Airplane Sizes and Different Types

February 22, 2023February 22, 2023 by Egle Goleckyte

Airplanes come in various sizes and types. The earliest designs feature much smaller sizes capable of carrying just two crew members. However, as aeronautic engineering advanced, newer designs of planes emerged. competition among airlines led to consistent growth in the demand for larger planes. Plane manufacturers like Boeing, Airbus, and Antonov ventured into the design and production of jumbo jets that can carry hundreds of people at once (skip straight to the Airplane Sizes Charts).

Airplane Sizes and Different Types size-types.com — _{Image Source: CNN}

Airplane sizes are often determined by the function it performs. Currently, planes are either used for commercial air travel, cargo movement, or private purposes. Each plane has a size that allows it to perform its dedicated purpose. There are planes of minimum dimensions ranging from a few meters to 80 meters. A more recent experiment in plane manufacturing has seen planes of extra large sizes that run up to 88 meters. Also, there are planes as small as 10 meters, or less.

The table below features the length and wingspan of virtually every kind of airplane sizes in the world today. The charts also feature sizes across various scales. the scale ranging from 1/200 to 1/500. The chart would help decision-makers figure out the expected size of the plane they have in mind.

Jump right into the Frequently Asked Questions

Miniature Airplane Sizes Charts (in/cm)

