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Cessna 172S / SP weight and balance and performance calculator

Calculate the weight and balance of the Cessna 172S / SP online: enter people, baggage and fuel and get the takeoff mass, the CG and whether both are within the limits of the POH – plus the takeoff and landing distance for your airfield, temperature and wind. Free, no sign-up. The Cessna 172S / SP is a model of the Cessna 172 Skyhawk; built 1998–today.

1,157 kgMTOW
53 US galUsable fuel
500 mTakeoff over 50 ft*
258 kgUseful load, full fuel

* MTOW, sea level, 15 °C, no wind – BriefingPal result from the POH data

Cessna 172S / SP
Photo: Peter Bakema, GFDL 1.2 (Wikimedia Commons)

Calculate the Cessna 172S / SP weight, CG and takeoff distance

Loading
Your own empty mass (weighing report, optional)

Leave empty to use the typical POH empty mass. Your aircraft's weighing report is what counts.

Airfield and runway (takeoff and landing)
Full flight planning in BriefingPal →

Calculated on the BriefingPal server from the POH data. Nothing is stored, no cookie. Planning aid only – the POH/AFM and your weighing report are authoritative.

Cessna 172S / SP key figures

Maximum takeoff mass (MTOW)1,157 kg (2,550 lb)
Typical empty mass (POH sample)754 kg (1,663 lb)
Usable fuel53 US gal (201 L)
Total fuel capacity56 US gal (212 L)
Fuel typeAVGAS
Useful load with full fuel258 kg (569 lb)
Maximum baggage54 kg (120 lb)
Demonstrated crosswind15 kt
Best rate of climb speed Vy74 KIAS
Service ceiling14,000 ft
Built1998–today
Loading stationsseat row 1, seat row 2, baggage area 1, baggage area 2, combined baggage limit, fuel

Empty mass and useful load depend on your aircraft – its weighing report applies.

Cessna 172S / SP takeoff and landing distance

BriefingPal result from the POH charts at MTOW, no wind, dry paved runway, normal procedure, default flap setting, without safety factor. Use the calculator above for your mass, airfield, temperature and wind.

ConditionsTakeoff ground rollTakeoff over 50 ftLanding over 50 ftLanding ground roll
Sea level, 15 °C295 m (960 ft)500 m (1,630 ft)405 m (1,340 ft)175 m (580 ft)
5,000 ft, 25 °C (density altitude ≈ 7,300 ft)500 m (1,650 ft)875 m (2,870 ft)––

Hot and high, the Cessna 172S / SP needs about 76 % more distance to clear 50 ft than at sea level. Calculate density altitude →

Cessna 172S / SP climb and cruise

Rate of climb at sea levelTime / fuel to 6,500 ftCruise TAS at 6,500 ftFuel flow
730 fpm11 min / 1.7 US gal114 kt8.9 US gal/h (34 L/h)

MTOW, ISA, default power setting of the POH cruise table (≈64 % power).

How to do the Cessna 172S / SP weight and balance

  1. Enter the loadingWeights of pilot, passengers and baggage per station, fuel in litres or US gallons. Each station limit and the MTOW are checked.
  2. Use your own empty massOptional: enter empty mass and empty CG from the weighing report of your Cessna 172S / SP. Without it the typical POH empty mass is used.
  3. Check CG and massThe traffic light shows whether the takeoff mass and the CG with and without fuel lie within the envelope of the POH.
  4. Takeoff and landingElevation, QNH, temperature, wind and runway give the takeoff and landing distance – compared with the runway length if you enter it.

Cessna 172S / SP compared with the other Cessna 172 models

ModelMTOWUsable fuelTakeoff over 50 ft*Cruise TAS*
Cessna 172M1,043 kg38 US gal465 m110 kt
Cessna 172N1,043 kg40 US gal440 m115 kt
Cessna 172P1,089 kg40 US gal495 m113 kt
Cessna 172S / SP1,157 kg53 US gal500 m114 kt
Cessna 172 Straight-Tail998 kg37 US gal505 m97 kt
Cessna 172R Skyhawk1,111 kg53 US gal515 m114 kt
Cessna R172K Hawk XP1,157 kg49 US gal415 m130 kt
Cessna F172N/P Thielert-Diesel1,089 kg33.6 US gal535 m109 kt
Cessna 172 / 172A998 kg37 US gal425 m106 kt
Cessna 172B998 kg39 US gal425 m108 kt
Cessna 172K1,043 kg38 US gal475 m105 kt
Cessna 172L1,043 kg38 US gal475 m105 kt

* MTOW, sea level, 15 °C / 6,500 ft, ISA – BriefingPal result from the POH data.

Cessna 172S / SP – frequently asked questions

What is the MTOW of the Cessna 172S / SP?

The maximum takeoff mass of the Cessna 172S / SP is 1,157 kg (2,550 lb) according to the POH.

How much usable fuel does the Cessna 172S / SP carry?

53 US gal (201 L) usable (total capacity 56 US gal (212 L)). With the typical POH empty mass and full fuel, about 258 kg (569 lb) remain for people and baggage.

How long is the takeoff distance of the Cessna 172S / SP?

At MTOW, sea level, 15 °C and no wind the ground roll is about 295 m (960 ft) and the distance over 50 ft about 500 m (1,630 ft). At 5,000 ft and 25 °C it grows to about 875 m (2,870 ft). The calculator above gives the value for your conditions.

How do I calculate the CG of the Cessna 172S / SP?

Multiply each mass by its arm, add up the moments and divide by the total mass – the calculator above does this with the stations of the Cessna 172S / SP POH (seat row 1, seat row 2, baggage area 1, baggage area 2, combined baggage limit, fuel) and checks the CG against the envelope.

How does the Cessna 172S / SP differ from other Cessna 172 models?

BriefingPal has 12 Cessna 172 models on file. Compared with them the Cessna 172S / SP has the highest MTOW (1,157 kg (2,550 lb)), 53 US gal (201 L) usable fuel and a takeoff distance over 50 ft of 500 m (1,630 ft) at MTOW.

Is the Cessna 172S / SP weight and balance calculator free?

Yes. The calculator on this page and the BriefingPal app are free and need no account. The app adds route planning, weather, NOTAM, fuel planning and a briefing PDF.

Data source

All figures come from the Pilot's Operating Handbook / Airplane Flight Manual of the Cessna 172S / SP (weight and balance and performance sections) and are computed with the BriefingPal engine – the same calculation as in the app. Planning aid only; the original POH/AFM and the weighing report of your aircraft remain authoritative.

Other Cessna 172 models

Calculators

Open the Cessna 172S / SP calculator

free · no sign-up · POH data

Open the Cessna 172S / SP calculatorfree · no sign-up · POH data