How Much Fuel Does a Boeing 747 Hold?

The Boeing 747 is a large aircraft with an enormous fuel capacity. But total fuel capacity varies depending on the variant. Learn how much fuel a Boeing 747 can hold.

Tobias Holm

The Boeing 747 is a masterwork of engineering. However, even the most spectacular aircraft can't do its work without fuel. The question is: "How much fuel does a 747 hold?"

According to Executive Fliers.com, a Boeing 747 can hold around 48,400 to just over 63,000 gallons of jet fuel. This depends upon which model of Boeing 747 is being considered; the Boeing 747-8i Intercontinental, for example, can hold up to 63,034 fuel gallons.

In this article, we will go over how much fuel a Boeing 747 can carry, including a few comparisons between this exemplary aircraft's different models. We'll also provide a brief overview of how the 747 stores fuel and answer a few of the web's most Frequently Asked Questions on the subject. Let's get started.

What is the Capacity For Fuel on the Boeing 747?

As previously mentioned, the answer to how much fuel a Boeing 747 can hold depends on which aircraft model someone is looking at. In general, Boeing 747s can hold at least 52,410 gallons (Boeing 747-100, although this model is no longer in service). The maximum amount of fuel can go up or down, depending on the model.

Fuel capacity varies depending on the 747 variant — Depending on the variant, the Boeing 747 can carry between 48,400 and 63,034 gallons of fuel.

Below, you'll find a comparison of the different models of Boeing 747 aircraft and their capabilities for holding fuel:

Boeing 747 Model	Fuel Capacity in Gallons	Fuel Capacity in Liters
Boeing 747-8i Intercontinental	63,034	238,610
Boeing 747-8f Freighter	59,734	226,095
Boeing 747-400	57,285	216840
Boeing 747-200 and 300	52,410	199,158
Boeing 747-100	48,400	183,214

As you can see, the Boeing 747-8i Intercontinental can hold the largest amount of fuel at a time. The 63,034 gallons the 747-8i can carry equals just over 191 tons. It gives the Boeing 747-8i a range of 8,898 miles (14,320 km), and the aircraft thus takes ninth place among commercial aircraft with the longest range.

In order to carry this extraordinary amount of fuel, the Boeing company has increased the maximum takeoff weight for 747 aircraft during the program's lifespan. Range steadily grew over time when Boeing introduced new iterations of the 747. This way, airlines operating the Boeing 747s can fly it for longer and over greater distances simply because of its fuel capacity.

How is the Boeing 747 Fuel Capacity Different From Other Commercial Aircraft?

When getting a handle on just how impressive the Boeing 747 is, it can be helpful to know how it compares to other airliners regarding fuel capacity. The biggest Boeing 747, which is the Boeing 747-8i, is second only to one other airliner for how much fuel it can hold.

Only the Airbus A380 carries more fuel that the 747-8i — With 82,000 gallons, the Airbus A380 beats the Boeing 747 in terms of fuel capacity.

That other aircraft is the Airbus A380, one of the most costly planes ever made. The Airbus A380 can hold up to 82,000 gallons of fuel to the Boeing 747-8i's aforementioned 63,034.

The Amount of Fuel that a 747 Burns

It can also help to accurately understand how much fuel a Boeing 747 burns during a flight. A Boeing 747 burns about 1 gallon (3.78 liters) of jet fuel every second. This amounts to just under 11 tons of fuel each hour. In miles, the Boeing 747 burns approximately 5 gallons of fuel (18.9 liters) for every mile it travels.

If a Boeing 747 travels for ten hours, more than 36,000 gallons of fuel will be burned.

Instead of being an inefficient, wasteful way to travel, the truth is that Boeing 747s carry so many passengers that they are actually quite efficient.

When we examine the fuel burn per seat on a Boeing 747-8i with 467 seats, the aircraft burns 0.745 gallons (2.82 liters) of fuel per seat per 100 km. That is equivalent to 83 mpg. These fuel efficiency values are based on a long-haul trip like the Hong Kong - San Francisco route.

Still, it is no wonder that airlines have to direct the majority of their money toward fuel costs alone.

Where is the Fuel in a 747 Stored?

Now that we know how much fuel a 747 can handle and how much it burns through each second and mile of travel, let's go over where it is held. Like most aircraft, the Boeing 747 stores the fuel it needs to make such long journeys in its wings.

This frees up the rest of the plane's storage space for cargo, passengers, and their belongings. At the same time, the center of gravity for the aircraft is maintained while the weight of the fuel is evenly distributed in flight.

how much fuel does a 747 hold — Like on most other aircraft, the 747's fuel is stored mainly in its wings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let's take a look at some of the internet's most frequently asked questions about the 747's fuel capacity below:

How far can a 747 fly on a full tank?

How far an aircraft like the 747 can fly depends on more than just its fuel. However, a full tank definitely factors into the plane's abilities. For example, the Boeing 747-8i variant on a full tank can travel 8,898 miles (14,320 km).

How many miles per gallon does a 747 get?

Generally, a Boeing 747 uses around 5 gallons (18.9 liters) of fuel for each mile it flies. Although this may sound poor when comparing the numbers to an automobile's fuel rate per mile, remember that a Boeing 747 carries several hundred people and cargo at high speeds.

In Conclusion

To sum it all up, the answer to the question "How much fuel does a 747 hold?" is essential to answer to understand how impressive one of the world's most fuel-efficient aircraft truly is. A Boeing 747 can hold up to 63,034 gallons of fuel, depending on the model.