Brighton i360 was funded through a Public-Private Partnership between Brighton & Hove City Council, Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership and Brighton i360 Ltd. The total project cost was £46m.

The council acted as a ‘middle man’ for a loan from the Public Works Loan Board, which is a central funding pot that can only be accessed for projects which generate a commercial return. No council tax was used to fund Brighton i360, and the council earns profit from the agreement, which has already been used to regenerate the seafront spaces either side of Brighton i360. In July 2017, the council also announced it has earmarked £1.1m of this income to help fund the regeneration of Madeira Terraces (to the east of Brighton Palace Pier).