A private jet can fly about 1,100 to 7,700 nautical miles nonstop, depending on its class. Light jets reach about 1,500 to 2,200 nm, enough for New York to Florida. Super midsize jets fly coast to coast. Heavy jets cross the Atlantic, and ultra long range jets such as the Global 7500 connect New York with Tokyo or Dubai. Plan on about 85% of the published range.
Key takeaways
- Published range is a best case. It assumes a light load, standard reserves and an economical speed. Real range on a given day is shorter.
- Plan on about 85% of the published figure for a full cabin and normal winds. Our tools use the same rule.
- Light jets suit trips up to about 1,300 to 1,900 nm, super midsize jets coast to coast, heavy jets the Atlantic and ultra long range jets intercontinental routes.
- Headwinds, weight and airport conditions can force a fuel stop on a route that works on paper. The operator decides on the day.
- A fuel stop is not a failure. It adds time, but it can let a smaller, cheaper jet fly the trip.
How far can each private jet class fly?
Each class covers a broad range band. The figures below come from manufacturer-published ranges in the aircraft data behind our tools, rounded, and the planning range at 85% of each.
| Class | Published range | Planning range (85%) | Typical nonstop trips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprops | 1,100–1,800 nm | 935–1,530 nm | Regional hops, island strips |
| Very light jets | 1,100–1,550 nm | 935–1,320 nm | 1 to 2 hour regional trips |
| Light jets | 1,500–2,200 nm | 1,275–1,870 nm | New York to Florida, Los Angeles to Las Vegas |
| Midsize jets | 1,800–2,900 nm | 1,530–2,465 nm | Most domestic routes, East Coast to the Rockies |
| Super midsize jets | 3,100–4,000 nm | 2,635–3,400 nm | Coast to coast, Hawaii from the West Coast |
| Heavy jets | 3,400–6,000 nm | 2,890–5,100 nm | Transatlantic from the East Coast |
| Ultra long range jets | 6,000–7,700 nm | 5,100–6,545 nm | New York to Asia or the Middle East |
Range and cost go together: hourly rates rise steeply with each class, so the right choice is the smallest jet that flies your route with margin. Our charter flight cost calculator shows what each class costs on your route, and the guide to private jet sizes compares cabins, seats and baggage.
Which jets can fly these real routes nonstop?
The table matches common routes with the smallest aircraft whose planning range covers them, and the class most operators would choose. Distances are straight-line; times are estimated in still air at typical class cruise speeds.
| Route | Distance | Smallest on paper | Usual choice | Est. time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (Van Nuys) to Las Vegas | 200 nm | Turboprop | Light jet | 47 min |
| New York (Teterboro) to Palm Beach | 900 nm | Turboprop | Light jet | 2 h 27 min |
| New York to Aspen | 1,500 nm | Pilatus PC-12 | Midsize jet | 3 h 51 min |
| New York to Los Angeles | 2,130 nm | Hawker 800XP (midsize) | Super midsize jet | 5 h 07 min |
| Los Angeles to Maui | 2,160 nm | Hawker 800XP (midsize) | Super midsize jet | 5 h 11 min |
| New York to London | 2,990 nm | Gulfstream G280 (super midsize) | Long-range super midsize or heavy | 6 h 59 min |
| Miami to São Paulo | 3,560 nm | Gulfstream GIV-SP (heavy) | Heavy jet | 8 h 16 min |
| Los Angeles to London | 4,720 nm | Falcon 7X (heavy) | Long-range heavy or ultra long range | 10 h 52 min |
| Los Angeles to Tokyo | 4,750 nm | Falcon 7X (heavy) | Long-range heavy or ultra long range | 10 h 56 min |
| New York to Tokyo | 5,860 nm | Gulfstream G650ER | Ultra long range jet | 12 h 53 min |
| New York to Dubai | 5,940 nm | Gulfstream G650ER | Ultra long range jet | 13 h 04 min |
| Los Angeles to Sydney | 6,520 nm | Global 7500 | Ultra long range jet | 14 h 18 min |
"Smallest on paper" means the route falls just inside that aircraft's planning range. In practice, operators choose a larger class when a route sits near the limit, especially in winter or with a full cabin. A turboprop flying New York to Aspen, for example, would take well over five hours and face a demanding high-altitude departure; a midsize jet is the realistic choice. For Aspen's specific rules, see our Aspen guide.
