Best Jet Skis in 2026

Why Trust Us

We don’t review from the dock, we ride. The Boat & Sail team spends dozens of days each season test-driving the newest Sea-Doo and Yamaha WaveRunner models at factory demos and riding on lakes between the Ozarks and Lake Simcoe measuring real-world handling, fuel burn, and comfort.

We also walk every major boat show, from Miami to Düsseldorf, interviewing designers and comparing specs side by side. The result is guidance grounded in fresh data, on-water experience, and an obsession with getting you the right ski for your style and budget.

What is a jet ski?

A jet ski is a small jet-propelled vehicle that skims across the surface of the water and is typically ridden like a motorcycle. A rider can stand or sit on these personal watercraft. Prices vary depending on the function and capability of these fun boats that can seat 1-3. There are freestyle PWC for fun and tricks, racing boats and luxury models. There are also boats that fit in between those categories.

How does a jet ski work?

Unlike traditional motorboats powered by outboard or inboard motors with exposed propellers, PWCs use an internally mounted internal impeller. With its unique corkscrew style, a jet ski impeller generates forward thrust. It draws a large water volume into a propulsion channel and then forces the water out through a size restricted cone-shaped jet nozzle. This setup allows the watercraft to work in shallow water and reduces the risk of injury to the rider as there are no moving external parts.

How to jet ski?

Like most watersports, jet skiing is intuitive and is different for each person. Naturally, some people will find it difficult, and others will find it easy, but for the most part, it’s pretty straightforward.

How to drive a jet ski?

Firstly find a comfortable sitting position, then place both hands on the handlebars and firmly place your feet on the footrests. Next, ensure the key is connected to the kill cord lanyard and attach this to your wrist. Turn the jet ski ignition switch and slowly start to push the throttle. Maintain a slow speed of about 5 to 8 miles per hour until you are clear of the shoreline and all obstacles.

You can change directions by leaning towards the direction you want to turn and maneuvering the handlebar to face that direction. You’ll need to keep accelerating to turn, so keep centered and balanced on the jet ski when maneuvering.

If you are faced with a wake or large waves, try to cross them at a 90° angle for maximum stability and so you aren’t pushed off the jet ski. It’s easier than you think to lose control of the PWC, so try going slowly until you get the hang of it and ensure you take the necessary safety precautions.

Trim & Steering

A jet ski’s trim helps keep the nose of the ski down, up, or even–depending on how it’s adjusted. When the trim is up, it keeps the nose down and helps increase your stability if riding in choppy water. To reach speeds on calm water, you want your trim even so you can glide across the water with the least resistance.

Steering, however, requires a bit of speed because of the jet’s propulsion. Read more about it here and get some tips so you’re in control of the PWC rather than the other way around.

What happens if I fall off?

If it’s your first time on a PWC, you will probably fall off at some point. All jet skis require a kill switch that attaches to the driver and “kills” the engine when pulled out.

Don’t worry if you fall off. As long as you aren’t going 50 miles per hour, you should hit the water relatively softly, and assuming you’re wearing a personal flotation device you should be fine.

If your jet ski is capsized, you can turn your Waverunner or Sea Doo right-side-up again and climb up from the back platform. You shouldn’t re-board from the side because your watercraft could flip over. Hold onto the handles on the back of the seat and pull yourself up onto the seat and reattach the kill cord.

Choosing a jet ski

What type of jet ski do you need?

The type of PWC you need will depend on the features and specifications you want the jet ski to have. Various models are available, ranging from recreational to performance, each with advantages and disadvantages for riders.

Recreational-light jet ski

Rec-light PWCs are the most affordable type of jet ski on the market. With a top speed of around 40-50 miles per hour, these models have a 50 to 100 horsepower engine and are used for leisure. For this reason, they are small and lightweight, with a capacity of two adults. These jet skis aren’t suitable for waves or bad weather as their lightweight and small hull makes it difficult to ride them in rough conditions.

Recreational jet ski

These tend to be mid-range boats. They are bigger and faster than recreational light jet ski models, with better specifications and features like cruise control and performance options.

With an engine of between 100 and 200 horsepower, recreational jet skis have a top speed of 40-65 miles per hour. Depending on the horsepower of the PWC, recreational models can be used for leisure, wakeboarding, work (such as towing) and recreational racing.

Luxury jet ski

Luxury models will have more comfortable seating and sometimes larger audio-visual modules. They have powerful engines that can typically pull tubers, skiers and wakeboarders. Luxury jet skis are built to be big, with more storage and fuel capacity than other models.