		1:200 scale	1:200 scale	1:200 scale		1:400 scale	1:400 scale	1:400 scale		1:500 scale	1:500 scale	1:500 scale
Aircraft Type	Length IN	Length CM	Wingspan IN	Wingspan CM	Length IN	Length CM	Wingspan IN	Wingspan CM	Length IN	Length CM	Wingspan IN	Wingspan CM
A300-B4	27	10.6	22	8.7	13	5.1	11	4.3	11	4.3	9	3.5
A300-600	27	10.6	22	8.7	14	5.5	11	4.3	11	4.3	9	3.5
A310	23	9.1	22	8.7	12	4.7	11	4.3	9	3.5	9	3.5
A318	16	6.3	17	6.7	8	3.1	9	3.5	6	2.4	7	2.8
A319	17	6.7	17	6.7	8	3.1	9	3.5	7	2.8	7	2.8
A320	19	7.5	17	6.7	9	3.5	9	3.5	8	3.1	7	2.8
A321	22	8.7	17	6.7	11	4.3	9	3.5	9	3.5	7	2.8
A330-200	30	11.8	30	11.8	15	5.9	15	5.9	12	4.7	12	4.7
A330-300/800/900	32	12.6	30	11.8	16	6.3	15	5.9	13	5.1	12	4.7
A340-200	30	11.8	30	11.8	15	5.9	15	5.9	12	4.7	12	4.7
A340-300	32	12.6	30	11.8	16	6.3	15	5.9	13	5.1	12	4.7
A340-500	34	13.4	32	12.6	17	6.7	16	6.3	14	5.5	13	5.1
A340-600	37	14.6	32	12.6	19	7.5	16	6.3	15	5.9	13	5.1
A350-900	34	13.4	33	13.0	17	6.7	16	6.3	13	5.1	13	5.1
A350-1000	37	14.6	33	13.0	18	7.1	17	6.7	15	5.9	13	5.1
A380	36	14.2	40	15.7	18	7.1	20	7.9	15	5.9	16	6.3
ATR-42	11	4.3	12	4.7	6	2.4	6	2.4	5	2.0	5	2.0
ATR-72	14	5.5	14	5.5	7	2.8	7	2.8	5	2.0	5	2.0
BAe146-100	13	5.1	13	5.1	7	2.8	7	2.8	5	2.0	5	2.0
BAe146-200	14	5.5	13	5.1	7	2.8	7	2.8	6	2.4	5	2.0
BAe146-300	15	5.9	13	5.1	8	3.1	7	2.8	6	2.4	5	2.0
B707	23	9.1	22	8.7	12	4.7	11	4.3	9	3.5	9	3.5
B717-200	19	7.5	14	5.5	9	3.5	7	2.8	8	3.1	6	2.4
B727-100	20	7.9	16	6.3	10	3.9	8	3.1	8	3.1	7	2.8
B727-200	23	9.1	16	6.3	12	4.7	8	3.1	9	3.5	7	2.8
B737-200	15	5.9	14	5.5	8	3.1	7	2.8	6	2.4	6	2.4
B737-300	17	6.7	14	5.5	8	3.1	7	2.8	7	2.8	6	2.4
B737-400	18	7.1	14	5.5	9	3.5	7	2.8	7	2.8	6	2.4
B737-500	16	6.3	14	5.5	8	3.1	7	2.8	6	2.4	6	2.4
B737-600	16	6.3	17	6.7	8	3.1	9	3.5	6	2.4	7	2.8
B737-700	17	6.7	17	6.7	8	3.1	9	3.5	7	2.8	7	2.8
B737-800	20	7.9	17	6.7	10	3.9	9	3.5	8	3.1	7	2.8
B737-900	21	8.3	17	6.7	11	4.3	9	3.5	8	3.1	7	2.8
B747SP	28	11.0	30	11.8	14	5.5	15	5.9	11	4.3	12	4.7
B747-200/300	35	13.8	30	11.8	18	7.1	15	5.9	14	5.5	12	4.7
B747-400	35	13.8	32	12.6	18	7.1	16	6.3	14	5.5	13	5.1
