Ian Mackey

Cabin Altitude Rankings

Updated

Airliners pressurize their cabins to the height of a mountain town, not the sea. At cruise, most hold the cabin between 6,000 and 8,000 feet, about as high as Aspen. The thinner the air, the less oxygen reaches your blood, and the worse you sleep and feel after landing.1

Newer planes keep the cabin lower. Below is nearly every aircraft type you are likely to fly, ranked by cabin altitude at each plane's top cruising height.

144 aircraft

  1. 1Regional turboprop

    Saab 340

    340A, 340B, 340B Plus

    ≈4,500 ftCabin at 25,000 ft

  2. 2Large-cabin jet

    Bombardier Global 8000

    ≈4,770 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  3. 3Large-cabin jetEntering service

    Gulfstream G400

    4,850 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  4. 4Large-cabin jet

    Gulfstream G500 / G600

    G500, G600

    4,850 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  5. 5Large-cabin jet

    Gulfstream G650 / G650ER

    G650, G650ER

    4,850 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  6. 6Large-cabin jet

    Gulfstream G700 / G800

    G700, G800

    4,850 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  7. 7Large-cabin jetEntering service

    Dassault Falcon 10X

    ≈5,100 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  8. 8Large-cabin jet

    Bombardier Global 5000 / 6000 family

    Global Express, Global Express XRS, Global 5000, Global 6000, Global 5500, Global 6500

    ≈5,680 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  9. 9Large-cabin jet

    Bombardier Global 7500

    5,680 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  10. 10Super-midsize jet

    Gulfstream G280

    ≈5,790 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  11. 11Super-midsize jetEntering service

    Gulfstream G300

    ≈5,790 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  12. 12Midsize jet

    Embraer Praetor 500 / 600

    Praetor 500, Praetor 600, Legacy 450, Legacy 500

    5,800 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  13. 13Super-midsize jet

    Bombardier Challenger 3500

    ≈5,860 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  14. 14Regional turboprop

    ATR 42-600 / ATR 72-600

    ATR 42-600, ATR 42-600S, ATR 72-600

    ≈5,900 ftCabin at 25,000 ft

  15. 15NarrowbodyEntering service

    Yakovlev MC-21

    MC-21-310

    ≈5,900 ftEstimateCabin at cruise

  16. 5,950 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  17. 5,950 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  18. 18Large-cabin jet

    Dassault Falcon 7X / 8X

    Falcon 7X, Falcon 8X

    6,000 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  19. 19Large-cabin jet

    Gulfstream GV / G550

    GV, G550

    6,000 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  20. 20Large-cabin jet

    Gulfstream GIV / G450 family

    GIV, GIV-SP, G300, G400, G350, G450

    6,000 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  21. 21Midsize jet

    Hawker 4000

    6,000 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  22. 6,000 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  23. 23Widebody

    Airbus A350-900

    6,000 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  24. 24WidebodyEntering service

    Boeing 777-9

    6,000 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  25. 25Widebody

    Boeing 787-10

    6,000 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  26. 26Widebody

    Boeing 787-8

    6,000 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  27. 27Widebody

    Boeing 787-9

    6,000 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  28. 28Bizliner

    Boeing BBJ 787

    BBJ 787-8, BBJ 787-9, BBJ 787-10

    6,000 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  29. 29Bizliner

    Airbus ACJ350

    ACJ350-900, ACJ350-1000

    6,000 ftCabin at 43,000 ft

  30. 30Narrowbody

    Airbus A220-100

    ≈6,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,000 ft

  31. 31Narrowbody

    Airbus A220-300

    ≈6,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,000 ft

  32. 32Bizliner

    Airbus ACJ TwoTwenty

    Based on the A220-100

    6,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  33. 33Large-cabin jet

    Dassault Falcon 6X

    ≈6,100 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  34. 34Widebody

    Airbus A380

    A380-800

    ≈6,100 ftEstimateCabin at 43,000 ft

  35. 35Business turbopropEntering service

    Beechcraft Denali

    6,130 ftCabin at 31,000 ft

  36. 36Light jetEntering service

    HondaJet Echelon

    6,363 ftCabin at 47,000 ft

  37. 37Bizliner

    Airbus ACJ320neo family

    ACJ319neo, ACJ320neo

    6,400 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  38. 38Bizliner

    Boeing BBJ MAX

    BBJ 737-7, BBJ 737-8, BBJ 737-9

    6,500 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  39. 39Light jet

    Embraer Phenom 300E

    Phenom 300, Phenom 300E

    6,600 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  40. 40Business turboprop

