs

As you can see from the chart, about half of the class A motorhomes for sale are priced at less than $150,000.00.

The next quarter of them falls at a price range between $150,000 and $300,000 with the final quarter ranging widely between $300,000.00 and $2,000,000.

These numbers lead me to conclude that most people will end up spending between $80,000 and $150,000 on a new class A RV.

But not everyone buys their RVs new though so I did some searches to find out what used class A RVs would cost.

Here is what I found.

Average Prices On USED Class A RVs

It seems that the price range for used class A RVs varies just as much with most of them falling between $50,000.00 and $100,000.00.

Class A RVs are sometimes quite a lot cheaper in Canada.

The highest priced one was selling for 1.5 million dollars and the lowest priced one was selling for $1,995.00.

This low-price class A was listed as a “project RV” and it did not run.  The lowest priced class A RV that was in working condition was selling for $4,900.00.  It looked to be in good condition but it was 22 years old.

Class C RV Prices

I ran the same numbers for class C RVs as well.

I found that the top class C RV price was significantly lower than the top price for class A RVs.  It came in at $784,591.00.  This is still a lot more than the average home price but it’s less than half the cost of the most expensive class A motorhome on the website right now.

The lower price was more in line with the lowest price of the class A.  However, it is still about 1/3rd the price and it is actually larger as well. 

It came in at a price of $46,988.00.

Out of all of the other class Cs for sale, most of them fell within the $50,000 – $100,000 range with more class Cs selling at the $75,000 to $100,000 between the two of them.  If you’re in the market for a new class C RV, you’re likely to pay in the neighborhood of $70,000 to $90,000, give or take ten grand.

These numbers actually weren’t that surprising to me as this is what most people expect to pay for a class C.  However, some people may be surprised to find that you can buy a larger class C for less money than many of the smaller class A RVs.

This is typical because of their construction.  A class A RV has a body that is built more like a vehicle and while it should last longer, it is more expensive to build.

Average Prices On New CLASS C RVs

When I went to search for used class C motorhomes, I found that a lot of old class Cs are still on the road.  In fact, many of the results that came back were for class C RVs that were built in the 80s and 90s.  Take a look at the table below to see how this affected the numbers.

Average Prices On USED Class C RVs

As you can see from the data, there are a fair number of class C RVs that are selling for $20,000.00 or less.

However, the bulk of the used class C RVs for sale fall within the $25,000 to $75,000.00 range with the numbers scaled more towards the upper limit.

If you’re buying a used class C RV in good condition, you can expect to pay somewhere around $50,000.00.

For those of you who are more inclined to take on an older vehicle, you’ll have plenty of options that are priced under this number.

Class B RV Prices

Class B RVs are the smallest out of the three classes and often have a lower total price but a higher price per cubic foot of space.

Let’s take a look at how much they cost to buy.

Average Prices On New CLASS B RVs

The top price of a class B RV was $247,926.00.  This is dramatically lower than the top prices on class C and class A RVs, which makes sense considering they are much smaller.

The lowest price was $59,995.00 which was more than the lowest price of a class C RV.  If you’re looking at the lower priced models, you may actually get a better deal by purchasing one of the smaller class C RVs instead of a class B RV.

You’ll have a little more width and about the same distance in length.

The different price categories were distributed better with this type of RV.  This being said, you’ll notice that about half of the class B RVs fall within the $75,000.00 to $125,000.00 range. 

One other interesting fact to note is that there just aren’t as many class B RVs for sale.  I think this is probably due to the fact that class B RVs fall within a small length range of about 18 feet to 24 feet long.  This means there just isn’t the need to make as many models in this class of RV.

Next, I went on to look at the price of used class B motorhomes.

There, I saw RVs all the way back from the 1970s.  However, most of the RVs for sale were built within the past 20 years.  Here are the numbers.

Average Prices On USED Class B RVs

As you can see, most of the used RVs for sale was found to be between $50,000.00 and $100,000.  These vehicles were mostly RVs that were built within the past five to ten years.

If you’re wondering why the used RVs are selling for so much less, take a look at our article on RV depreciation.

Class A, B, and C Price Summary

The top prices on these RVs were $1,999,999.00 $247,926.00,  and 784,591.00 respectively.

The lowest prices on these RVs were $65,998.00, $59,995.00, and $46,988.00 respectively.

• Most class A RVs for sale sell at prices between $80,000.00 and $150,000.00.
• The majority for class C RVs are between $60,000.00 to $100,000.00
• and most class B RVs fall between $75,000.00 and $125,000.00.