B757-200	24	9.4	19	7.5	12	4.7	10	3.9	9	3.5	8	3.1
B757-300	27	10.6	19	7.5	14	5.5	10	3.9	11	4.3	8	3.1
B767-200	23	9.1	24	9.4	12	4.7	12	4.7	9	3.5	10	3.9
B767-300	27	10.6	24	9.4	14	5.5	12	4.7	11	4.3	10	3.9
B767-400	31	12.2	26	10.2	15	5.9	13	5.1	12	4.7	10	3.9
B777-200	32	12.6	30	11.8	16	6.3	15	5.9	13	5.1	12	4.7
B777-300	37	14.6	30	11.8	18	7.1	15	5.9	15	5.9	12	4.7
B787-8	28	11.0	30	11.8	14	5.5	15	5.9	11	4.3	12	4.7
B787-9	32	12.6	30	11.8	16	6.3	15	5.9	13	5.1	12	4.7
B787-10	34	13.4	30	11.8	17	6.7	15	5.9	14	5.5	12	4.7
Concorde	31	12.2	13	5.1	16	6.3	6	2.4	12	4.7	5	2.0
CRJ-200	13	5.1	11	4.3	7	2.8	5	2.0	5	2.0	4	1.6
CRJ-700	16	6.3	12	4.7	8	3.1	6	2.4	7	2.8	5	2.0
CRJ-900	18	7.1	12	4.7	9	3.5	6	2.4	7	2.8	5	2.0
Dash8-100/200	14	5.5	12	4.7	7	2.8	6	2.4	5	2.0	5	2.0
Dash8-300	13	5.1	14	5.5	6	2.4	7	2.8	5	2.0	5	2.0
Dash8-400	16	6.3	14	5.5	8	3.1	7	2.8	7	2.8	6	2.4
DC-8-30/40/50	23	9.1	22	8.7	11	4.3	11	4.3	9	3.5	9	3.5
DC-8-62	24	9.4	23	9.1	12	4.7	11	4.3	10	3.9	9	3.5
DC-8-61/63	29	11.4	23	9.1	14	5.5	11	4.3	11	4.3	9	3.5
DC-9-30	18	7.1	14	5.5	9	3.5	7	2.8	7	2.8	6	2.4
DC-9-40	19	7.5	14	5.5	10	3.9	7	2.8	8	3.1	6	2.4
DC-9-50	20	7.9	14	5.5	10	3.9	7	2.8	8	3.1	6	2.4
DC-10-10	28	11.0	24	9.4	14	5.5	12	4.7	11	4.3	9	3.5
DC-10-30	28	11.0	25	9.8	14	5.5	13	5.1	11	4.3	10	3.9
Do328/328Jet	11	4.3	10	3.9	5	2.0	5	2.0	4	1.6	4	1.6
EMB120	10	3.9	10	3.9	5	2.0	5	2.0	4	1.6	4	1.6
ERJ135	13	5.1	10	3.9	7	2.8	5	2.0	5	2.0	4	1.6
ERJ140	14	5.5	10	3.9	7	2.8	5	2.0	6	2.4	4	1.6
ERJ145	15	5.9	10	3.9	7	2.8	5	2.0	6	2.4	4	1.6
Embraer170	15	5.9	13	5.1	7	2.8	7	2.8	6	2.4	5	2.0
Fokker70	15	5.9	14	5.5	8	3.1	7	2.8	6	2.4	6	2.4
Fokker100	18	7.1	14	5.5	9	3.5	7	2.8	7	2.8	6	2.4
MD-11	31	12.2	26	10.2	15	5.9	13	5.1	12	4.7	10	3.9
MD-81/82/83/88	23	9.1	16	6.3	11	4.3	8	3.1	9	3.5	7	2.8
MD-87	20	7.9	16	6.3	10	3.9	8	3.1	8	3.1	7	2.8
MD-90-30	19	7.5	16	6.3	9	3.5	8	3.1	8	3.1	7	2.8
MD-90-40	26	10.2	16	6.3	13	5.1	8	3.1	10	3.9	7	2.8
L-1011	27	10.6	24	9.4	14	5.5	12	4.7	11	4.3	9	3.5
L-1011-500	25	9.8	25	9.8	13	5.1	13	5.1	10	3.9	10	3.9
Tu-154	24	9.4	19	7.5	12	4.7	9	3.5	10	3.9	8	3.1

