How Big Are Private Jets? 10 Surprising Size Comparisons

Private jets come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny personal planes to business behemoths. But just how big (or small) are they really?

Here are 10 size comparisons that put private jet dimensions in perspective—from wingspans as wide as whales to cabins smaller than a van.

1. As Long as an Airliner

One of the largest private jets, the Gulfstream G700, measures 109 feet 10 inches from nose to tail. That's virtually the same length as a Boeing 737-700 airliner (about 110 feet 4 inches)—a private jet literally as long as a commercial passenger plane!

The G700's spacious cabin rivals commercial aircraft in length

2. Wingspan of a Whale

The Bombardier Global 7500's wings stretch 104 feet across. That's about as wide as a blue whale is long (blue whales can reach ~100 feet)—nearly matching one of the largest creatures on Earth.

From above, the massive wingspan of business jets becomes clear

3. Smaller than a Van Inside

The entire cabin volume of a typical light jet is actually less than what a cargo van can hold. For example, a Cessna Citation CJ3's cabin is about 286 cubic feet, which is smaller than the cargo space of a Mercedes Sprinter van (around 319 cubic feet).

4. Cabin vs. Hangar Height

Private jet cabins are relatively low—the G700's cabin is about 6 ft 5 in tall inside, enough to stand up in. But the aircraft's tail towers nearly five times higher. Modern long-range jets have tail heights of 25–27 feet (roughly a 2–3 story building), so hangar doors are often built about 28 ft high to accommodate them.

Tail height towers over cabin height, driving hangar door requirements

5. Wings Wider than Its Length

The Pilatus PC-12 NG turboprop is about 47 feet long—a bit longer than a city bus (~40 ft). But its wingspan is even greater, at over 53 feet, roughly the length of a standard 53-foot semi-truck trailer (giving the PC-12 a glider-like, long-wing appearance).

6. Tiny Jet, Tiny Luggage Space

The Cirrus Vision Jet—one of the smallest private jets—has only about 31 cubic feet of total baggage capacity. That's roughly the interior volume of a large household refrigerator (a typical fridge is ~20–25 cu ft), so packing space is at a premium in these mini-jets.

7. Baggage Bay Like a Small Garage

On the opposite end, the Gulfstream G700 can stow about 195 cubic feet of luggage internally. That enormous baggage bay is almost ten times the capacity of a 20-cu ft home fridge—on the order of 10 refrigerators' worth of volume—offering space for dozens of suitcases or golf bags in one plane.

Proper baggage securing is critical in large cargo bays

8. Shorter than a School Bus

The petite Cirrus Vision Jet measures only about 31 feet long. That means the entire jet is actually shorter than a full-size school bus (which is typically 35–45 feet long)—a reminder of just how compact the smallest private jets can be.

Light jets like the Vision Jet prove that private aviation doesn't always mean massive aircraft

9. Midsize Jet = Three Cars Long

Cessna's Citation XLS+ is a "midsize" private jet at 52.5 feet in length. That's roughly the length of three Toyota Camry sedans parked end-to-end (a Camry is ~16 feet long)—even a medium private jet stretches longer than a trio of family cars.

10. A Cabin as Long as a Bowling Alley

The Gulfstream G700's cabin alone spans nearly 57 feet from front to back. That's almost the entire length of a standard bowling lane (60 feet from foul line to pins)—a flying living room the length of a small alley.

Private jets span an incredible range of sizes, each with unique operational considerations