Used RVs in all categories range greatly in price and you’ll probably be able to find one at whatever budget you choose.

The only issue you may have is that you may not like the ones you find at the lower price ranges.

Price Variations Between RVs

At this point, you’re probably wondering how there could be such a big difference between the prices on RVs within the same class.

There are many reasons why one RV might cost more than another. 

Here are some of the top reasons:

• Length
• Number of Slides
• Engine Size
• Engine Type
• Brand
• Amenities
• Marketing
• Location
• Dealership Services

Let’s take a look at each of these reasons in more detail.

How Length Impact The Price

The average class B camper is around 20 to 22 feet in length.  This being said, I’ve seen class B RVs as short as 18 feet and as long as 24 feet.

A few feet isn’t a big deal in a 1,500 square foot house. 

However, in a vehicle that is only 120 square feet, every foot can change the price dramatically.

With class B motorhomes, you tend to see the smaller ones actually costing more than the larger ones.  This is because it is harder to successfully fit a kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom into a smaller space.  The extra money goes towards the extra engineering that is required to make a small yet useful RV.

For example, the Winnebago Revel is less than 20 feet long and yet it features a dining area, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a full-size mattress.  This is accomplished through a bed that lifts into the ceiling when not in use.

You’ll pay extra money for additional considerations like this.

A class C camper ranges in size and can go well over 35 feet.  With a class C camper, you’ll usually pay more for a longer camper.  This is because a 35 foot RV is more expensive to make than a 25 foot RV is.

You’ll find the same holds true for class A campers as well. 

The difference is that class A campers can have an even larger size range.  A class A camper can be under 30 feet long and over 40 feet long depending on the model.  Typically, the campers that cost over a million dollars are going to be over 35 feet long.

Consider The Number of Slides

The number of slides on an RV can also dictate how much it costs.

Slides can dramatically increase the width and even the length of an RV. Some motorhomes can have up to 3 slides built into them.

These slides all have to work electronically and they must do so without leaking. This is expensive and the costs are pushed down to the customer.

There is also another reason for RVs with slides costing more. RVs with slides weigh more than RVs without slides. This increases the size of the engine that is needed to move the RV and it increases the other mechanical needs as well.

For example, the heavier RV will need a more robust transmission, bigger brakes, and a stronger suspension system. All of these parts will cost more money and thus the cost of the RV will be higher.

Engine Size & Type

The larger the engine, the more expensive the RV will be.

Larger engines can do more than push larger RVs. A motorhome with a large and powerful engine can pull tow cars, boats, trailers, and any other toys the RVer wants to take on the road with them.

Oftentimes, these larger engines will be diesel engines.

Diesel engines have more power and tend to last much longer than gas engines. In fact, a gas engine is generally only rated for 200,000 miles while a diesel engine is rated for 300,000 miles.

Diesel engines do require some special parts that gasoline engines do not require. These parts are more costly to buy and to work on. For this reason, an RV with a diesel engine will typically cost more than an RV with a gas powered engine.

If you’re trying to save money on your initial costs, go with a motorhome with a gas engine.

If you’re looking to buy an RV that you can keep for a very long time, consider getting a diesel engine. Also, if you’re looking to do a lot of towing, consider spending the extra money for a diesel engine as you’ll get more for your money.

You Pay For The Brand (!)

With almost everything you can buy, some brands are just more expensive than others.

This holds true in the RV world as well.

Expect to pay a lot more money for a well-known brand like Airstream or Winnebago than you would expect to pay for a lesser known brand.

Some people feel that spending the extra money is well worth it and some people do not. One of the benefits of going with a lesser known brand is that you’ll pay less money. However, there are many benefits of going with a name brand as well.

One of the main benefits will come to you when you go to sell your RV. An Airstream will depreciate less quickly than other brands and you’ll have an easier time selling it.

On the other hand, if you decide to keep the RV for a while you’ll benefit from being able to find parts. A newer company is more likely to go out of business during the life of your motorhome and you may find trouble finding parts for it after they do.

Lastly, a brand that has been around for a while has a long track record. When you buy a brand like Airstream, you know the quality of their motorhomes before you ever set foot in one. With a newer brand, you may be taking a gamble.

All of these reasons add up to why some people are willing to spend more on some brands of RVs. As a result, these companies charge more for the ones they make.

Amenities Affect The Price As Well

Have you ever seen a motorhome that absolutely blew you away?