Airplane Sizes Charts (in/cm)

Aircraft Type	Length (M)	Length (FT)	Wingspan (M)	Wingspan (FT)	Height (M)	Height (FT)
A300-B4	53.61 m	175.9 ft	45 m	147.6 ft	16.67 m	54.7 ft
A300-600	53.61 m	175.9 ft	44.84 m	147.1 ft	19.5 m	64.0 ft
A310	46.66 m	153.1 ft	43.90 m	144.0 ft	15.80 m	51.8 ft
A318	31 m	101.7 ft	34.09 m	111.8 ft	12.56 m	41.2 ft
A319	33.84 m	111.0 ft	35.8 m	117.5 ft	11.76 m	38 ft 7 in
A320	37.57 m	123.3 ft	35.8 m	117.5 ft	11.8 m	38 ft 7 in
A321	44.51 m	146.0 ft	35.80 m	117.5 ft	11.76 m	38 ft 7 in
A330-200	59 m	193.6 ft	f60.30 m	197.8ft	17.4 m	57 ft 1 in
A330-300/800/900	63.69 m	209.0 ft	60.3 m	197.8ft	16.8 m	55 ft 1 in
A340-200	59.39 m	194.8 ft	60 m	196.9ft	17.03 m	55.9 ft
A340-300	63.7 m	209.0 ft	60.30 m	197.8 ft	16.99 m	55.7 ft
A340-500	67.9 m	222.8 ft	63.7 m	209.0 ft	17.1 m	56 ft 8 in
A340-600	75.4 m	247.4 ft	63.45 m	208.2 ft	17.7 m	58 ft 10 in
A350-900	66.80 m	219.2 ft	64.75 m	212.4 ft	17.05 m	55.9 ft
A350-1000	73.78 m	242.1 ft	64.75 m	212.4 ft	17.1 m	56 ft 0 in
A380	79.8 m	261.8 ft	73 m	239.5 ft	24.1 m	79.1 ft
ATR-42-500	22.70 m	74.5 ft	24.60 m	80.7 ft	7.60 m	24.9 ft
ATR-72	27.17 m	89.1 ft	27.05 m	88.7 ft	7.65 m	25.1 ft
BAe146-100	26.19 m	85.9 ft	26.34 m	86.4 ft	8.61 m	28.2 ft
BAe146-200	28.55 m	93.7 ft	26.34 m	86.4 ft	8.61 m	28.2 ft
BAe146-300	30.99 m	101.7 ft	26.21 m	86.0 ft	8.59 m	28.2 ft
B707	44.2 m	145.0 ft	39.9 m	130.9 m	12.70 m	41 ft 8 in
B717-200	36.37 m	119.3 ft	28.47 m	93.4 ft	8.9 m	29.2 ft
B727-100	40.59m	133.2 ft	32.92 m	108.0 ft	10.44 m	34.3 ft
B727-200	40.59m	133.2 ft	32.92 m	108.0 ft	10.65 m	34 ft 11 in
B737-200	15 m	49.2 ft	14 m	45.9 ft	11.2 m	36 ft 6 in
B737-300	33.4 m	109.6 ft	28.9 m	94.8 ft	11.1 m	36 ft 6 in
B737-400	36.4 m	119.4 ft	28.9 m	94.8f	11.1 m	36.4 ft
B737-500	31.0 m	101.7 ft	28.9 m	94.8ft	11.1 m	36.4 ft
B737-600	31.27 m	102.6 ft	34.30 m	112.5 ft	12.60 m	41.3 ft
B737-700	33.6 m	110.2 ft	35.8 m	117.5 ft	12.5 m	41.0 ft
B737-800	39.5 m	129.6 ft	35.8 m	117.5 ft	12.5 m	41.0 ft
B737-900	47.1 m	184.7 ft	35.8 m	117.5 ft	12.5 m	41.0 ft
B747SP	56.31 m	154.5 ft	59.64 m	195.7 ft	20.07 m	65.8 ft
B747-200/300	70.6 m	231.6 ft	59.6 m	195.5 ft	19.3 m	63.3 ft
B747-400	70.6 m	231.6ft	59.6 m	195.5 ft	19.3 m	63.3 ft
B757-200	54.5 m	178.8 ft Ft	38.05 m	124.8 ft	13.4 m	44 ft 6 in
B757-300	54.5 m	178.8 ft	38.05 m	124.8 ft	13.4 m	44 ft 6 in
