Aircraft · 7 min read
Light Jet vs Midsize Jet: Which Should You Charter?
Choose a light jet for trips under roughly 1,500 nm with four to six passengers and light baggage. Choose a midsize jet when you need a stand-up-height cabin, an enclosed lavatory, meaningful baggage volume, or non-stop range beyond 2,000 nm. The midsize typically costs 40–60% more per hour.
Updated 31/07/2026
Key Facts
- Light jet range
- ≈ 1,200–1,900 nm
- Midsize range
- ≈ 1,900–3,000 nm
- Light jet passengers
- 4–7
- Midsize passengers
- 7–9
- Light jet cabin height
- ≈ 1.45–1.50 m (seated)
- Midsize cabin height
- ≈ 1.70–1.83 m (near stand-up)
The honest difference
Both categories cruise at broadly similar speeds and use broadly the same airports. What separates them is time-in-cabin comfort and payload, not how fast you get there.
On a 90-minute hop, a light jet is entirely appropriate and the money saved is real. On a four-hour sector with four adults, luggage and the need to work or sleep, the midsize earns its premium within the first hour.
Pick a light jet when
- The sector is under about two and a half hours.
- There are four to six passengers with carry-on and one case each.
- You are using shorter runways or constrained regional fields.
- Cost per hour is the deciding factor.
Pick a midsize jet when
- You need to stand, or close to it, in the cabin.
- The trip is transcontinental within Europe, or US coast-to-coast adjacent.
- There is ski, golf or camera equipment to carry.
- You need a fully enclosed lavatory and a proper galley.
- Passengers must arrive able to work immediately.
The category most people actually want
Super-midsize aircraft sit between midsize and heavy and are frequently the correct answer for European and transatlantic-adjacent missions: near-heavy-jet cabins and range at meaningfully lower operating cost. If your shortlist is 'light or midsize', it is worth pricing a super-midsize alongside them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a light jet fly from London to Nice?
Yes. London to Nice is roughly 1h 55m block time and well inside light-jet range with full passengers, making it one of the most common light-jet sectors in Europe.
Can a midsize jet cross the Atlantic?
Generally not non-stop. Most midsize aircraft need a technical fuel stop for transatlantic sectors. Super-midsize, heavy and ultra-long-range types are the non-stop categories.
How much more does a midsize jet cost than a light jet?
Typically 40–60% more per flight hour. Indicatively, £1,800–£3,000 per hour for a light jet against £2,800–£4,500 for a midsize, before positioning and airport costs.
Can you stand up in a midsize jet?
In most midsize cabins you can stand slightly stooped at around 1.70–1.83 m of cabin height. True flat-floor stand-up height generally starts in the super-midsize and heavy categories.