Best Private Jets: One Pick per Class, From Light Jets to Ultra Long Range

There is no single best private jet. The best one is the smallest cabin that flies your longest regular trip nonstop, because every extra seat and every extra mile of range you do not use is money spent on the wrong things. This guide gives one pick per class, from very light jets to ultra long range, with the range, speed and seats the makers publish, and sends you to the full lists when you want more than one name.

How We Rank the Best Private Jets

We rank by fit, not by size. A Gulfstream flagship is not the best jet for someone who flies Atlanta to Miami; it is a very good jet for someone who flies Los Angeles to Tokyo. These are the four filters.

Range vs Your Trips

Start with your longest trip you make more than twice a year. Add a margin, because published range is a theoretical figure. Bombardier states its range numbers are under NBAA IFR reserves with specified conditions, and Gulfstream says its figures are NBAA IFR theoretical values that will vary with routing, speed, weather and outfitting. A jet that barely makes your route on paper will stop for fuel on a windy day. For the longest legs, see our list of the longest range private jets.

Cabin Height and Seats

Cabin height decides how it feels to move around. Cessna lists the Citation Latitude at 72 inches high, Bombardier lists the Challenger 3500 at 6 ft 0 in and Gulfstream lists the G700 at 6 ft 3 in. Seats matter too, but not the maximum figure: the number that counts is how many people fit with luggage and still sit comfortably. For sleep on longer flights, see the private jets with beds.

Price and Hourly Cost

A jet’s price is only the start. Fuel, crew, maintenance, insurance and hangar costs continue every year, and they rise with size. We give prices only where a named source states one, and otherwise say “Quote only.” For the full ownership picture read the cost of owning a private jet, and for a lower budget see the best private jets under $20 million.

Runway Needs

Smaller airports mean shorter runways. The Challenger 3500 lists a takeoff distance of 4,835 ft at sea level, ISA and maximum takeoff weight, per Bombardier. The Citation Latitude lists 3,580 ft per Cessna. Your preferred airport may restrict the choice, so check how much runway a private jet needs before you fall for a model.

The Best Private Jets by Class

Very Light: Cirrus Vision Jet

Cirrus lists its Vision Jet G3 with up to seven seats, a maximum range of 1,275 nm and a max cruise speed of 317 KTAS, with a takeoff distance of 1,910 ft. It is the smallest jet on the list and the only single-engine one. It suits short regional hops with up to a handful of people. Its limits are range and cabin, not capability. See our list of smallest private jets and single-engine private jets for its rivals.

Light: Embraer Phenom 300E

NetJets’ fleet page lists the Phenom 300/E as its light jet, seating up to six passengers. NetJets quotes its published entry card rates on it. Embraer lists its range at 2,010 nm, and a new one is reported at about $11 million by Safe Fly Aviation. For its price and running costs, see our Phenom 300 price guide. For other cabins in this size, see the best mid-size private jets.

Midsize: Cessna Citation Latitude

Textron Aviation lists the Latitude at a maximum of nine occupants, 2,700 nm of range, a maximum cruise speed of 446 ktas, a cabin 72 inches high, 77 inches wide and 21 ft 9 in long, and a takeoff field length of 3,580 ft. It is the pick for people who want a roomy cabin without a super-midsize price tag. For alternatives and more detail, read our list of the best mid-size private jets.

Super-Midsize: Bombardier Challenger 3500

Bombardier lists the Challenger 3500 at up to 10 passengers, 3,400 nm range, Mach 0.83 top speed and a cabin of 6 ft 0 in high, 7 ft 2 in wide and 25 ft 2 in long. Coast to coast in the United States is comfortably inside that range. It is the pick when you want to cross the country nonstop without paying for a large-cabin jet. If speed is your priority, our fastest private jets list covers the quick ones.

Large Cabin: Gulfstream G700

Gulfstream lists the G700 with a maximum range of 7,750 nm, a high-speed cruise range of 6,650 nm, a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.935, up to 19 seats and a cabin 6 ft 3 in high, 8 ft 2 in wide and 56 ft 11 in long. It is for people who fly long routes with a full cabin. Our Gulfstream G700 price guide covers cost. For the biggest cabins of all, see the biggest private jets in the world.

Ultra Long Range: Bombardier Global 8000

Bombardier lists the Global 8000 at 8,000 nm (quoted with 8 passengers and 4 crew at Mach 0.85), a maximum speed of Mach 0.95 and up to 19 passengers, with a cabin of 6 ft 2 in high, 8 ft wide and 54 ft 5 in long. Its takeoff distance is 5,760 ft at sea level, ISA and maximum takeoff weight. It is the pick for people who regularly cross oceans and want to skip the fuel stop. If safety is your first filter, our guide to the safest private jets puts that record in context.

Best Private Jet to Buy vs to Charter

For most people, the best private jet to own is not a jet at all. Buying makes sense when you fly a great deal and want control of schedule and cabin. Otherwise charter, cards and shares move the fixed costs off your balance sheet. Read the cost of owning a private jet and private jet charter cost side by side before you sign anything, because the crossover usually sits at more hours than people expect.

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Model Price Guides

When you want the cost of a single model, these guides go deeper:

• Gulfstream G650 price
• Gulfstream G700 price
• Phenom 300 price
• Bombardier private jet price list

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best private jet in the world?

There is no single winner. Gulfstream's G700 and Bombardier's Global 8000 are among the longest-range flagships, at 7,750 nm and 8,000 nm. For most flyers the better jet is the smallest cabin that makes their longest regular trip nonstop.

What is the best private jet to buy?

The one that matches your most common trip. For short regional flying a light jet such as the Phenom 300E is the usual starting point. Run the full ownership numbers first, since fuel, crew and hangar costs continue after the purchase.

What private jet do most billionaires fly?

Large-cabin and ultra long range Gulfstream and Bombardier models are common among the very wealthy, but no source we opened gives a share. For named examples with registry sources, see our celebrity private jets hub.

What is the best private jet for a family?

A midsize or super-midsize cabin with a standing aisle is the practical choice. The Citation Latitude seats up to nine and the Challenger 3500 up to 10, according to their makers. Check luggage space and lavatory layout for children.

What is the most popular private jet?

By deliveries, the Embraer Phenom 300 is the most popular light jet: Aviation International News reported, citing GAMA data, that it was the most-delivered light business jet for the 13th straight year in 2024, with 65 delivered. Other measures, such as flight hours or fleet size, can give different answers.