How many people can fit on a yacht charter?

Two numbers matter: legal max and comfortable max. They're often different.

Legal maximum (USCG rules): - Uninspected vessel (UPV) with an OUPV captain: 6 paying passengers, period. A seventh would convert the trip into an inspected-vessel operation and require a COI. - Bareboat vessel: no USCG passenger cap (you're not carrying paying passengers — you ARE the charterer). - Certificated Inspected Passenger Vessel (COI): the exact number printed on the vessel's COI. A 65-foot motor yacht COI commonly reads 12-18; a 100-foot party yacht commonly reads 49; dinner-cruise boats and excursion vessels often read 100-149.

Comfortable maximum. Yachts have more seats than they have restrooms or shade. A 65-foot motor yacht with a legal capacity of 12 on its COI is comfortable at 8-10 for a 4-hour trip — after that, the swim-platform queue, the one head aboard, and the fridge become the constraint. Budget the comfortable max at 60-80% of the legal max for day charters.

Rules of thumb by vessel size: - 28-36 foot center console: 4-8 passengers comfortable, 6 legal (UPV). - 45-55 foot yacht: 8-12 comfortable, 6 legal UPV or up to ~14 with COI. - 60-80 foot motor yacht: 10-16 comfortable, COI typically reads 12-18. - 85-120 foot mega yacht: 12-25 comfortable for day charter; COI often reads 18-24. - Purpose-built party yacht (any length): designed around its COI number, 49/75/100/149.

Overnight charters. Cabin count, not deck capacity, is the constraint. A yacht that day-charters 18 might sleep 6-8.

If you're planning a specific guest count, filter listings by max guests on the CharterXO booking flow — the displayed capacity reflects legal and COI limits, not the legal max minus comfort.