Ice skating is lots of fun, but it can also be expensive. Unlike many other sports, you will need to spend on the arena. So, how much does it cost to go ice skating?
It can cost from $10 to enter an ice rink with rentals and skate casually. So, a date on ice can be $20. But it can cost much more if you are more serious about skating. In this case, many factors can influence the amount of money you will have to spend.
If you are interested, continue reading to uncover all the details!
Page Contents
Cost to Go Ice Skating by Types
How much ice skating costs depends on the type of ice skating: recreational vs. competitive.
In general, the former is more expensive.
1. Recreational Ice Skating
If you are doing recreational ice skating as a hobby, you will have to pay for the following:
- Basic ice skating lessons ($7-$15’/session)
- Additional ice skating practice sessions ($5-$15 per hour)
- Standard skating rink cost ($10 for entrance)
- Rental ice skating gear ($18, this includes admission fee)
The expenses will not amount to a lot because you will probably only go to the skating rink a couple of times a month.
If you are more serious about it, you will also have to shell out money for:
- Fundamental ice skating gear
-
- Helmet ($25-$100)
- Hip pad ($60)
- Kneed pads ($30-50)
- Protective glasses ($10-$20)
- Footwear ($50-$500 for intermediate levels, $800-$1500 for professionals)
- Private ice skating lessons ($20-$50/30 minutes)
In addition, you might participate in contests, competitions, recitals, and shows, which can drive up the costs associated with practicing or traveling.
2. Competitive Skating
In competitive skating, you will have to invest in higher-quality gear and more frequent repairs. Other expenses can include costume fees, test fees, dance lessons, and travel costs. You will also practice more often with elite coaches and trainers that charge more. Your total bill can reach up to $20,000 a year.
Cost to Ice Skating by Lesson
As with other sports lessons, there can be inexpensive and expensive ice skating lessons. You can pay as little as 20 dollars and as much as 100 dollars. Group lessons are usually more affordable than one on one lessons.
Some private ice skating lessons cost well over 100 dollars. For example, sessions with top coaches can cost from $90 to $150 an hour. These are often chosen by those pursuing ice skating professionally.
Other Costs
The cost to get in the skating rink is different depending on the type: open-public, freestyle, and professional club.
-
- Open-Public: These are more common and inexpensive. They are most often occupied by beginner to intermediate skaters. Pop-up seasonal rinks typically offer this type. The cost can range from $1o to $24 for each person per session. It may include the cost of ice skates rental, too, though.
- Freestyle: This is often offered by local ice rinks and sports complexes. It can be used by both casual and professional skaters because it is larger than open-public rinks. With the additional space, however, its per-hour fee can start from $10 to $15. Plus, it tends to charge for rentals separately.
- Private Club: As you can probably guess from the name, this is a more exclusive type of ice use. Its fees are normally charged as memberships. More committed skaters invest in it for professional training. The specific membership cost depends on exactly how much time you spend on the ice, but it can go up to several thousand dollars a year.
The cost to enter an ice rink can also be impacted by the following:
-
- Your age (Younger children or seniors tend to cost less)
- How long do you spend on the ice (Depending on whether the rink charges an hourly rate)
- The day of the week (Weekend will cost more)
- The time of the day (The price for peak and prime hours will be higher)
At a rink, you can usually rent ice skates and protective gear, such as helmets, elbow pads, knee pads, etc. Some rinks will charge for these separately, while some will count them in the general fee for ice use. In regards to rentals, options are also available for towels, bags, and lockers.
But the quality of the rentals is not always top-notch. Hence, frequent skaters prefer to have their own ice skating gear.
03 Ice Skates & Skating Gear
Rather than renting, you can choose to purchase and own your skating equipment. Needless to say, you will need to spend money on ice skates. This can be anywhere from $50 to $1,500. Off-brand, basic pairs will be at the less-expensive end, while custom and/or high-end ones are at the pricey end.
To give you a rough idea, here are a few price examples:
- Women’s American Athletic Tricot: $50
- Men’s Riedell 110 Opal: $75
- Women’s & Men’s Botas Ice Skates: $100
To skate safely, you will need to wear protective gear, including a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, etc. These must be added to your price of ice skates.
It is best to keep them all in an ice skating bag or tote, which can cost from $40 to $50. And some other items that you will want to have for a good skating experience are socks, gloves, and padded shorts.
- Socks: $15
- Gloves: $25
- Padded Shorts: $50
You might also want to carry towels and leg warmers. These add on top of your ice skate cost.
- Towels: $10
- Leg Warmers: $10
We mentioned socks, gloves, and padded shorts earlier. But ice skating attire entails other items too. Unlike other sports, it is recommended to wear several layers when going ice skating. Thus, the cost can go up considerably.
Even if you are wearing a basic ice skating outfit (a long-sleeve shirt, lightweight jacket, a pair of light fleece pants, knitted hat, gloves, and socks), you will be looking at a hefty bill.
If you get cold easily, you might throw on a parka. Inside your knitted hat might be a beanie, and you have padded shorts inside as well. Case in point: The more you have on, the more you must add to your essential cost of ice skates.
Read more: Best clothes to wear ice skating indoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ice skating an expensive sport?
Ice skating can be an expensive sport if you pursue it seriously. It is not too expensive if you are a casual skater who hits the ice rinks only a few times a month.
How much does it cost to start a skating rink?
A single arena surface can cost from $2 to $4 million, while a twin one can cost from $5 to $7 million. Other factors can affect the specific amount you will have to pay, though.
How much does it cost to rent an ice rink?
There is no single price, but you should be ready to spend at least a few hundred bucks on renting an entire ice rink. Here are some price examples for your reference:
- Glacier Ice Rink: $215 an hour on-prime and $195 an hour off-prime
- PW Skating: $300 for 1.5 hours from Mon to Fri between 9 aM and 2 PM, and $495 for 1 hour and 15 minutes in the afternoon and evening, as well as on the weekends
How much is ice skating in NYC?
The least you will have to pay to go ice skating in NYC is $15, which is the price of rentals at the free-admission Bank of America Winter Village ice rink. Other ice rinks charge from $11 to $48, depending on many factors, like the age of the skater, day of the week, time of the day, etc.
How much does it cost to go ice skating downtown Detroit?
The minimum is $5 for entrance at the Dodge Park ice rink. The next inexpensive place is Buhr arena, which charges $6 for adults and $5 for children younger than 17.
Conclusion
As you have read in this post regarding how much does it cost to go ice skating, you must be prepared to spend some money if you are planning to hit the ice rinks.
Your expenses depend on the type of ice skating you are pursuing, the quality of the gear, and your involvement with other charged events. In any case, if you’re only a hobbyist, it’ll usually cost you less than $20 for a skating session using rented gear.
Harrison is a skating enthusiast who picked up the sport during her student exchange years in Canada. She has been a skating coach for children and teens for 3 years and now holds classes as a freelancer. Harrison entwines her experience leading skating classes in the content published on Cora to help readers fall in love with skating, just like she did.
