What is wing loading?

Wing loading (W/S) is an aircraft's gross weight divided by its total wing reference area. It is expressed in lb/ft² (imperial) or kg/m² (metric). It directly determines the minimum speed at which the wing can sustain level flight — higher wing loading requires higher speed to generate enough lift.

What wing area should I use?

Use the gross wing reference area as published in your aircraft's Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) or Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH). This is typically the full trapezoidal wing area including the portion inside the fuselage, measured at the chord line, not just the exposed panel.

How accurate is the stall speed estimate?

The estimate uses a simplified lift equation (V_stall = sqrt(2W / (rho * S * CL_max))) with CL_max = 1.6 and sea-level standard density (1.225 kg/m³ / 0.002377 slug/ft³). This is representative for clean, unflapped wings. Actual stall speed depends on flap configuration, wing washout, and CL_max, which varies from about 1.2 for clean swept wings to 2.8+ with full flaps. Always use POH data for operational planning.

Why do jets have higher wing loading than light aircraft?

High wing loading allows jets to cruise efficiently at high speed and penetrate turbulence more smoothly, because the aircraft is less responsive to gusts. The trade-off is a higher minimum speed, which is managed through high-lift devices (slats, multi-slotted flaps) that dramatically increase CL_max on approach.

What is a typical wing loading for a Cessna 172?

The Cessna 172S has a MTOW of 2,550 lb and a wing area of 174 ft², giving a wing loading of approximately 14.7 lb/ft² (71.7 kg/m²). This low value produces the gentle stall characteristics and short-field capability characteristic of training aircraft.

Can I use this for metric aircraft specifications?

Yes. Switch to the metric mode and enter weight in kilograms and wing area in square meters. The tool outputs kg/m² directly and also shows the equivalent lb/ft² for cross-reference.

Wing Loading Calculator

Name: Wing Loading Calculator
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Calculate aircraft wing loading in lb/ft² and kg/m² from gross weight and wing area, with stall speed estimation and aircraft-type reference table.

Aircraft Parameters

Unit System

Gross Weight (lb)

Use maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) for standard analysis.

Wing Reference Area (ft²)

Total gross wing area from TCDS or POH, including fuselage carrythrough.

C_{L max} for Stall Estimate (dimensionless)

Typical: 1.2–1.6 clean, 1.8–2.4 flaps down, 2.5–3.0 full flaps.

Typical Wing Loading by Category

Aircraft Category	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Hang glider / ultralight	2–5	10–24
GA trainer (C-152, PA-28)	10–16	49–78
GA touring (C-172, SR22)	14–20	68–98
Aerobatic (Extra 300, Sukhoi)	18–26	88–127
Bush / STOL (C-185, Maule)	11–16	54–78
Regional turboprop (ATR, Q400)	55–85	268–415
Narrowbody jet (737, A320)	100–140	488–683
Widebody jet (777, A350)	140–180	683–879
Fighter (F-16, F/A-18)	80–120	390–586

Enter weight and wing area, then click Calculate.

Wing loading and stall speed estimate will appear here.

Summary

Calculate aircraft wing loading in lb/ft² and kg/m² from gross weight and wing area, with stall speed estimation and aircraft-type reference table.

How it works

Select your preferred unit system (imperial or metric) using the toggle.
Enter the aircraft gross weight — use maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) for standard analysis.
Enter the total wing reference area as published in the aircraft Type Certificate Data Sheet or POH.
Click Calculate to compute wing loading in lb/ft² and kg/m² simultaneously.
The tool estimates stall speed at sea level (ISA, sea level density) using a simplified lift equation with CL_max = 1.6, a typical value for clean wings.
Compare your result against the reference table of common aircraft categories to understand where your aircraft sits on the design spectrum.

Use cases

Verify wing loading during homebuilt or experimental aircraft design.
Compare wing loading across aircraft types when evaluating a purchase.
Estimate stall speed when POH data is unavailable.
Understand why high-performance jets require higher approach speeds than light GA aircraft.
Teach student pilots the relationship between wing loading and stall speed.
Cross-check published wing loading figures against manufacturer specifications.
Evaluate performance trade-offs between aerobatic, touring, and bush-plane designs.
Convert wing loading values between imperial and metric for international documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: 2026-05-29 · Reviewed by Nham Vu