Overlay two aircraft
Lay two aircraft over each other at one scale, read the differences, and test both against a box of your own.
Side by side: A320 0.1 ft wider; 737-800 6.2 ft longer; 737-800 1.8 ft taller.
Wingspan, length and tail height of the A320 are all within 118 × 130 × 42 ft.
Wingspan, length and tail height of the 737-800 are all within 118 × 130 × 42 ft.
| Measure | A320 | 737-800 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 117.5 ft | 117.4 ft | A +0.1 ft (0.1%) |
| Length | 123.3 ft | 129.5 ft | B +6.2 ft (5.0%) |
| Tail height | 39.6 ft | 41.4 ft | B +1.8 ft (4.5%) |
| Main gear width | 29.4 ft | 23.0 ft | A +6.4 ft (27.8%) |
| Wheelbase | 41.5 ft | 51.2 ft | B +9.7 ft (23.4%) |
| Plan box | 14,488 ft² | 15,203 ft² | B +716 ft² (4.9%) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 171,961 lb | 174,200 lb | B +2,239 lb (1.3%) |
| Design Group | III | III | same |
| Approach Category | C (136 kt reference) | D (144 kt reference) | differs |
Geometric comparison of FAA-published dimensions only. No clearances are included.
How to use it
Choose Aircraft A and Aircraft B; typing a name or ICAO code while a list is open jumps to it. Top view shows wingspan and length, side view shows length and tail height. Nose alignment starts both outlines at the same point; centre alignment lines up their middles. Enter a width, length and height to see whether each aircraft falls within that box. The address bar keeps your choices, so a comparison can be shared as a link.
The default example uses a box of 118 × 130 × 42 ft. Its width is the wingspan where Design Group IV begins, and the A320 and the 737-800 both stay inside it.
What the numbers mean
Wingspan is the larger of the FAA’s two span values, so winglets and sharklets count when the file lists them. Tail height is measured at operating empty weight. Plan box is wingspan times length, the rectangle that encloses the top view. The reference approach speed appears only as the FAA input behind each Approach Category. Outlines are generic shapes stretched to each type’s published dimensions; wing sweep and engine positions are schematic. Full definitions: How we measure.
Source: FAA Aircraft Characteristics Database, October 2024 release, a U.S. Government work in the public domain. Ranks, differences and comparisons computed by aircraftdimensions.online. How we measure.