A320 vs 737-800: Which Narrowbody Is Better?

Airbus A320-200 vs Boeing 737-800: the 737 is longer and carries more, the A320 has the wider cabin and longer range. Full comparison inside.

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Airbus A320-200 and Boeing 737-800 compared side by side
Airbus A320-200 and Boeing 737-800 compared side by side – © Aero Icarus / composite by AeroCorner

Neither wins outright. The Boeing 737-800 is longer and carries more payload, while the Airbus A320-200 has the wider cabin and the longer range.

Both are the older generation, built before the A320neo and the 737 MAX, and they are the two most common narrowbodies of their era.

Compare Any Aircraft · All Aircraft
Airbus A320-200
Mid Size Passenger Jets
Airbus A320-200
ICAO: A320 Visit aircraft page
Boeing 737-800
Mid Size Passenger Jets
Boeing 737-800
ICAO: B738 IATA: 738 Visit aircraft page

General

Units
Airbus A320-200
Manufacturer
Airbus
ICAO code
A320
IATA code
—
Produced
1988–2021
Price
$101 million (2018)
Engine
2 × IAE V2500 or CFM International CFM56-5B
Engine type
Turbofan
Thrust
2 × 27,000 lbf · 120 kN -1% (total)
Avionics
Thales Avionics Suite
Wing tips
Blended tips
Seats
180 economy · 148 business
Crew
2
Boeing 737-800
Manufacturer
Boeing
ICAO code
B738
IATA code
738
Produced
1997–2019
Price
$102.2 million (2018)
Engine
2 × CFM International CFM56-7B27
Engine type
Turbofan
Thrust
2 × 27,300 lbf · 121 kN +1% (total)
Avionics
Honeywell Common Display System
Wing tips
Blended tips
Seats
189
Crew
2

Dimensions

Airbus A320-200
Cabin width
12 ft 2 in 3.70 m 12 ft 2 in 3.70 m +5%
Cabin height
7 ft 3 in 2.22 m 7 ft 3 in 2.22 m +1%
Cabin length
90 ft 3 in 27.51 m 90 ft 3 in 27.51 m -8%
Exterior length
123 ft 3 in 37.57 m 123 ft 3 in 37.57 m -5%
Tail height
38 ft 7 in 11.76 m 38 ft 7 in 11.76 m -6%
Fuselage diameter
13 ft 0 in 3.95 m 13 ft 0 in 3.95 m +5%
Wing span
117 ft 5 in 35.80 m 117 ft 5 in 35.80 m +0%
Baggage volume
122 ft 9 in 37.42 m 122 ft 9 in 37.42 m -17%
Boeing 737-800
Cabin width
11 ft 7 in 3.54 m 11 ft 7 in 3.54 m -4%
Cabin height
7 ft 3 in 2.20 m 7 ft 3 in 2.20 m -1%
Cabin length
98 ft 4 in 29.97 m 98 ft 4 in 29.97 m +9%
Exterior length
129 ft 6 in 39.47 m 129 ft 6 in 39.47 m +5%
Tail height
41 ft 2 in 12.55 m 41 ft 2 in 12.55 m +7%
Fuselage diameter
12 ft 4 in 3.76 m 12 ft 4 in 3.76 m -5%
Wing span
117 ft 5 in 35.79 m 117 ft 5 in 35.79 m 0%
Baggage volume
148 ft 0 in 45.10 m 148 ft 0 in 45.10 m +21%

Weights

Airbus A320-200
Empty weight
93,917 lb 42,600 kg 93,917 lb 42,600 kg +3%
Max payload
43,900 lb 19,900 kg 43,900 lb 19,900 kg -7%
Fuel capacity
7,185 gal 27,198 L 7,185 gal 27,198 L +5%
Max takeoff weight
172,000 lb 78,000 kg 172,000 lb 78,000 kg -1%
Max landing weight
145,500 lb 66,000 kg 145,500 lb 66,000 kg -1%
Boeing 737-800
Empty weight
91,300 lb 41,413 kg 91,300 lb 41,413 kg -3%
Max payload
47,000 lb 21,300 kg 47,000 lb 21,300 kg +7%
Fuel capacity
6,875 gal 26,025 L 6,875 gal 26,025 L -4%
Max takeoff weight
174,000 lb 79,000 kg 174,000 lb 79,000 kg +1%
Max landing weight
146,500 lb 66,500 kg 146,500 lb 66,500 kg +1%

