How much does an ROV cost? A buyer's guide for 2026
A compact underwater drone for inspection starts from about €1,599. An open, configurable inspection ROV such as the Blue Robotics BlueROV2 starts from €4,606. Professional single-operator ROVs rated to 300–500 m, such as the Blueye range, start from €19,000. Observation-class systems like the 130 kg DWTEK I90+ are quoted per configuration. In every band, sonar and positioning can add as much again as the vehicle itself, so budget for the working system, not the vehicle.
This guide covers what each price band gets you, the specification that misleads most buyers, the costs that are not on the price tag, and when renting is the better answer. SepcoTech is an authorised distributor for seven ROV and underwater drone manufacturers, so the figures below are from our own EUR price list unless stated otherwise.
What do ROVs cost in 2026?
| Class | Typical depth rating | Weight | Example vehicles | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact underwater drones | 100 m | Under 10 kg | QYSEA FIFISH, Chasing M2 S | from €1,599 |
| Open, configurable inspection ROVs | 100–300 m | 10–15 kg | Blue Robotics BlueROV2, Chasing M2 Pro Max | from €4,606 |
| Professional single-operator ROVs | 305–500 m | 9–72 kg | Blueye X1, X3 Ultra, X7; SEAMOR | from €19,000 |
| Observation-class ROVs | to 500 m | around 130 kg | DWTEK I90+ | quoted per configuration |
Prices exclude VAT and are for the vehicle with its standard tether and topside unit. Work-class ROVs, which are hydraulic, crane-launched from a vessel and priced in the hundreds of thousands, are outside the scope of this guide.
Compact underwater drones
Compact drones are built for one person to carry and launch from a quay, a small boat or a fish-farm walkway. They give you a 4K camera, a stabilised hover and, on most models, a small gripper arm. They suit aquaculture net checks, quick hull and propeller looks in harbour, and documenting a site before a diver goes in.
Their limit is not the camera. It is thrust in current, payload capacity and how far you can go beyond the manufacturer's accessory list.
Open, configurable inspection ROVs
This is the band where a vehicle becomes a platform. The BlueROV2 runs open-source software and takes third-party sonar, positioning and sensors directly, which is why universities, survey companies and inspection contractors use it as a base for their own systems. The acrylic version is rated to 100 m and the aluminium version to 300 m.
You pay for that flexibility with setup time. An open platform does what you configure it to do, and someone on your team needs to be comfortable doing the configuring.
Professional single-operator ROVs
The Blueye range, rated from 305 m to 500 m, is designed to be deployed by one person in under two minutes and flown by someone who is not a full-time pilot. SEAMOR builds compact inspection ROVs for confined spaces, tanks and hull work. You are paying for depth, build quality, a finished software environment and manufacturer support rather than raw configurability.
Observation-class ROVs
At around 130 kg, a system like the DWTEK I90+ needs a davit or crane, a two-person crew and a vessel. It carries heavier tooling and more sensors, and it holds position in stronger current. Few operators need one full time, which is why this class is most often rented rather than bought.
Why doesn't depth rating follow price?
Depth rating is the specification that misleads most buyers, because it barely tracks price at the lower end of the market.
Across the consumer and prosumer FIFISH range, every vehicle is rated to 100 m, whichever camera or arm package you choose. Chasing sells sets with "200 m" in the name, and on several of them that figure is the tether length, not the depth rating. Meanwhile the aluminium BlueROV2 is rated to 300 m at a starting price of €4,982.
Two practical points follow. First, check the depth rating on the specification sheet, not the product name. Second, ask whether depth matters for your work at all. Few merchant ships draw more than about 20 m, so for hull work thrust in current and positioning matter far more than a 300 m rating.
What does the vehicle price leave out?
The vehicle is usually less than half of a working inspection system. These are the costs that decide the real budget:
Sonar. In low visibility, which describes most harbours and much of the Baltic, a camera shows you very little. An imaging sonar such as the Cerulean Omniscan 450 FS lets you navigate and find the target when the water is brown. It costs from €2,175.
Positioning. If you need to report where a defect is, not just that it exists, you need to know where the ROV was. An acoustic positioning system such as the Cerulean ROV Locator costs from €3,050.
Longer tether. Standard tethers are often 100 m. Currents, standoff distance from a vessel and working depth all eat into that quickly.
Manipulator arm and tooling. A gripper is standard on some compact drones and an option on most other vehicles.