B767-200	54.90 m	180.1 ft	47.60 m	156.2 ft	15.9 m	52.2 ft
B767-300	54.90 m	180.1 ft	47.60 m	156.2 ft	15.9 m	52.2 ft
B767-400	61.4 m	201.4 ft	51.9	170.3 ft	16.8 m	55.1 ft
B777-200	63.7 / 63.7 m	Ft	60.9 / 64.8 m	199.8 ft	18.5 / 18.6 m	60.7 ft
B777-300	73.9 m	242.5 ft	60.9 m	199.8 ft	18.5 m	60.7 ft
B787-8	56.7 m	186.0 ft	60 m	197 ft	16.9 m	55 ft 4 in
B787-9	57 m	187.0 ft	60 m	196.9ft	17m	55.8 ft
B787-10	68.27 m	224.0 ft	60 m	196.9 ft	17 m	55.8 ft
Concorde	61.66 m	202.3 ft	25.6 m	84.0 ft	10.58 m	34 ft 8 in
CRJ-200	26.77 m	87.8 ft	21.21 m.	69.6 ft	6.22 m	20 ft 5 in
CRJ-700	32.3 m	106.0 ft	23.2 m	76.1 ft	7.6 m	24 ft 10 in
CRJ-900	32.3 m	106.0 ft	24.9 m	81.7 ft	7.5 m	24 ft 6 in
CRJ-1000	33.3 m	109.3 ft	26.2 m	86.0 ft	7.5 m	24 ft 6 in
Dash8-100/200	22.25 m	73.0 ft	25.91m	85.0 ft	7.49 m	24 ft 7 in
Dash8-300	25.68 m	84.3 ft	27.43m	90.0 ft	7.49 m	24 ft 7 in
Dash8-400	32.81 m	107.6 ft	28.5 m	93.5 ft	8.3 m	27 ft 3 in
DC-8-30/40/50	45.9 m	150.6 ft	43.4 m	142.4 ft	2.21 m	7.3 ft
DC-8-62	48.0 m	157.5 ft	45.2 m	148.3 ft	12.92m	42.4 ft
DC-8-61/63	48.0 m	157.5 ft	45.2 m	148.3 ft	12.92m	42.4 ft
DC-9-30	36.37 m	119.3 ft	28.47 m ;	93.4 ft	8.38 m.	27.5 ft
DC-9-40	40.72 m	133.6ft	28.45 m	93.3 ft	8,53 m	27 ft 12 in
DC-9-50	40.70 m	133.5ft	28.50 m ;	93.5 ft	8.53 m	27 ft 12 in
DC-10-10	55.55 m	182.3ft	47.35 m	155.3 ft	17.4 m	57 ft 6 in
DC-10-30	55.35 m	181.6 ft	47.35 m	155.3 ft	17.53 m	57.5 ft
Do328/328Jet	21.23 m	69.7 ft	20.98 m	68.8 ft	7.2m	23.6 ft
EMB120	20 m	65.6 ft	19.78 m	64.9 ft	6.35m	20.8 ft
ERJ135	26,33 m	86.4 ft	20.04 m	65.7 ft	6.71 m	22.0 ft
ERJ140	28.4 m	93.2 ft	20.0 m	65.6 ft	6.7 m	22.0 ft
ERJ145	29,87 m	98.0 ft	20,04 m	65.7 ft	6,75 m	22.1 ft
Embraer170	29.9 m	98.1 ft	26.0 m	85.3 ft	9.8 m	32.2 ft
Fokker70	30.91 m	101.4 ft	28.08 m	92.1 ft	8.5 m	27.9 ft
Fokker100	35.53 m	116.5 ft	28 m	91.9 ft	8.5 m	27.9 ft
MD-11	61.6 m	202.1 ft	51.97 m	170.5 ft	17.65 m	57.9 ft
MD-81/82/83/88	45.06 m	147.8 ft	32.87 m	107.8 ft	9.02 m	29.6 ft
MD-87	39.75 m	130.4 ft	32.8 m	107.6 ft	4.8 m	15.7 ft
MD-90-30	46.51 m	152.6 ft	32.8 m	107.6 ft	9.33 m	30.6 ft
MD-90-40	53.48 m	175.5 ft	32.87 m	107 ft 10 in	9.40 m	30 ft 10 in
L-1011	54.2 m	177.8 ft	47.35 m	155.3 ft	16.87 m	55.3 ft
L-1011-500	50.05m	164.2ft	50.09 m	164.3 ft	16.87 m	55.3 ft
Tu-154	48.0 m	157.5 ft	37.55 m	123.2 ft	11.4 m	37.4 ft