Some routes sit beyond every aircraft's planning range. New York to Hong Kong is about 6,990 nm in a straight line, more than the planning range of even the Global 7500, so it is usually planned with a fuel stop unless conditions allow a nonstop flight with a lighter load.
What does "range" actually mean?
Published range is the distance a jet can fly with a set load and fuel reserves, at an economical cruise speed. Manufacturers usually quote it with "NBAA IFR reserves," an industry convention that keeps fuel for a missed approach, a diversion to an alternate airport and a final reserve on landing. Each manufacturer states its own assumptions, including how many passengers are aboard.
The legal minimum for charter is separate. Under 14 CFR 135.223, a charter airplane flying on instruments must carry enough fuel to reach its destination, then fly to its alternate airport, then fly 45 minutes more at normal cruising speed, unless the destination's weather forecast is good enough that no alternate is required. Operators plan every flight to meet that rule and their own policies.
What reduces a private jet's range?
Five things shorten range on a real trip.
- Payload. Every passenger and bag adds weight. On some jets, filling every seat means carrying less fuel.
- Wind. Prevailing westerly winds at cruising altitude usually shorten eastbound flights and lengthen westbound ones. A route that works eastbound may need a stop coming home.
- Cruise speed. Flying faster burns more fuel. Published range is usually quoted at a slower, economical speed.
- Alternate airports. Bad weather at the destination means carrying fuel to a more distant alternate.
- Airport conditions. Hot weather, high elevation and short runways limit takeoff weight, and with it fuel. Aspen's airport, for example, publishes guidance on high-altitude performance, noting that density altitude there can reach around 11,000 feet on a summer afternoon.
That is why a quote can specify a fuel stop on a route that looks fine on paper. The operator, not the broker, makes the final call based on the day's weather, weights and airports.
How do fuel stops work?
A fuel stop is a short landing to refuel before continuing to the destination. Our calculator allows about 35 minutes for each stop, including the extra descent and climb; busy airports, customs or crew changes can make it longer.
When a stop makes sense:
- To use a smaller jet. A light or midsize jet with one stop can cost less than a larger jet flying nonstop, especially on routes just beyond its range.
- On westbound transatlantic returns, where headwinds can push a jet past its limit.
- On very long routes beyond any jet's comfortable range, such as New York to Hong Kong.
Common stops include Gander, Goose Bay, Reykjavik or Shannon across the Atlantic, and Anchorage across the North Pacific. For transatlantic trips in detail, see our guide to flying a private jet to Europe from the US.
When is extra range worth paying for?
Extra range is worth it when it removes a stop you would otherwise need, or adds margin on a route near the limit. It is not worth it on short trips, where a larger jet costs more per hour and flies at almost the same speed.
Three situations where a longer-range jet usually pays off:
- Overwater routes, such as the West Coast to Hawaii, where there is no place to stop and every flight needs a comfortable fuel margin.
- Westbound returns across the Atlantic or the country in winter, when headwinds are strongest.
- Full cabins with heavy bags, such as ski trips or family holidays, where payload eats into fuel.
On a short domestic trip with a light load, the smallest suitable jet is almost always the better value.
How to choose the right range for your trip
- Measure the route with the range explorer, which applies the 85% planning margin.
- Add your real load: count passengers and bags honestly.
- Check the return, especially westbound and in winter.
- Compare nonstop in a larger jet with one stop in a smaller one. The flight time calculator shows the time difference.
- Ask the operator to confirm nonstop capability for your date, load and airports before you book.
When you are ready, request a quote with your route, dates, passengers and bags. We will compare aircraft that fly your trip nonstop, and smaller options with a stop if they save money.