Spare batteries and a spares kit. On a working day, the battery sets the schedule. Lithium batteries also ship as dangerous goods, which adds cost and time when importing them yourself.
Training. Often the cheapest line on the quote, and the one that most affects how much use the vehicle actually gets.
Import costs. A US list price does not include EU VAT, import duty, or dangerous-goods freight for the batteries. SepcoTech's EUR quotes include duty and freight, so the only thing to add is VAT. Whoever you buy from, ask for the landed price in writing.
A worked example
An aluminium BlueROV2 for harbour hull inspection, fitted with an Omniscan 450 FS imaging sonar and a Cerulean ROV Locator:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| BlueROV2, aluminium, 300 m | from €4,982 |
| Cerulean Omniscan 450 FS | from €2,175 |
| Cerulean ROV Locator | from €3,050 |
| Working system | from €10,207 |
The vehicle is roughly 49% of the total. That ratio is typical, and it is why a quote for "an ROV" and a quote for "an ROV that can do the job" can be far apart.
Which ROV do you need for your job?
Start with the task, not the vehicle:
| Task | What matters most | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Hull and propeller inspection in harbour | Holding position in current, imaging sonar for low visibility, positioning for defect reports | Open inspection ROV or professional ROV, plus sonar and positioning |
| Aquaculture net and mooring checks | Fast single-person deployment, stable hover, long battery life | Compact drone or professional single-operator ROV |
| Tanks, sea chests and confined spaces | Small size, tether management, lighting | SEAMOR or a compact drone |
| Search and recovery | Imaging sonar, a gripper, a quick launch | Open inspection ROV or professional ROV with sonar |
| Offshore and deeper work, 300–500 m | Depth rating, heavier tooling, crew and vessel | Blueye X-range, or rent an observation-class system |
If you cannot place your job in that table, the ROV finder asks a few quick questions and narrows the range to a short list.
Should you buy or rent an ROV?
Rent when the job is a one-off, when you need a class of vehicle you would use only a few times a year, or when you want to trial a vehicle on real work before buying. Buy when inspections are a regular part of your operation, when your team needs flying hours to stay competent, or when the vehicle becomes part of a service you sell.
SepcoTech's rental fleet runs from compact inspection drones to the 130 kg DWTEK I90+, rated to 500 m. Every unit is serviced and tested before dispatch, and a pilot is available on request. Rental prices depend on the vehicle, duration and payload, and we confirm availability and price within one business day.
Buying from a European distributor or direct from the manufacturer
The hardware, warranty and documentation are the manufacturer's whichever way you buy. What changes is everything around them. A European distributor quotes in EUR with import duty and freight already included, holds batteries and spares in EU stock, and answers support questions in your time zone.
Buying direct from a US or Asian store can look cheaper until VAT, duty, dangerous-goods freight and return shipping for warranty repairs are added. Compare landed cost, not list price.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cheap underwater drone cost?
Compact underwater drones for inspection start from about €1,599 excluding VAT. Recreational drones cost less, but they are typically rated to shallower depths, have weaker thrust in current, and lack sonar or positioning options.
How much does a BlueROV2 cost?
The BlueROV2 starts from €4,606 for the acrylic version rated to 100 m, and from €4,982 for the aluminium version rated to 300 m, excluding VAT. Sonar, positioning and extra thrusters are priced separately. See the BlueROV2 page for current configurations.
How deep can an underwater drone go?
Most compact underwater drones are rated to 100 m. Open inspection ROVs such as the BlueROV2 reach 300 m in their aluminium version. Professional ROVs such as the Blueye range are rated from 305 m to 500 m. Always check the depth rating on the specification sheet, because a "200 m" in a product name can refer to tether length.
Do I need sonar on an ROV?
You need imaging sonar if you work in water where you cannot see more than a metre or two, which includes most harbours. Without it, you can only inspect what the camera can see. With it, you can navigate to a target and identify it by shape before the camera is close enough to show it.
Can I rent an ROV instead of buying one?
Yes. Renting makes sense for one-off jobs, occasional deep work, or trialling a vehicle before you buy. SepcoTech rents systems from compact drones to a 130 kg observation-class ROV rated to 500 m, with a pilot available on request.
Get a quote for the working system
Tell us the job, the water and the depth, and we will quote the vehicle together with the sonar, positioning and training it needs, in EUR, within one business day. Request a quote or browse the ROV range.