Performance

Airbus A320-200
Max cruise speed
470 kt · 541 mph 870 km/h 470 kt 541 mph 870 km/h -1%
Max speed
470 kt · 541 mph 870 km/h 470 kt 541 mph 870 km/h -1%
Cruise speed
447 kt · 514 mph 828 km/h 447 kt 514 mph 828 km/h -1%
Approach speed
137 kt · 158 mph 254 km/h 137 kt 158 mph 254 km/h -6%
Rate of climb
2,500 ft/min 13 m/s 2,500 ft/min 13 m/s -17%
Range
3,300 nm · 3,800 mi 6,110 km 3,300 nm 3,800 mi 6,110 km +12%
Service ceiling
39,100 ft 11,900 m 39,100 ft 11,900 m -5%
Takeoff distance
6,900 ft 2,100 m 6,900 ft 2,100 m -9%
Landing distance
4,900 ft 1,500 m 4,900 ft 1,500 m -6%
Boeing 737-800
Max cruise speed
473 kt · 544 mph 876 km/h 473 kt 544 mph 876 km/h +1%
Max speed
473 kt · 544 mph 876 km/h 473 kt 544 mph 876 km/h +1%
Cruise speed
452 kt · 520 mph 837 km/h 452 kt 520 mph 837 km/h +1%
Approach speed
146 kt · 168 mph 270 km/h 146 kt 168 mph 270 km/h +7%
Rate of climb
3,000 ft/min 15 m/s 3,000 ft/min 15 m/s +20%
Range
2,935 nm · 3,380 mi 5,440 km 2,935 nm 3,380 mi 5,440 km -11%
Service ceiling
41,000 ft 12,500 m 41,000 ft 12,500 m +5%
Takeoff distance
7,600 ft 2,320 m 7,600 ft 2,320 m +10%
Landing distance
5,250 ft 1,600 m 5,250 ft 1,600 m +7%

Table of Contents

Airbus A320-200Boeing 737-800
First flight22 February 198731 July 1997
Entered serviceApril 1988, Air FranceApril 1998, Hapag-Lloyd Flug (first delivery)
Flight controlsSidestick, digital fly-by-wireConventional control column
GenerationA320ceo, before the neo737 Next Generation, before the MAX
Family deliveries12,955 (all A320 family, October 2026)7,124 (all 737NG, September 2026)
Deliveries of this variantNot broken out by Wikipedia4,989 (September 2026)
Passenger productionBuilt from 1986 to 2021 (ceo)Passenger assembly stopped in 2019
Dates and delivery counts from Wikipedia. Dimensions, weights, performance and engine data are in the specification panel above.

Which versions this page compares

The panel compares the A320-200, the most-built A320, with the 737-800, the best-selling 737 Next Generation. Both are the older generation. For the re-engined pair, see the A320neo vs 737 MAX 8 comparison.

Which is better, the A320 or the 737-800?

Neither wins outright. The 737-800 is longer and carries more cargo, and the A320-200 has the wider cabin and flies farther on paper.

Airlines pick between them on price, fleet commonality and pilot training, not on one spec.

For a passenger, the airline’s seat pitch and the route matter more than the type.

Size: the 737-800 is longer

The 737-800 measures 129 ft 6 in · 39.47 m long. The A320-200 measures 123 ft 3 in · 37.57 m.

The wingspans are almost the same, 117 ft 5 in · 35.79 m for the 737-800 and 117 ft 5 in · 35.80 m for the A320-200.

The 737-800 is also taller, with a tail height of 41 ft 2 in · 12.55 m against 38 ft 7 in · 11.76 m.

Thai AirAsia Airbus A320-216 HS-ABU on the ground
An A320-216 in Thai AirAsia colors, one of the A320-200 sub-types in service. – © Robert Frola

Cabin: the A320 is wider

The A320-200 cabin is 12 ft 2 in · 3.70 m wide. The 737-800 cabin is 11 ft 7 in · 3.54 m wide.

The 737-800 cabin is longer, at 98 ft 4 in · 29.97 m against 90 ft 3 in · 27.51 m, so it fits more seat rows.

Airlines choose seat width and pitch, so the extra Airbus width does not always reach the passenger.

American Airlines Boeing 737-800 on approach
An American Airlines 737-800 on approach. – © Eric Salard

Range and speed: the A320 flies farther

The panel lists a range of 3,300 nm · 3,800 mi · 6,110 km for the A320-200 and 2,935 nm · 3,380 mi · 5,440 km for the 737-800.

Cruise speeds are close, at 447 kt · 514 mph · 828 km/h for the A320-200 and 452 kt · 520 mph · 837 km/h for the 737-800.

The 737-800 has the higher service ceiling, 41,000 ft · 12,500 m against 39,100 ft · 11,900 m.

Weights and payload: the 737-800 carries more

The 737-800 has a maximum takeoff weight of 174,000 lb · 79,000 kg and a maximum payload of 47,000 lb · 21,300 kg.

The A320-200 shows 172,000 lb · 78,000 kg and 43,900 lb · 19,900 kg. The 737-800 also has the larger baggage volume, 1,593 ft³ · 45.1 m³ against 1,321 ft³ · 37.4 m³.

