What size hangar do I need for my aircraft?
A hangar has to clear three numbers with room to spare: wingspan, overall length, and tail height. A practical rule is a door opening at least 6 feet wider than the wingspan and at least 1 to 2 feet taller than the tail, with a floor at least 8 feet deeper than the fuselage so you can tow, walk around, and work.
Which measurements decide hangar size?
Wingspan decides how wide the door opening must be. Overall length decides how deep the floor must be. Tail height decides the clear height of the door, and it is usually taller than the cabin, especially on T-tail aircraft.
Add margin to all three. Aircraft are rarely pushed in perfectly centered, tugs steer crooked, and you will want space to open cowlings and walk the wingtips. Six feet of extra width, one to two feet of extra door height, and eight feet of extra depth is a sensible minimum for a single aircraft. More depth buys a workbench and a place to stand.
How big are common general aviation aircraft?
The table uses published manufacturer dimensions, rounded to the inch, with a suggested door opening built from the rule above (span plus 6 feet, tail height plus at least 1 foot, rounded up). Confirm your own numbers against the pilot's operating handbook, because equipment, antennas, and tail configuration change them.
| Aircraft | Wingspan | Length | Tail height | Suggested door (W x H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 172 Skyhawk | 36 ft 1 in | 27 ft 2 in | 8 ft 11 in | 42 x 10 ft |
| Cessna 182 Skylane | 36 ft 0 in | 29 ft 0 in | 9 ft 4 in | 42 x 11 ft |
| Beechcraft Bonanza G36 | 33 ft 6 in | 27 ft 6 in | 8 ft 7 in | 40 x 10 ft |
| Piper M350 | 43 ft 0 in | 28 ft 11 in | 11 ft 4 in | 49 x 13 ft |
| Beechcraft Baron G58 | 37 ft 10 in | 29 ft 10 in | 9 ft 9 in | 44 x 11 ft |
| Daher TBM 960 | 42 ft 1 in | 35 ft 2 in | 14 ft 4 in | 48 x 16 ft |
| Pilatus PC-12 NGX | 53 ft 4 in | 47 ft 3 in | 14 ft 0 in | 60 x 16 ft |
| Beechcraft King Air 350i | 57 ft 11 in | 46 ft 8 in | 14 ft 4 in | 64 x 16 ft |
| Cessna Citation M2 | 47 ft 3 in | 42 ft 7 in | 13 ft 11 in | 54 x 16 ft |
| Cessna Citation CJ3+ | 53 ft 4 in | 51 ft 2 in | 15 ft 2 in | 60 x 18 ft |
| Robinson R44 (rotor diameter) | 33 ft 0 in | 38 ft 3 in | 10 ft 9 in | 40 x 12 ft |
| Bell 407 (rotor diameter) | 35 ft 0 in | 41 ft 8 in | 11 ft 8 in | 42 x 13 ft |
Helicopter widths assume blades are not folded. Skid-equipped helicopters also need ground-handling wheels and a smooth door threshold.
How do Tailwind's hangar units compare?
The units Tailwind built in its first two buildings at Colorado Air and Space Port (KCFO) came in a range. The standard box hangar is 2,805 square feet on a 55 by 51 foot footprint with a 16 foot Higher Power one-piece hydraulic door, fully insulated and heated, with a finished bathroom. That footprint handles most piston singles, high-performance singles, light twins, and turboprops in the TBM class with room to work.
The large unit is 4,600 square feet with a 1,300 square foot lofted mezzanine, double and triple 18 foot hydraulic doors, heated floors, and a deck off the end. That is the class of hangar built for PC-12, King Air, and light jet owners, or for two aircraft under one roof.
Build-to-suit hangars can go larger than either. If your wingspan is over 55 feet or your tail is over 15 feet, start from a custom footprint rather than trying to fit a standard box.
What if I want two aircraft or a workshop?
Two aircraft side by side need the sum of both wingspans plus about 6 feet, or a staggered layout (one nose-in, one tail-in) that trades width for depth. Staggering two singles often fits in a hangar only slightly wider than a single-aircraft door, but it needs 15 to 20 more feet of depth.
A workshop or parts area wants 12 to 15 feet of extra depth behind the aircraft, or a side bay. A mezzanine over the back wall or a side room adds office and storage without widening the door, which is why Tailwind's large unit puts 1,300 square feet up top.
Should I size for the next aircraft?
Most owners step up at least once. A door two feet taller and a bay eight feet wider are cheap decisions on a drawing and expensive ones after the steel is up. If a turboprop or a second aircraft is plausible within the life of your ground lease, size the door and depth for it now and finish the interior for what you fly today.
Frequently asked questions
Does a 16 foot door fit a turboprop?
Many do. A TBM 960 stands 14 feet 4 inches at the tail and a PC-12 NGX about 14 feet, so both clear a 16 foot opening. A King Air 350 at 14 feet 4 inches also clears it, with less margin. Confirm your tail height with antennas installed and ask how the door hardware affects the true clear height.
What is the difference between door height and eave height?
Eave height is the building wall. Door clear height is the actual opening once the door and its header are in place, and it is always lower. Size the aircraft against the clear opening, not the wall.
Can a helicopter use the same hangar as an airplane?
Yes. Rotor diameter governs door width unless the blades are folded, and skid-equipped helicopters need ground-handling wheels and a flush threshold. A 40 to 45 foot door with 13 feet of clear height covers most light and intermediate helicopters.
How much extra room should I leave around the aircraft?
At least 3 feet at each wingtip, 1 to 2 feet above the tail, and 8 feet of floor beyond the nose or tail for towing and access. More is better if you plan to do your own maintenance.