    Piaggio P.180 Avanti

    P.180 Avanti EVO, Avanti II

    6,600 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  41. ≈6,800 ftEstimateCabin at 45,000 ft

  42. 42Midsize jet

    Cessna Citation Excel / XLS

    Citation Excel, Citation XLS, Citation XLS+, Citation XLS Gen2

    6,800 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  43. 43Large-cabin jet

    Bombardier Challenger 604 / 605 / 650

    Challenger 601, Challenger 604, Challenger 605, Challenger 650

    ≈6,880 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  44. 44WidebodyBeing retired

    Ilyushin Il-96

    Il-96-300

    ≈6,900 ftEstimateCabin at 42,650 ft

  45. 45Bizliner

    Embraer Lineage 1000 / 1000E

    Lineage 1000, Lineage 1000E

    7,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  46. 46Regional turbopropBeing retired

    Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia

    EMB 120, EMB 120ER

    ≈7,000 ftCabin at 29,800 ft

  47. 47Large-cabin jet

    Dassault Falcon 2000LXS / 2000S

    Falcon 2000EX, Falcon 2000LX, Falcon 2000LXS, Falcon 2000S

    7,200 ftCabin at 47,000 ft

  48. ≈7,200 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  49. 49Midsize jet

    Cessna Citation Sovereign+

    Citation Sovereign, Citation Sovereign+

    7,230 ftCabin at 47,000 ft

  50. 50Light jet

    Nextant 400XTi

    Nextant 400XT, Nextant 400XTi

    ≈7,240 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  51. 51Regional turbopropBeing retired

    Saab 2000

    ≈7,400 ftCabin at 31,000 ft

  52. 52Midsize jet

    Hawker 800XP / 850XP / 900XP

    Hawker 800XP, Hawker 850XP, Hawker 900XP

    7,500 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  53. 53Regional jet

    Embraer ERJ 135 / 140 / 145

    ERJ 135, ERJ 140, ERJ 145, ERJ 145XR

    ≈7,500 ftCabin at 37,000 ft

  54. 54Narrowbody

    Boeing 757-200

    ≈7,600 ftCabin at 42,000 ft

  55. 55Narrowbody

    Boeing 757-300

    ≈7,600 ftCabin at 42,000 ft

  56. 56WidebodyBeing retired

    Boeing 747-400

    ≈7,700 ftCabin at 45,100 ft

  57. 57Light jet

    Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen2

    Citation CJ4, Citation CJ4 Gen2, Citation CJ4 Gen3

    7,800 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  58. 58Narrowbody

    Boeing 717

    717-200

    ≈7,800 ftCabin at 37,000 ft

  59. 59Large-cabin jet

    Embraer Legacy 600 / 650

    Legacy 600, Legacy 650, Legacy 650E

    ≈7,820 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  60. 60Super-midsize jet

    Bombardier Challenger 300 / 350

    Challenger 300, Challenger 350

    ≈7,900 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  61. ≈7,900 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  62. ≈7,900 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  63. 63Widebody

    Boeing 777-200

    ≈7,900 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  64. ≈7,900 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  65. ≈7,900 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  66. 66Widebody

    Boeing 777-300

    ≈7,900 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  67. ≈7,900 ftCabin at 43,100 ft

  68. 68Midsize jet

    Gulfstream G150 / G200

    G150, G200

    ≈7,940 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  69. 69Midsize jet

    Cessna Citation X / X+

    Citation X, Citation X+

    8,000 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  70. 70Light jet

    Learjet 40 / 45 / 70 / 75

    Learjet 40, 40XR, 45, 45XR, 70, 75, 75 Liberty

    8,000 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  71. 71Midsize jet

    Learjet 60

    Learjet 60, Learjet 60XR

    8,000 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  72. 72Light jet

    Cessna Citation CJ2 / Encore

    Citation CJ2, Citation CJ2+, Citation Encore, Citation Encore+

    8,000 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  73. 73Light jet

    Cessna Citation CJ3+ / CJ3 Gen2

    Citation CJ3, Citation CJ3+, Citation CJ3 Gen2

    8,000 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  74. 74Light jet

    Pilatus PC-24

    8,000 ftCabin at 45,000 ft

  75. 75Very light jet

    HondaJet

    HondaJet, Elite, Elite S, Elite II, APMG

    8,000 ftCabin at 43,000 ft

  76. 76Widebody

    Airbus A330-800

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,450 ft

  77. 77Widebody

    Airbus A330-900

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,450 ft

  78. 78WidebodyBeing retired

    Airbus A340-300

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,450 ft

  79. 79WidebodyBeing retired

    Airbus A340-600

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,450 ft

  80. 80Widebody

    Airbus A330-200

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,100 ft

  81. 81Widebody

    Airbus A330-300

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,100 ft

  82. 82NarrowbodyEntering service

    Boeing 737 MAX 10

    ≈8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  83. 83NarrowbodyEntering service

