How fast is a 737 going when it touches down?

For an average-sized commercial jetliner with typical fuel and payload, the takeoff speed is around 130-160 knots, or about 150 to 200 miles per hour. The landing speed is more or less the same, usually a few knots slower. With a very common 737-800 the landing speed is about 180-200 knots.



A Boeing 737 (including the NG and MAX variants) typically touches down at a speed between 130 and 150 knots (150–172 mph / 240–277 km/h). The exact "touchdown speed" is influenced by several factors: 1. Weight: A "heavy" plane returning from a long-haul ferry flight or carrying a full load of passengers requires a higher speed to maintain lift; 2. Flap Setting: Most 737s land with "Flaps 30" or "Flaps 40" to create maximum lift at the lowest possible speed; 3. Environmental Conditions: Higher altitudes (like Denver) or high temperatures require faster landing speeds because the air is "thinner." In 2026, pilots use onboard performance computers to calculate a specific "Vref" speed (reference speed) for every landing, which is usually around 1.3 times the stall speed. If the plane has a strong headwind, the "ground speed" might be lower, but the "airspeed" over the wings remains in that 130–150 knot range to ensure a safe, stable flare and touchdown on the runway numbers.

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A typical takeoff speed for a Boeing 747 is around 160 knots (184 mph), depending on the jet's wing flap configuration, the number of passengers aboard, and the weight of their luggage, fuel load, current weather conditions, and other factors.

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Technically this is the so-called 'stall speed', where air passes over the wings fast enough to sustain altitude, and for small planes this can be less than 50km/h (31mph). But at such low speeds, the aircraft is easily destabilised, and could fail to leave the runway.

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One of the main reason that the 737NG and 737 Max have higher landing speeds than the A32x is that it's not recommended to fly the approach with the Autopilot off and Autothrottle on due to possible pitch/thrust coupling issues. If you hand fly the approach on a 737, you are supposed to also have the Autothrottle off.

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In order for a plane to take off, it must be going fast enough for the wings to generate enough lift to overcome the force of weight. A Boeing 747 under standard conditions must be going 296kph (184 mph) to take off. Additionally, weather factors can affect the ground speed need for takeoff.

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