Gulfstream G500 vs Gulfstream G550
The G550 flies further: 6,750 nm against 5,300 nm for the G500. The G500 has the bigger cabin: 1,715 cu ft against 1,669 cu ft for the G550. The G500 is faster at high-speed cruise: 516 kts against 488 kts for the G550.
G500 or G550?
Which flies further, the G500 or the G550?
The G550 flies further: 6,750 nm against 5,300 nm for the G500.
Which has the bigger cabin, the G500 or the G550?
The G500 has the bigger cabin: 1,715 cu ft against 1,669 cu ft for the G550.
Which is faster, the G500 or the G550?
The G500 is faster at high-speed cruise: 516 kts against 488 kts for the G550.
Which seats more passengers?
The G550 seats more in a typical charter layout: up to 18 against up to 14 for the G500.
Which costs more to buy, the G500 or the G550?
Pre-owned, the G500 sells for about $35.0 million to $54 million (October 2026) and the G550 for about $15 million to $35 million (Q1 2026). New, they listed at $49.4 million (2025) and $62 million.
Which is easier to charter in the US?
29 G500 and 105 G550 are on the US Part 135 charter list today. Both charter at heavy jet rates; availability on your dates decides the price.
G500 vs G550 specifications
Verified figures, checked October 2026. Fleet counts from the FAA Part 135 list (2 September 2026).
| Specification | G500 Gulfstream | G550 Gulfstream |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Range | 5,300 nm (9,816 km) | 6,750 nm (12,501 km) (best) |
| High-speed cruise | 516 kts (Mach 0.9) (best) | 488 kts (Mach 0.85) |
| Long-range cruise | 488 kts (Mach 0.85) (best) | 459 kts (Mach 0.8) |
| Maximum speed | Mach 0.925 (best) | Mach 0.885 |
| Maximum altitude | 51,000 ft | 51,000 ft |
| Take-off distance | 5,300 ft (best) | 5,910 ft |
| Landing distance | 2,620 ft (best) | 2,770 ft |
| Cabin | ||
| Typical charter seats | 13 to 14 | 14 to 18 (best) |
| Maximum seats | 19 | 19 |
| Beds (typical layout) | 8 (best) | 6 |
| Cabin zones | 3 | 3 |
| Cabin length | 41 ft 6 in (12.65 m) | 43 ft 11 in (13.39 m) (best) |
| Cabin width | 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) (best) | 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) |
| Cabin height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Cabin volume | 1,715 cu ft (best) | 1,669 cu ft |
| Baggage | 175 cu ft, reachable in flight | 226 cu ft, reachable in flight (best) |
| Windows | 14 | 14 |
| Cabin altitude | 3,255 ft at 41,000 ft | 3,680 ft at 41,000 ft |
| Engines and weights | ||
| Engines | 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW814GA | 2 × Rolls-Royce BR710 C4-11 |
| Thrust per engine | 15,144 lbf | 15,385 lbf |
| Maximum take-off weight | 79,600 lb | 91,000 lb |
| Fuel capacity | 30,250 lb | 41,300 lb |
| Price and ownership | ||
| First delivered | 2018 | 2003 |
| In production | Yes | No |
| New price | $49.4M (2025) | $62M |
| Pre-owned price | $35.0M to $54M | $15M to $35M |
| Operating cost per hour | $17,140 | $8,163 |
| Charter fleet | ||
| On the US charter list | 29 aircraft | 105 aircraft (best) |
Gold marks the best figure in each row. Take-off distance: At maximum take-off weight, sea level. Cabin length: Manufacturers measure cabin length differently; volume is the fairer comparison. Operating cost per hour: As reported; some sources quote variable cost only, others include fixed costs. See the basis under each aircraft.
Both aircraft at a glance
Gulfstream G500
- Seats
- 13 to 14 (max 19)
- Range
- 5,300 nm
- Cabin
- 1,715 cu ft
- In production
- Yes
- Charter fleet
- 29 in the US
US operators: Jet Aviation Flight Services, Executive Jet Management, Solairus Aviation
G500 specs, interior and price →
Gulfstream G550
- Seats
- 14 to 18 (max 19)
- Range
- 6,750 nm
- Cabin
- 1,669 cu ft
- In production
- No
- Charter fleet
- 105 in the US
US operators: Executive Jet Management, Solairus Aviation, STA Jets
G550 specs, interior and price →Compare with other heavy jets
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistWhich flies further, the G500 or the G550?+
The G550 flies further: 6,750 nm against 5,300 nm for the G500.
Which has the bigger cabin, the G500 or the G550?+
The G500 has the bigger cabin: 1,715 cu ft against 1,669 cu ft for the G550.
Which is faster, the G500 or the G550?+
The G500 is faster at high-speed cruise: 516 kts against 488 kts for the G550.
Which seats more passengers?+
The G550 seats more in a typical charter layout: up to 18 against up to 14 for the G500.
Which costs more to buy, the G500 or the G550?+
Pre-owned, the G500 sells for about $35.0 million to $54 million (October 2026) and the G550 for about $15 million to $35 million (Q1 2026). New, they listed at $49.4 million (2025) and $62 million.