They are designed to offer the highest comfort level on a more stable platform while providing an enjoyable ride in almost any condition. Luxury PWCs include all the premium features, so you won’t have to worry about missing out on anything.

Touchscreen displays, security systems and even eco-friendly performance modes are all standard features in luxury jet skis.

The Performance jet ski

Performance jet skis are more expensive, more powerful and more nimble watercraft. With increased acceleration, torque, and handling, they can reach top speeds of 70-80 miles per hour, powered by extremely powerful engines. These models require a high skill level to ride effectively and are best suited for experienced jet ski riders.

The RXP 325 is the newest example of a performance jet ski. Kawasaki has a supercharged, 310-horsepower model (the Ultra) to compete with this too.

 Stand-up jet ski

Originally, all PWC were narrow stand-up models with a long handlebar that could move up and down with the driver’s stance. However, they’ve gone out of fashion due to how difficult they are to use and are now mainly used in competitions. There are still a few stand up models, but if you’re serious about a stand-up jet ski, your best bet is to buy one second hand.

Read more about stand up jet skis here.

Jet Ski features to consider

Engine power

Naturally aspirated engines in stock jet skis typically produce 60-180 horsepower, while supercharged models can provide 250-325 horsepower. The new RXP-X 325 by Sea Doo is not the fastest, but it accelerates faster than any other.

Naturally aspirated engines use atmospheric pressure in the intake to push the combustion process of the motor. They deliver steady power, whereas turbocharged engines use force induction and can lag–even though they give more power. We’ve also seen the beginnings of the electric PWCs coming to market and making a splash. We expect more in the future.

If you’re just starting out or renting, you might want to consider a jet ski that offers lower horsepower to minimize the learning curve.

Handling

Depending on your ability and skill, you will want a different level of handling from your jet ski. If you want to ride a smooth and nimble jet ski, having an ergonomic steering system on your ski will help you react faster and make more precise turns.

Capacity

The number of passengers is an important factor in deciding what jet ski is right for you. Most jet skis are made so that two adults can ride with comfort. However, there is the option in many models of having up to three passenger capacity, including the driver.

These larger PWCs, equipped with a ski pylon mount, are often also great for pulling a waterskier or wakeboarder.

Storage

Storage is another important feature that marks different PWCs. Most craft have a dry storage space under the seat or the handlebar. Additional storage space is available on the back of the jet ski. The amount of storage you need depends on the type of activities you will be doing. Still, generally speaking, most jet skis offer a suitable amount of storage for valuables and a small waterproof backpack.

If properly stored for the winter, the performance and resale value of the PWC will be maintained. Read more about winterizing your PWC here.

Insuring Your PWC

Like boats, and cars, a PWC will cost between $6,000 and $20,000. Getting it insurance is not only sensible, it’s law in some states. With that in mind some insurance providers make the process of insuring your jet ski easy. Read more about it here.

Kill cord

The kill cord shuts off the engine so the jet ski doesn’t continue going when the rider falls off. A kill cord is a red lanyard with a clip at one end that attaches to a button on the console and a clip attached to the rider at the other end. Jet ski riders usually attach the kill cord to their wrist, life vest, or knee.

Common Jet Ski Brands

There are only a handful of real players in the PWC market. The three most popular brands are Seadoo, Kawasaki and Yamaha. These brands are the most widely used and have the most extensive range of models.

Sea Doo

The first ever manufacturer of personal watercraft, Sea Doo, has a long range of excellent jet skis and an even more impressive reputation. Sea Doo is the industry’s most popular jet ski brand and is known for producing high quality and affordable PWCs.

Seadoo has the largest line-up of jet skis out of all the major manufacturers and has some of the most affordable models. The SeaDoo Spark is currently the cheapest jet ski available on the market.

Kawasaki

Kawasaki has a history of market leadership in the personal watercraft industry. Released in 1972, the stand-up Kawasaki Jet Ski was the first commercially successful personal watercraft.

Kawasaki offers powerful and feature-rich PWCs to suit most consumer needs. Their Jet Skis have higher prices than most of the other manufacturers. That said, the quality is exceptional and Kawasaki has been known to consistently produce innovative jet skis, albeit fewer models than the competition.

Yamaha

A leader in the power sports industry, Yamaha is a major player in the jet ski market. Yamaha’s marine products also enjoy a long history of success, including motors and navigation instruments.

They have an extensive range of ergonomically-designed and exceptionally versatile Waverunners (their brand of personal watercraft) that have a large fan base. Yamaha Waverunners are also known for their reliability, comfort, and control on the water.

Waverunner models include racers, like the supercharged GP1800r SVHO, as well as Freestyle PWCs like the Jet Blaster.