Learn more about airplane sizes and more (video)

_{AIRPLANE Size Comparison | 3D by RED SIDE}

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 4 types of planes?

Planes are categorized into four major groups, which include Passenger planes, Private jets, Charter Planes, and Cargo planes. All planes manufactured across the world fall under these categories. Passenger planes are the more common types of planes used by airlines to move air travelers across countries. Airline passenger planes come in various sizes, but they are often large enough to seat 100 – 500 people at a time.

Private jets on the other hand are much smaller than passenger planes. These planes hold a maximum of 7 – 10 people. There are custom-made private jets that are much larger in size. Charter planes come in various sizes depending on what American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, or other airlines offer or the needs of customers.

Finally, cargo planes are jumbo-sized planes, used in moving loads from one location to another. They are designed to lift heavy weights across countries. You should also note that plane sizes determine airplane seat sizes.

Is Boeing 777 bigger than the 747?

Boeing 777 is regarded as the longest commercial plane ever built. The 777-9 model has a total length of 251 feet (76.72 meters), which is about one foot longer than the Boeing 747-8, the latter is measured to have a total length of 250 feet (76.3 meters).

However, Boeing 747-8F is regarded as the biggest Boeing plane to date. It has a seating capacity of 467 passengers. A special thing to note about these planes is that the sizes of these planes also influence the seat dimensions. Plus, bigger planes are believed to assure the safety of passengers, which is not always true.

What’s the smallest plane in the world?

The Starr Bumble Bee II is the smallest plane in the world. It has a total length of 8ft 10″ and a wingspan of 5ft 6″. The plane was designed by Robert Starr with the intent of holding the record for the smallest plane in the world. It can only take one crew member due to its size, minimum seat size, seat pitch, and passenger safety. No room for carry-on luggage and no airline staff on board.

The Starr Bumble Bee II is a three feet 11 inches tall plane with a total weight of 396 lb (180 kg). It can hold a total weight of 574 lb (260 kg) and consumes 3 US gallons (11.35 liters) of fuel. At top speed, it flies 165 know (190 mph or 305 km/h).

The Starr Bumble Bee II is not built to operate as a fully functional aircraft. The aim was to design and produce an experimental plane for the sole purpose of holding the world record for the smallest plane in the world.

What’s the biggest plane in the world?

There are two categories of planes that contend for the position of the world’s largest planes. The world’s largest Cargo plane and the world’s largest passenger plane. The world’s largest cargo plane is the Antonov An-225 Mriya.

And the world’s Largest passenger plane is the Airbus A380. The world’s largest passenger plane, Airbus has a total weight of 575 tonnes, a length of 80 m, and a wingspan of 80m. The plane holds up to 840 – 855 passengers in a single flight. The aim of Boeing is to provide comfortable travel, but Airbus A380 is meant for commercial air travel.

What plane can carry the most weight?

Cargo planes carry the most weight of all the planes in operation worldwide. These categories or types of planes are specifically designed to lift heavy cargo from one location to another. There are cargo planes that have large cabin spaces with the capacity to lift up to 50 – 100 cars at a time.

Currently, the largest cargo plane in the world is the Antonov An-225 Mriya and it remains the plane with the capacity to carry the highest amount of payload in a single flight. These planes are not often used for domestic flights. and in most cases, there are no passenger seats on airplanes designed for cargo lifting. It has the capacity to lift a maximum takeoff weight of 250, which is the weight of 100+ cars. It has a wingspan of 88m and a total length of 84m.

There are speculations that other versions of cargo planes are being designed with much larger weight-lifting capabilities. However, as of the time of this writing, Antonov An-225 Mriya is regarded as the plane that can carry the most weight.

What are normal airplane sizes?

Airplane sizes would depend on the category it falls into. The metrics used for normal cargo planes are different from those used for normal standard plane private jets or passenger planes. However, Normal private jet sizes range from 10 m – 15 m in length and 10 m – 15 m wing span.

Also, the normal size of a cargo plane is around 84 m – 85 m in length and 87 m – 88 m in wingspan. Passenger planes have normal sizes of 55 m – 70 m in length and 50 m – 60 m in wingspan.

Conclusion

Every type of plane relies on its engine and size to deliver the purpose for which it’s designed. Engineers take greater care in ensuring that planes fit perfectly to stipulated sizes. The wingspan and the length of the plane can make or break the plane. There are several categories of planes in the world today. The size charts provided in these article highlights the length and wingspan of all kinds of planes.

If you have any questions regarding the size of any plane that’s not covered in the charts above, leave them in the comment section below. Also, share the article for others to benefit from the information.

Picture in this post is by John Mcarthur on Unsplash