Jet Ski Top Speed – How Fast Are Jet Skis?

Jet ski top speed has got to be the most common question I get asked.

The top speed of a jet ski can vary from 40 to 70 mph, depending on the model.

The fastest a stock jet ski can go is 70 mph due to a gentleman’s agreement with the US coast guard. However, jet skis delivered outside the United States don’t always have this 70 mph limit and can often go slightly faster.

The average jet ski speed is 57 mph, but many new riders never go beyond 40 mph as they learn the ropes. Doing 40 mph on a jet ski feels like doing 80 mph in your car and shocks many new riders.

Jet Ski Top Speed Chart

2023 Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki top speed (MPH), price, and horsepower rating.

Make	Model	Price	MPH	HP
Sea-Doo	Spark 2UP 60HP	$5,999	40	60
Sea-Doo	Spark 3UP 90HP	$7,299	49	90
Sea-Doo	Spark 2UP 90HP iBR	$7,699	49	90
Sea-Doo	Spark Trixx 2UP	$8,199	49	90
Sea-Doo	Spark 3UP 90HP iBR	$8,299	49	90
Sea-Doo	Spark Trixx 3UP	$8,799	49	90
Yamaha	EX	$7,599	50	100
Yamaha	EX SPORT	$8,899	50	100
Yamaha	EX DELUXE	$9,999	50	100
Yamaha	EX LIMITED	$10,599	50	100
Sea-Doo	FISH PRO SCOUT	$14,299	50	130
Yamaha	JETBLASTER	$10,699	51	110
Sea-Doo	GTI 130	$10,699	52	130
Sea-Doo	GTI SE 130	$11,499	52	130
Sea-Doo	Explorer Pro 170	$16,799	52	170
Sea-Doo	FISH PRO SPORT	$17,299	52	170
Sea-Doo	FISH PRO TROPHY	$19,599	52	170
Yamaha	VX-C	$9,999	53	125
Yamaha	SUPERJET	$10,499	53	100
Yamaha	VX	$11,199	53	125
Yamaha	VX DELUXE	$12,099	53	125
Yamaha	VX CRUISER	$12,499	53	125
Yamaha	VX LIMITED	$13,699	53	125
Sea-Doo	WAKE 170	$12,899	55	170
Sea-Doo	GTI SE 170	$12,099	56	170
Kawasaki	STX 160	$11,399	57	160
Kawasaki	STX 160X	$11,999	57	160
Kawasaki	STX 160LX	$13,699	57	160
Sea-Doo	GTX 170	$13,999	58	170
Yamaha	FX HO	$15,399	58	180
Yamaha	FX CRUISER HO	$16,699	58	180
Kawasaki	SX-R	$11,599	59	150
Yamaha	VX CRUISER HO	$13,299	62	180
Yamaha	VX LIMITED HO	$14,999	62	180
Sea-Doo	GTR 230	$14,099	63	230
Yamaha	GP1800R HO	$14,199	65	180
Sea-Doo	WAKE PRO 230	$17,499	65	230
Sea-Doo	GTX 230	$14,999	66	230
Yamaha	FX SVHO	$18,899	68	250
Yamaha	FX CRUISER SVHO	$19,399	68	250
Yamaha	FX LIMITED SVHO	$19,999	68	250
Yamaha	GP1800R SVHO	$16,499	70	250
Sea-Doo	RXP-X 300	$16,799	70	300
Sea-Doo	GTX 300	$17,499	70	300
Kawasaki	ULTRA 310X	$18,299	70	310
Sea-Doo	RXT-X 300	$18,799	70	300
Sea-Doo	GTX Limited 300	$18,899	70	300
Kawasaki	ULTRA 310LX-S	$19,299	70	310
Kawasaki	ULTRA 310LX	$20,299	70	310
Sea-Doo	RXP-X Apex 300	$20,999	70	300

The top speed numbers come from personal experience and research.

Top speed may vary 5+/- mph with weight, altitude, fuel quality and water condition.

Can You Make Your Jet Ski Faster?

You can make your jet ski faster by adding upgrades and mods.

These upgrades vary; some are as simple as reprogramming your jet ski and some require significant work to the engine and exhaust.

To learn more, check out Riva Racing.

Can You Make Your Jet Ski Slower?

Most jet ski models today have speed limiters that allow you to restrict the top speed.

For example, Sea-Doo has an ECO mode that limits top speed to 45 mph.

A lot of models even have a learning mode or learning key that can be programmed from 32 mph to 50 mph. The jet skis that can’t be programmed are stuck at 35 mph.

You also have more modes like Touring that makes the jet ski slower to take off but still gets to top speed. This is nice if you want to cruise and not launch out of the water.

These modes are not new; for example, Sea-Doo has Touring and Sport mode since 2009 and became more available after 2011.

That Doesn’t Sound Fast?

I do get a few people tell me 40 mph or 55 mph doesn’t sound fast.

While 40 mph in your car may not seem fast, on a jet ski, it feels like 80 mph.

I’ve had a few customers new to the sport who won’t go past 35 mph because it’s too fast for them. I remember my first time on a jet ski and being blown away by the pure take-off power.

You don’t have a roll cage around you like in a car, so you hear all the wind noises, and you sit a lot closer to the water, so it feels like you’re going faster than you are.

Don’t let the lower speeds confuse you; all jet skis you get today are fast. Jet ski manufacturers don’t fight over top speed, they fight over 0 to 30 mph and 0 to 50 mph numbers. Every jet ski you buy today feels like it jumps out of the water when you go full throttle! This is especially true for new riders.

I’m Sure My Jet Ski Does 100 MPH!?

I’ve had customers tell me their jet ski does over 100 mph stock.

There has never been a production model jet ski that has done over 70 mph from the factory.

What they’re confusing is MPH with KPH or KM/h.

100 KPH = about 60 MPH

And 60 mph is a standard top speed for many models. 57 mph is the average in the chart at the top.

Yamaha VS Sea-Doo VS Kawasaki

Of the leading 3 manufacturers, who makes the fastest jet ski?

Well, all 3 are capped at 70 mph due to a gentleman’s agreement with the coastguard.

Sea-Doo and Kawasaki are the only ones with 300 HP engines, but the racers love to use Yamaha.

Sea-Doo has the tech, Kawasaki has the bigger engine, and Yamaha has the hull.

Things are getting more interesting since Sea-Doo updated the RXP-X, and Yamaha has made some fine-tunes to the already great GP1800R SVHO. At the end of the day, it’s going to come down to personal preference. The manufacturers lay the groundwork, it’s the racers that do the impressive stuff.