How Much Does Airsoft Cost?

This is a must-read if you’re looking to get into the sport and are wondering how much does airsoft cost. Be warned: the initial outlay for an airsoft collection can be hefty. Even if you just buy an airsoft gun, you’ll need at least 200 BBs, and a mask, not to mention potentially protective clothing. You’ll also need to factor in maintenance costs, since you’ll need to replace the gun’s inner barrel, hop-up bucking, and battery…

How much does airsoft cost? The cost of airsoft varies greatly and could run anywhere from $200 to well over $800 to get started. These numbers don’t factor in recurring expenses but may include the cost of the airsoft gun, pellets, some accessories, clothing, and facility rental. These are the various costs associated with airsoft:

• Airsoft gun: $120-360
• BBs or pellets: $7-50
• Accessories (co2/propane, scopes, magazines, etc.): $35-200
• Clothing: $12-100
• Field rental: $25-45

Many people get into airsoft because they find it fun, active, tactical, and there is quite the adrenaline rush that can come with it. There are many components to the game that people have to figure out for themselves through practice and experience to see what works for them. The cost of airsoft varies greatly, and that practice and experience can often dictate how much or how little you choose to spend.

How Much do Airsoft Guns Cost?

$120-360

The airsoft gun will probably be one of your most significant expenses, and the type of gun and quality will greatly affect the cost. How serious you are about airsoft will likely determine how much money you’ll spend.

Some things that affect the price of airsoft guns are:

• Power
• Accuracy
• Durability
• Ammunition capacity
• Appearance (the more realistic guns are usually more expensive)

Whether you want to buy an airsoft assault rifle, sniper rifle, handgun, shotgun, submachine gun, or a machine gun, you will find high and low ends with prices varying accordingly. Additionally, if you want to make any modifications, you’ll need to at least buy a mid-tier rifle to begin. 

Any guns below the $120 range won’t be worth it as they’ll be pretty low-quality. To get a decent entry-level gun, you’re probably going to have to spend anywhere from $180-240 and may be able to get some upgraded options at that price point. Getting into the high-end, you can find guns over $300. Of course, these will have far better accuracy and durability than the lower-priced guns. 

Cost of Airsoft Pellets (BBs)

$7-50

Airsoft pellets for airsoft guns come in a range of sizes, weights, colors, and types. As with guns, prices vary. 

The standard airsoft pellet is 6 mm, but they also come in 8 mm, usually used in a specialty short-range gun like a revolver. Common weights, measured in grams, are 0.12, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, and 0.40. They also come in biodegradable and non-biodegradable options, with the biodegradable being more expensive. Manufacturing processes can also affect quality, and you’ll see that reflected in the price. Finally, the number of pellets you get in a container will also affect the price. 

Keeping in mind all these factors, you can find airsoft pellets anywhere from $7 to upwards of $50, with a wide variety falling somewhere in the middle range. 

Airsoft Accessory Costs

$35-200+

While the sky’s the limit for accessories, and you can potentially spend much more than this, these accessories are a few of the main ones you may need to start.

co2, Propane

If you shoot a gas-powered airsoft gun, you will need either CO2 or green gas, a propane lubricant mixture. CO2 typically comes in 12g capsules or cartridges. The average cost is around $1/cartridge. A cartridge lasts about 2.5 magazines, but your gun’s maintenance costs are higher when using CO2.

Green gas costs around $12-17 per can. If you choose to buy in bulk, it can be around as little as $7-8 per can. While it can be slightly more expensive than CO2, there are substantially fewer maintenance costs on your airsoft gun when using green gas. 

Scopes

If you choose to shoot a sniper rifle or a Designated Marksman’s Gun, you’ll need a scope for it. There are many varieties, from those with fixed zoom to those with a range of zoom settings. There are also red dots and illuminated crosshairs.

As with so many of the other airsoft components, it’s all about personal preference and play level, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to be successful on the playing field. A simple optic with a fixed zoom is easy to use and likely all you need.

You’ll be looking anywhere from $20 to $100+, depending on your preferences. 

Magazines

You’ll always want to carry extra magazines when in the middle of airsoft play. The cost varies by brand, capacity, type of gun they’re for, and if you buy them in a multi-pack or individually. 

As with everything else airsoft, these have a pretty extensive price range. Individually, a magazine may cost from around $7, all the way up to about $80, but most fall in the $10-30 range. 

Cost of Airsoft Clothing

$12-100+

At the bare minimum, you will face protection, which usually comes in the form of goggles or face masks. These are typically required to play at most airsoft fields. 

Basic setups consist of a mesh face covering and goggles. Others can be pretty elaborate, with one-piece designs that look like a skull and come in bright colors. Depending on your preference and pocketbook, these can cost from as low as $12 up to about $40. 

The type of clothing people wear for airsoft runs the gamut. You don’t have to buy anything special if you don’t want to, although long sleeves and pants are preferable for extra protection. However, many people will purchase camo clothing for blending into their surroundings, and some will go as far as a ghillie suit! 

The cheap end of camo shirts runs around $10, but you can spend A LOT of money on more expensive brands as with everything. Ghillie suits will run anywhere from $20 to over $100. Again, what you wear is all about personal preference and budget. 

Airsoft Field Rental Cost

$25-45

It should come as no surprise that the answer to this is that it varies, depending on where you are in the world and the field you’re playing. However, you can expect a full day of play for an individual to be around $30. If you need to rent a gun and gear, a full-day price will likely be about $45.