Jetstar Airbus A320-232 VH-VQH
A Jetstar A320-232, another A320-200 sub-type. – © Robert Frola

Runways and climb: the 737-800 climbs harder

The panel lists a rate of climb of 3,000 ft/min · 15 m/s for the 737-800 and 2,500 ft/min · 13 m/s for the A320-200.

The A320-200 needs less runway on these figures. Takeoff distance is 6,900 ft · 2,100 m against 7,600 ft · 2,320 m, and landing distance is 4,900 ft · 1,500 m against 5,250 ft · 1,600 m.

Approach speed is 137 kt · 158 mph · 254 km/h for the A320-200 and 146 kt · 168 mph · 270 km/h for the 737-800.

Fuel and price: close on both

The A320-200 holds 7,200 gal · 27,200 L · 21,800 kg of Jet A. The 737-800 holds 6,900 gal · 26,000 L · 20,800 kg.

The panel prices the A320-200 at $101 million (2018) and the 737-800 at $102.2 million (2018). Airlines rarely pay list price, so treat both as a guide.

How to tell them apart from the window

Look at the engines. The 737-800’s engine intakes are flattened at the bottom to clear the ground, while the A320’s are round.

Then look at the length. The 737-800 is the longer aircraft, which shows on the ground beside an A320 at the next gate.

Flight deck: sidestick versus control column

The A320 was the first airliner with digital fly-by-wire flight controls, according to Wikipedia. Pilots fly it with a sidestick.

The 737-800 keeps a conventional control column in front of each pilot. Its avionics are the Honeywell Common Display System, against the Thales suite listed for the A320.

Engines: similar power, different options

The A320-200 is offered with IAE V2500 or CFM56-5B engines. The 737-800 uses the CFM56-7B27.

The panel lists 2 × 27,000 lbf · 120 kN for the A320-200 and 2 × 27,300 lbf · 121 kN for the 737-800.

Split Scimitar winglets became available for the 737-800 in 2014, according to Wikipedia. The A320-200 carries blended wingtips on the panel.

Japan Airlines Boeing 737-846 JA335J with winglets
A Japan Airlines 737-800 with blended winglets. – © Robert Frola

Safety: the MAX grounding is not the 737-800’s story

The 737 MAX was grounded worldwide from March 2019 to November 2020. That grounding did not cover the 737-800, a different and older generation.

The 737-800 has had its own events. In October 2019 the FAA issued a directive after fatigue cracks were found in the wing attachment fitting on some 737NGs. On December 29, 2024, Jeju Air Flight 2216, a 737-800, overshot the runway at Muan in South Korea.

The A320 family had one too. In October 2025 a JetBlue A320 descended rapidly after solar radiation corrupted flight data, and a mandatory notice covered more than 6,000 aircraft.

Single events are not a ranking. Both types have flown for decades and are among the most-used airliners in the world.

Orders and deliveries: both are giants

The A320 family had 20,598 orders and 12,955 deliveries as of October 2026, and 11,422 aircraft in service.

Boeing had delivered 7,124 of 7,159 ordered 737 Next Generation aircraft by September 2026, and 4,989 of them were 737-800s.

The A320 total includes the neo, while the 737 Next Generation total excludes the MAX, so the two counts are not like for like.

Verdict: who wins?

The 737-800 wins on length, payload and baggage volume. The A320-200 wins on cabin width and range.

If you are a passenger, pick the airline and the seat. The type is rarely the deciding factor.

FAQ

The 737-800 is bigger. The panel lists 129 ft 6 in · 39.47 m long against 123 ft 3 in · 37.57 m for the A320-200. The wingspans are within a few hundredths of a meter of each other.
The two makers build rival airliners across almost every size. On these two narrowbodies the A320 has a wider cabin and a sidestick with digital fly-by-wire, while the 737-800 is longer and uses a conventional control column. Wikipedia calls the A320 the first airliner with digital fly-by-wire flight controls.
The A320 has the wider cabin. The panel lists 12 ft 2 in · 3.70 m for the A320-200 and 11 ft 7 in · 3.54 m for the 737-800. Seat pitch, set by the airline, matters as much as the type.
No. The 737-800 is a Next Generation 737 that first flew in 1997. The 737 MAX is a later family that was grounded worldwide from March 2019 to November 2020, and that grounding did not apply to the 737-800.
Boeing had delivered 4,989 737-800s as of September 2026, according to Wikipedia. It is the best-selling 737 Next Generation variant.

About the Author

Tim de Vries
Tim de Vries

Tim is the owner and lead editor of AeroCorner since 2019, overseeing aviation content covering aircraft, airlines, airports, and the broader aviation industry. Through years of researching, writing, editing, and publishing aviation-focused content, he has developed extensive practical knowledge of commercial aviation and air travel. Based in Asia and a frequent traveler himself, Tim also brings firsthand passenger experience to AeroCorner’s coverage. Outside of publishing, he has also explored aviation firsthand through hands-on flight training in New Zealand.