    Boeing 737 MAX 7

    ≈8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  84. 84Narrowbody

    Boeing 737 MAX 8

    ≈8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  85. ≈8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  86. 86Narrowbody

    Boeing 737 MAX 9

    ≈8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  87. 87Narrowbody

    Boeing 737-700

    ≈8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  88. 88Narrowbody

    Boeing 737-800

    ≈8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  89. 89Narrowbody

    Boeing 737-900

    ≈8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  90. 90Narrowbody

    Boeing 737-900ER

    ≈8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  91. 91Bizliner

    Boeing BBJ 737

    BBJ, BBJ2, BBJ3

    8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  92. 92Bizliner

    Bombardier Challenger 850

    Challenger 800, Challenger 850

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,000 ft

  93. 93Regional jetBeing retired

    Bombardier CRJ100 / CRJ200

    CRJ100, CRJ200, CRJ440

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,000 ft

  94. 94Regional jet

    Bombardier CRJ550 / CRJ700

    CRJ550, CRJ700

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,000 ft

  95. 95Regional jet

    Bombardier CRJ900 / CRJ1000

    CRJ900, CRJ1000

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,000 ft

  96. 96Very light jet

    Cessna Citation M2 Gen2

    Citation M2, Citation M2 Gen2

    8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  97. 97Very light jet

    Cessna Citation Mustang

    8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  98. 98Very light jet

    Eclipse 500 / 550

    Eclipse 500, Eclipse 550

    8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  99. 99Regional jet

    Embraer E170 / E175

    E170, E175, E175 SC

    ≈8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  100. 100Regional jetEntering service

    Embraer E175-E2

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,000 ft

  101. 101Regional jet

    Embraer E190 / E195

    E190, E190AR, E195

    ≈8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  102. 102Regional jet

    Embraer E190-E2 / E195-E2

    E190-E2, E195-E2

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,000 ft

  103. 103Very light jet

    Embraer Phenom 100EV / 100EX

    Phenom 100, Phenom 100E, Phenom 100EV, Phenom 100EX

    8,000 ftCabin at 41,000 ft

  104. 104Regional jet

    Sukhoi Superjet 100

    SSJ100-95B, SSJ100-95LR, SJ-100

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 41,000 ft

  105. 105NarrowbodyBeing retired

    Tupolev Tu-204 / Tu-214

    Tu-204-100, Tu-204-300, Tu-214

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 40,000 ft

  106. 106Narrowbody

    Airbus A319neo

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 39,800 ft

  107. 107Narrowbody

    Airbus A320neo

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 39,800 ft

  108. 108Narrowbody

    Airbus A321LR

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 39,800 ft

  109. 109Narrowbody

    Airbus A321neo

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 39,800 ft

  110. 110Narrowbody

    Airbus A321XLR

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 39,800 ft

  111. 111Narrowbody

    COMAC C919

    C919-100, C919-100 ER

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 39,800 ft

  112. 112Narrowbody

    Airbus A319ceo

    ≈8,000 ftCabin at 39,000 ft

  113. 113Narrowbody

    Airbus A320ceo

    ≈8,000 ftCabin at 39,000 ft

  114. 114Narrowbody

    Airbus A321ceo

    ≈8,000 ftCabin at 39,000 ft

  115. 115Regional jet

    COMAC ARJ21 / C909

    ARJ21-700, C909

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 39,000 ft

  116. 116NarrowbodyBeing retired

    McDonnell Douglas MD-80 / MD-90

    MD-81, MD-82, MD-83, MD-87, MD-88, MD-90

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 37,000 ft

  117. 117Regional jetBeing retired

    Dornier 328JET

    328-300

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 35,000 ft

  118. 118Regional jetBeing retired

    Fokker 70 / Fokker 100

    Fokker 70, Fokker 100

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 35,000 ft

  119. 119Regional jetBeing retired

    BAe 146 / Avro RJ

    146-100, 146-200, 146-300, RJ70, RJ85, RJ100

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 31,000 ft

  120. 120Very light jet

    Cirrus Vision Jet

    Vision Jet G2, Vision Jet G2+

    8,000 ftCabin at 31,000 ft

  121. 121Regional turboprop

    Dornier 328

    328-100, 328-110, 328-120

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 31,000 ft

  122. 122Regional turbopropBeing retired

    BAe Jetstream 41

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 26,000 ft

  123. 123Regional turbopropBeing retired

    Antonov An-24

    An-24B, An-24RV

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 25,000 ft

  124. 124Regional turbopropBeing retired

    BAe Jetstream 31 / 32

    Jetstream 31, Jetstream Super 31 (J32)

