The Smallest Private Jets, Ranked by Size

The smallest private jets are very light jets: four to seven seats, usually one pilot, and a range of 1,100 to 1,600 nautical miles. They are the cheapest jets to buy and run, and they reach small airports that larger jets can't use. Here are the smallest, ranked by length.

The smallest private jets, ranked

The ranked table and the to-scale lineup above compare all six side by side.

Dimensions and performance are the manufacturers' published figures or, for the Eclipse and the Citation Mustang, the type certificate data sheet (the Mustang's range and cruise are from its ownership-cost page). Seat counts are certified maximums. For scale, a light jet such as the Embraer Phenom 300E is about 51 feet long, and the Pilatus PC-24 about 55 feet.

1. Cirrus Vision Jet: the smallest jet in production

The Cirrus Vision Jet is the only single-engine jet in production. Its Williams engine sits on top of the fuselage behind the cabin, between a V-tail, and the whole aircraft is 30.7 feet long. Cirrus quotes up to seven seats, 317 knots and 1,275 nautical miles, and a maximum altitude of 31,000 feet, lower than any other jet.

It is also the only jet certified with a whole-airframe parachute, and its Safe Return emergency autoland can land the aircraft at the push of a button if the pilot is incapacitated. Most Vision Jets are flown by their owners, so you are more likely to fly in one as a friend than to charter one. Vision Jet operating costs.

2. Eclipse 550 and 500: the smallest twin

The Eclipse 500, first delivered in 2006, and the updated Eclipse 550 are the smallest twin-engine jets ever built in numbers: 33.4 feet long, with two small Pratt & Whitney Canada engines mounted on the rear fuselage. They seat up to six including the pilot and fly about 1,125 nautical miles at up to 375 knots. Eclipse Aerospace still supports the fleet; its site does not say whether new aircraft are in production. Eclipse 550 operating costs.

3. Cessna Citation Mustang

The Citation Mustang brought the Citation name to the very light class in 2006 and was built until the M2 replaced it. It seats four passengers with two crew seats up front, and its type certificate limits it to Mach 0.63. Hundreds remain in service and many are flown by owner-pilots. Mustang operating costs.

4. Embraer Phenom 100EX

Embraer's smallest jet is 42.1 feet long and seats up to eight people including the crew. Embraer quotes 406 knots high-speed cruise and 1,178 nautical miles with four occupants. Its cabin has a private lavatory at the back, and it shares its cockpit layout with the larger Phenom 300.

5. Cessna Citation M2 Gen3

The M2 is a common sight on charter fleets. Cessna's current Gen3 version is 42.6 feet long with the widest wingspan of the group, 47.3 feet, seats up to seven, cruises at 404 knots and flies 1,550 nautical miles, the longest range on this list. The cabin is 11 feet long and about 4 feet 9 inches tall. Citation M2 operating costs.

6. HondaJet Elite II

The HondaJet mounts its engines on pylons above the wings, which frees space in the cabin and lowers drag. The Elite II is 42.6 feet long and Honda Aircraft quotes 422 knots and 1,547 nautical miles with four occupants, the fastest jet here. HondaJet operating costs.

What a small jet can and can't do

What they do well: short trips for up to four people, at a lower hourly cost than any other jet. Small jets use short runways and small airports, often closer to where you are going, and burn noticeably less fuel than a light jet.

What they give up:

• Range. 1,100 to 1,550 nautical miles in still air, less with a full cabin. New York to Miami is comfortable; New York to Los Angeles takes a fuel stop.
• Cabin. You sit, not stand. Most have a small or emergency-only lavatory.
• Baggage. Space for a few soft bags; skis and golf clubs may not fit.
• Weather. They fly lower and slower than larger jets, so they spend more time in the weather.

For more room without a big step in cost, a light jet such as the Phenom 300 or Citation CJ4 adds range, a real lavatory and seats for up to ten; the types of private jets compares every class. On cost, small jets also top the operating cost league table and the list of cheapest new private jets.