Which is easier to charter in the US?+
29 G500 and 105 G550 are on the US Part 135 charter list today. Both charter at heavy jet rates; availability on your dates decides the price.
Where these numbers come from
- Aviation Safety Network: Gulfstream G500 (GA5C) occurrences: 2 listed, no fatalities
- Business Jet Traveler: Gulfstream G500 (Jan 2017): 175 cubic feet of baggage space, accessible in flight through the aft lavatory; Flexjet also lists in-flight luggage access
- Gulfstream: G600 specifications (Oct 2026): 6,600 nm at Mach 0.85, 5,600 nm at Mach 0.90, MTOW 94,600 lb, fuel 41,500 lb, PW815GA of 15,680 lb, cabin 45 ft 2 in and 1,884 cu ft, up to 4 living areas, sleeps 10, takeoff 5,700 ft
- AIN: Gulfstream G500 OK'd for steep approaches (Oct 2023): FAA approval of steep approach operations; the G500 landed at London City and Lugano in 2021
- Gulfstream: G500 specifications (Oct 2026): cabin volume 1,715 cu ft (48.56 m3)
- CRAFT: Gulfstream G500 ownership and operating costs (updated Dec 2024, fuel priced Oct 2026): $17,140 per hour and $3,427,987 a year at 200 hours
- Wikipedia: Gulfstream G500/G600: G600 FAA certificates 28 June 2019, first G600 delivery 8 August 2019; G400 announced October 2021
- AircraftExchange: 2019 Gulfstream G500 S/N 72029, N544AV, for sale by Gulfstream (Oct 2026): 13 passengers, four single club seats, four-place conference group opposite a credenza, two single seats opposite a three-place divan, forward and aft lavatories, Jet ConneX Ka-band
- Jetcraft: Gulfstream G500 overview (Nov 2019): landing distance at sea level, ISA, MLW
- Wikipedia: Gulfstream G550: the earlier G500, introduced in 2004, a shorter-range (5,800 nm) G550 with less fuel and the HUD and EVS optional
- Aircraft.com: 2019 Gulfstream G500 S/N 72039, P4-PLG, for sale (Oct 2026): configured for 14 passengers
- Federal Register via US DOT: FAA airworthiness directive for Gulfstream GVII-G500 and GVII-G600, docket FAA-2020-0199 (effective 13 March 2020): AFM revision after the alpha limiter engaged in the landing flare
- GlobalAir: Gulfstream G500 and G600 receive EASA steep approach landing certification (Jan 2026)
- Guardian Jet: Gulfstream G500 compare page (Oct 2026): 10 for sale (5.59% of the fleet), asks $34,950,000 to $54,000,000
- Flexjet: Gulfstream G500 fleet page (Oct 2026): 15 passengers, Ka-band Wi-Fi with Starlink being fitted across the fleet, fully enclosed forward and aft lavatories, in-flight luggage access
- GlobalAir: Gulfstream G500 specifications and operating cost (Oct 2026): factory list price $49,400,000 as of Q2 2025
- Aviation Safety Network: Gulfstream G500 N222NB, Washington Dulles, 4 January 2025: right wing struck the tailcone of a Challenger 605 while taxiing
- Aviation Safety Network: Gulfstream G500 N507GD, Washington Dulles, 28 April 2023, NTSB ERA23LA212 final: flight attendant seriously injured when takeoff began before she was seated
- General Dynamics: Gulfstream delivers first new-generation G500 on time (27 Sep 2018): delivered to a North American customer at Savannah; FAA type and production certificates on 20 July 2018
- Aviation Week: Gulfstream G400, G500 and G600 aircraft overview: announced 14 October 2014, first flight 18 May 2015 from Savannah, FAA certification 20 July 2018
- EASA: Type Certificate Data Sheet IM.A.595, Gulfstream GVII, Issue 15 (Nov 2025): models GVII-G500 and GVII-G600; State of Design TCDS FAA T00021AT; FAA TC 20 July 2018 for the G500, EASA TC 11 October 2019
- GlobalAir: G650 vs G550 (Sep 2026)
- Aviation Safety Network: Gulfstream G550 occurrences
- ICAO Carbon Emissions Calculator methodology: 3.16 kg of CO2 per kg of jet fuel
- AIN: EASA approves 100 ft decision height for EVS-equipped Gulfstreams (2008)
- CRAFT: Gulfstream G550 ownership and operating costs (Oct 2026)
- GlobalAir G550 operating cost
- Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department: Serious Incident Report 1/2017, B-8256
- DC Aviation: Gulfstream G550 charter aircraft
- Business Jet Traveler: G550
- Flightglobal: G550
- Guardian Jet spec sheet, Gulfstream G550 S/N 5354 (2012)
- Gulfstream: 550th G550 delivered (2017)
- Guardian Jet spec sheet, Gulfstream G550 S/N 5121 (2007)
- Guardian Jet spec sheet, Gulfstream G550 S/N 5446 (2014)
- Magellan Jets G550
- AIN: G550 production ends (2021)
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