HOCKEY COST BY AGE

What youth hockey actually costs from 6U to 18U. Registration, equipment, ice time, travel — and the surprises that double the bill.

Use the cost calculator first

This page gives you the age-by-age ranges. For a personalized estimate by your state and your kid's level, use the hockey cost calculator. The numbers below are 2026 averages across the US, drawn from RinkStop's directory data and program-published fees.

6U (ages 5-6): $400-800 per year

The cheapest year. Most learn-to-play programs include equipment for the first 4-8 weeks. After that, you're buying gear that the kid will outgrow by next year. Don't overspend on premium equipment for a 6-year-old.

Registration: $100-300. Equipment (new): $250-500. Equipment (used): $80-150. Travel: $0 (in-town only).

8U (ages 7-8): $500-1,200 per year

The first year of "real" house hockey. The kid is starting to skate confidently, scrimmages are getting more structured, and you'll start buying your own equipment if you haven't already.

Registration: $200-500. Equipment: $300-600 new or $100-200 used. Travel: $0-200 (in-town and nearby).

10U (ages 9-10): $1,000-2,500 per year

This is the decision year. House hockey is still relatively cheap. Travel hockey starts becoming an option, and the cost jumps significantly. The ADM recommends staying in house through 10U unless your kid is clearly a top-tier player.

House registration: $400-800. Travel registration: $2,000-4,000. Equipment (refresh): $200-500. Travel costs (travel only): $1,000-3,000.

12U (ages 11-12): $1,500-5,000 per year

The body-check age. Hockey changes at 12U — checking is allowed in most leagues, the game gets faster, and the commitment deepens. House hockey is still a fine choice. Travel starts to mean real travel — out of state weekends, hotels, restaurants.

House: $500-1,500. Travel (regional): $3,000-7,000. Travel (elite, AAA): $5,000-15,000+. Equipment (full refresh): $400-800.

14U (ages 13-14): $2,500-10,000 per year

The high school decision. In hockey-strong states (Minnesota, Michigan, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New England, parts of New York), high school hockey is the dominant development path and it's mostly free. In other states, travel hockey is the only option.

High school (where available): $300-1,500. Travel (regional): $4,000-10,000. Travel (elite): $8,000-25,000. Off-ice training: $1,000-3,000 (skating coaches, strength coaches).

16U (ages 15-16): $5,000-25,000 per year

The junior decision. If your kid is good enough to be drafted into the CHL or recruited by USHL/NAHL teams, this is when the conversation starts. Most kids at this age are still in high school or travel, but the top-tier players have moved to prep schools or junior rosters.

High school + showcase: $1,000-3,000. Prep school: $25,000-65,000 (tuition + hockey). NAHL/NCDC: $15,000-30,000. USHL: Billet (free) + small stipend.

18U (ages 17-18): $5,000-30,000 per year

The recruiting year. NCAA D1 scholarships range from partial to full. NAHL, NCDC, and BCHL are pay-to-play but offer good development. Junior A and major junior are the most competitive options.

NCAA D1: Tuition (often partially or fully covered). NCAA D3 / ACHA: Tuition, but smaller scholarships. USHL: Billet (free) + small stipend. CHL: Free + small stipend.

The hidden costs nobody warns you about

Off-ice training: Skating coaches charge $50-150 per session. Most travel players do 1-2 per week during the season. That's $5,000-15,000 per year.

Travel for tournaments: Most travel teams play 6-10 out-of-town tournaments per year. Each one is $500-2,000 for the family (hotel, food, gas). That's $3,000-20,000 per year on top of registration.

Off-season training: Summer hockey camps run $500-2,000 per week. Power skating schools run $300-800 per week. A serious player does 4-6 weeks of off-season training. That's $5,000-15,000 per summer.

Equipment refresh: Skates last 1-3 years depending on use. Helmets should be replaced every 5-7 years. Gloves and pants last 2-3 seasons. You can stretch this with used gear, but at some point you need to buy new.

Time cost: The single biggest expense. Travel hockey is 9-12 months a year. A 14U travel player spends 15-20 hours per week on hockey. The family's time is the real cost.

How to save money without compromising the experience

Buy used equipment. Used hockey gear is 40-60% off new and works just as well. Check your rink's pro shop, Facebook marketplace, and sideline swap.

Stay in house longer. The ADM is correct. Most kids don't need travel hockey before 14U. The kids who play house through 12U and then jump to travel are often better than the kids who started travel at 10U.

Play multiple sports through 12-13. The best hockey players in the world played multiple sports growing up. Specializing early doesn't help and may hurt.

Skip the showcase tournaments until 16U. Showcase tournaments cost $1,500-3,000 per event and only matter for NCAA D1 recruiting. If your kid isn't on a D1 track by 16, the money is better spent elsewhere.

Use the cost calculator annually. Costs change. Your kid's level changes. Run the calculator at the start of each season and budget for what the year actually costs, not what last year cost.

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