You looked inside and were amazed at the level of technology the motorhome had.

Between the long-range antennas, the wifi extenders, the self-leveling jacks, and the alarm systems, the RV seemed to have it all.

Advanced technology like this comes at a price. And the increase in technology isn’t just limited to the housing unit of the RV. The vehicle has its own technology that can be quite advanced. Advanced forms of traction and stability control, seats that heat and cool themselves, and 360-degree camera systems are just a few of the technologies that can increase the price of a motorhome.

Other amenities can increase costs as well. Some kitchens have large residential refrigerators that cost well over $3,000.00 to buy on their own. Other kitchens have deep sinks and luxury countertops. Items like this will undoubtedly cause the price of the RV to go up.

Even amenities like Murphy beds can increase the cost of a motorhome. These beds create more usable space and make the RV more comfortable so it makes sense that an RV with a Murphy bed would cost more.

For more information on motorhomes with Murphy beds, take a look at the post titled, “10 Amazing RVs with Murphy Beds You Have to See“.

Marketing Tricks Us Again And Again

Sometimes an RV is just marketed better than the other RVs. With a good marketing campaign, a company can command prices that are dramatically higher than their competitors.

Think about some of the brands that come to mind when you think about motorhomes.

Now, imagine you’re at a dealership and you’re shown two motorhomes. The first motorhome is one that you’ve never seen in person but you’ve seen many of their commercials and the second one is a brand you’ve never heard of.

Which one would you trust more?

The one that you’ve seen on your living room television over and over again for the last few years or the one that you don’t have any prior knowledge of.

I think we all know the answer to this question and we all know that many people will be willing to pay more for the well-known motorhome. This motorhome might not be any better than the other one but it will bring the potential buyer some piece of mind when they go to make their purchase.

How Location Affects The Price

It costs more to buy RVs in some states.

Sometimes this is because of government regulations. Other times, this can be because of taxes.

For example, the state of Delaware does not have a state sales tax. The state of New Jersey has a 7% sales tax. If you buy an RV in New Jersey, you’ll end up paying 7% more for it. Drive a short distance and you’ll pay 7% less.

RVs that are manufactured in certain states may be cheaper to buy in those states. This is especially true when buying from a smaller manufacturer.

For example, you decide you want to buy a new RV from the X Company. However, you live in Texas and the X Company operates out of Rhode Island. This company does use dealers but they limit the number that can be sold in each state by each dealer.

This reduces the supply of this RV and drives the cost up.

Dealership Services To Consider

Certain dealerships will charge more for the same exact RV. They may do this because they are the only dealer selling them in the area or they might do this because they offer more services.

For example, one dealership might be known for quick repairs and a long warranty.

This dealership will probably charge more than another dealership that does not offer a warranty.

In this case, it might look like you’re paying more for the RV, but you’re actually paying more for the warranty that comes with the RV. For this reason, I recommend that you take a look at the whole picture before you decide on a dealership to buy from.

How To Consider The Condition and Year

If you’re buying a used motorhome, one of the biggest things that will dictate the price of the RV is the condition of the motorhome.

RVs in good condition will always command a higher price tag than RVs in poor condition.

To save a lot of money, consider buying a motorhome that is in good mechanical condition but in poor cosmetic condition.

An RV with a bad transmission can be had at a great price but it can be difficult for the average person to fix. However, an RV that needs a lot of cleaning and a new paint job can be fixed by almost anyone.

Another condition that can change the price of a used RV is whether or not it has taken water damage. Many motorhome owners fail to fix leaks before they become a problem. Once a lot of damage has been done, they decide to get rid of the motorhome rather than fix it.

You’ll pay a lot less for a motorhome with severe water damage than you will for a motorhome that does not have water damage.

In addition to the condition of the RV, the age of the RV will also affect pricing. An older RV in great condition might still sell for less than a new RV that needs some work. This is because the drivetrain will be newer and it will have more advanced technology within it.

For example, a motorhome from the 80s may not even have power steering. It could be in great condition, but it is still going to be more difficult to drive.

In Summary

I’ve provided a good range for you to review for each type of motorhome you might want to buy.

This being said the cost of your motorhome might be much more or much less than this depending on what you ultimately decide to buy.

One person might need to spend $500,000.00 to get the motorhome that they want while another might only need to spend $50,000.00 to get what they want.

Consider your needs and wants and then come up with a budget so that you can meet them.  This way you’ll have a better idea of what your dream RV will actually cost.

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