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 25,000 ft

  125. 125Regional turboprop

    De Havilland Dash 8 Q400

    Q400, Dash 8-400

    ≈8,000 ftCabin at 25,000 ft

  126. 126Regional turbopropBeing retired

    De Havilland Dash 8-100 / 200 / 300

    Dash 8-100, Dash 8-200, Dash 8-300

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 25,000 ft

  127. 127Regional turbopropBeing retired

    Fokker 50

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 25,000 ft

  128. 128Regional turboprop

    Xian MA60

    MA60, MA600

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateCabin at 25,000 ft

  129. 129Large-cabin jet

    Dassault Falcon 900EX / 900LX

    Falcon 900B, Falcon 900EX, Falcon 900DX, Falcon 900LX

    ≈8,030 ftCabin at 51,000 ft

  130. 130Regional turboprop

    Beechcraft 1900D

    1900D, 1900C

    ≈8,900 ftCabin at 25,000 ft

  131. 131Business turboprop

    Daher TBM 960

    ≈9,340 ftCabin at 31,000 ft

  132. 132Business turboprop

    Beechcraft King Air 360

    King Air 360, King Air 360ER, King Air 360CER

    9,600 ftCabin at 35,000 ft

  133. 133Business turboprop

    Pilatus PC-12 NGX

    PC-12 NG, PC-12 NGX, PC-12 Pro

    ≈9,980 ftCabin at 30,000 ft

  134. 134Business turboprop

    Beechcraft King Air 260 / 350i

    King Air 250, King Air 260, King Air 350i

    10,000 ftCabin at 35,000 ft

  135. 135Business turboprop

    Piper M600 / M700 Fury

    M600, M600/SLS, M700 Fury

    ≈10,620 ftCabin at 30,000 ft

  136. 136Commuter

    De Havilland Beaver / Otter floatplanes

    DHC-2 Beaver, DHC-2T Turbo Beaver, DHC-3 Otter, DHC-3T Turbine Otter

    ≈3,000 ftEstimateUnpressurized, flies ~3,000 ft

  137. 137Commuter

    Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander

    BN-2A, BN-2B

    ≈5,000 ftEstimateUnpressurized, flies ~5,000 ft

  138. 138CommuterBeing retired

    Cessna 402 / Piper Navajo

    Cessna 402C, PA-31 Navajo, PA-31-350 Chieftain

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateUnpressurized, flies ~8,000 ft

  139. 139Commuter

    De Havilland Twin Otter

    DHC-6-300, DHC-6-400, DHC-6 Classic 300-G

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateUnpressurized, flies ~8,000 ft

  140. 140Commuter

    Tecnam P2012 Traveller

    P2012, P2012 STOL

    ≈8,000 ftEstimateUnpressurized, flies ~8,000 ft

  141. 141Commuter

    Cessna 208 Caravan

    208, 208B Grand Caravan, 208B EX

    ≈10,000 ftEstimateUnpressurized, flies ~10,000 ft

  142. 142Commuter

    Dornier 228

    228-100, 228-200, 228 NG

    ≈10,000 ftEstimateUnpressurized, flies ~10,000 ft

  143. 143Commuter

    Let L-410

    L-410 UVP-E20, L 410 NG

    ≈10,000 ftEstimateUnpressurized, flies ~10,000 ft

  144. 144Business turboprop

    Daher Kodiak 900

    ≈12,000 ftEstimateUnpressurized, flies ~12,000 ft

Footnotes

  1. In a Boeing-funded study of 502 adults in an altitude chamber, blood oxygen fell steadily as the cabin went from sea level to 8,000 feet, and complaints of discomfort rose noticeably from about 7,000 feet. That's why the 787 holds 6,000. See Muhm et al., Effect of Aircraft-Cabin Altitude on Passenger Discomfort, New England Journal of Medicine, 2007. Rankings use each plane's cabin altitude at its highest cruising altitude; on shorter flights at lower altitudes, every pressurized plane does better than its number here. Figures marked ≈ are worked out from the plane's pressurization limit or estimated where the manufacturer doesn't publish one. Airline logos provided by Logo.dev. ↩