Aircraft Range Calculator
Estimate an aircraft's maximum range based on usable fuel, consumption rate, payload, and cruise speed. Useful for flight planning when evaluating whether a stop is needed or comparing aircraft performance.
Last updated: September 2026
Formula below · 2 sources (faa.gov, Wikipedia) · Updated Sep 2026
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About this calculator
Aircraft range depends on how much usable fuel is available, how efficiently the engine burns it, and how fast the aircraft travels. The formula used here is: Range = ((fuelCapacity − reserve) / adjustedBurn) × cruiseSpeed, where adjustedBurn = baseFuelConsumption × (1 + payloadWeight / 10,000) and reserve is the larger of your chosen percentage of capacity and 45 minutes of fuel at the adjusted burn. FAA reserves are time-based — 30 minutes for day VFR, 45 minutes for night VFR (14 CFR 91.151) and 45 minutes after reaching the alternate for IFR (14 CFR 91.167) — so a percentage alone can fall short; the 45-minute floor keeps the estimate on the safe side, and IFR alternate fuel must still be planned separately. The payload penalty term (payloadWeight / 10,000) approximates the increased fuel burn caused by additional weight — heavier aircraft must generate more lift, increasing drag and fuel flow. Multiplying endurance by cruise speed converts flight time into a distance in nautical miles.
How to use
Aircraft specs: 400-gallon capacity, 45 gal/hr base consumption, 280-knot cruise, 6,000 lb payload, 10% reserve. Step 1 — Adjusted burn rate: 45 × (1 + 6,000 / 10,000) = 45 × 1.6 = 72 gal/hr. Step 2 — Reserve: the larger of 10% × 400 = 40 gallons and 45 minutes × 72 gal/hr = 54 gallons, so 54 gallons. Step 3 — Usable fuel: 400 − 54 = 346 gallons. Step 4 — Endurance: 346 / 72 = 4.81 hours. Step 5 — Range: 4.81 × 280 ≈ 1,346 nautical miles. Enter your aircraft's actual figures to get a customized range estimate, and plan alternate fuel separately for IFR.
Frequently asked questions
How does payload weight affect aircraft range and fuel consumption?
Additional payload increases the aircraft's gross weight, which requires greater lift and therefore produces more induced drag. More drag means the engines must work harder, raising fuel consumption above the unloaded baseline. In this calculator the effect is approximated as a linear penalty: every 10,000 lbs of payload doubles the effective fuel burn rate. In reality the relationship is non-linear and varies by aircraft type, altitude, and airspeed, so this estimate is best used for planning purposes rather than precise performance charts.
What fuel reserve percentage should I use when calculating aircraft range?
FAA regulations for VFR day flight require enough fuel to fly to the destination plus 30 minutes at cruise speed; night VFR requires 45 minutes. IFR flights require fuel to the destination, an alternate airport, and 45 minutes beyond. Because these rules are time-based, a percentage reserve can fall short — on a 2-hour flight, 45 minutes is about 38% of trip fuel — so this calculator never reserves less than 45 minutes at the adjusted burn rate. Airlines and business aviation operators often add additional company-policy reserves on top of regulatory minimums, particularly on oceanic or remote routes where diversions are costly.
Why does cruise speed matter when calculating maximum flight range?
Cruise speed converts endurance (hours of fuel) into range (distance). Two aircraft with identical fuel loads and burn rates will have very different ranges if one cruises at 180 knots and the other at 450 knots. However, higher cruise speeds usually come with higher fuel burn, so there is an optimal speed — often called the 'maximum range cruise' speed — where the ratio of speed to fuel flow is greatest. Pilots flying for maximum range should consult their POH's range-performance tables rather than relying solely on maximum cruise speed figures.