The 767-300ER is the bigger, longer-range plane: a twin-aisle widebody that carries 218 to 269 passengers about 5,980 nautical miles. The 737-800 is a single-aisle narrowbody that carries 162 to 189 passengers roughly 2,900 nautical miles. If you’re choosing between them for the same flight, the 767-300ER usually wins on comfort, with a 2-3-2 economy layout and seats up to an inch wider. The 737-800 wins on availability, since it flies far more routes.
These two Boeings rarely compete for the same job. The 767-300ER was built to cross oceans. The 737-800 was built to fly short and medium hops many times a day. But airlines like Delta and United put both on some domestic routes, so the question comes up more than you’d think when you’re looking at a booking screen.
Below I compare them on size, range, cabin comfort, engines and economics, then tell you which one to pick when you have the choice.
Boeing 767-300ER vs. 737-800: Quick Comparison
| Spec | Boeing 767-300ER | Boeing 737-800 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Widebody, twin aisle | Narrowbody, single aisle |
| Typical seats | 218 (3-class) to 269 (2-class) | 162 (2-class) |
| Maximum seats | 351 | 189 |
| Economy layout | 2-3-2 (7 abreast) | 3-3 (6 abreast) |
| Length | 54.9 m (180 ft 3 in) | 39.5 m (129 ft 6 in) |
| Wingspan | 47.6 m (156 ft 1 in) | 35.8 m (117 ft 5 in) with winglets |
| Cabin width | 4.72 m (15 ft 6 in) | 3.54 m (11 ft 7 in) |
| Max takeoff weight | 186,880 kg (412,000 lb) | 79,015 kg (174,200 lb) |
| Range | 5,980 nm (11,070 km) | About 2,900 nm (5,400 km) |
| Engines | 2 x GE CF6-80C2, P&W PW4000 or RR RB211-524 | 2 x CFM56-7B |
| Thrust per engine | About 60,000 lbf | 24,000 to 27,300 lbf |
| Wheels | 10 | 6 |
| Entered service | 1988 | 1998 |
| Still in production? | No (passenger version ended 2014) | No (replaced by 737 MAX 8) |
Size and Capacity: Is the 767 Bigger Than the 737?
Yes, by a lot. The 767-300ER is about 15 metres (50 feet) longer than the 737-800, its wings span almost 12 metres (39 feet) more, and it weighs more than twice as much at takeoff.
The difference you feel as a passenger is the cabin width. The 767’s cabin is 4.72 m (15 ft 6 in) across, wide enough for two aisles and seven seats per row. The 737-800’s is 3.54 m (11 ft 7 in), which fits one aisle and six seats.
In practice, the 767-300ER carries about 40 to 60 more people in a typical airline layout:
- Delta 767-300ER: 211 to 226 seats, including 26 to 36 lie-flat Delta One seats
- Delta 737-800: 160 seats, including 16 First Class seats
- Ryanair 737-800: 189 seats, all economy
The 767 also has a much bigger cargo hold. That matters to airlines more than you’d think: belly cargo helps pay for long-haul flights, and it’s one reason so many retired passenger 767s get converted into freighters.
If you like this kind of detail, see my guide to how many wheels an airplane has. The 767 rolls on 10, the 737 on 6.
Range: Where Each Plane Can Fly
The 767-300ER flies about twice as far as the 737-800: roughly 5,980 nautical miles (11,070 km) against about 2,900 nautical miles (5,400 km).
That gap decides their jobs:
- 767-300ER: transatlantic and transpacific flights. New York to London, Atlanta to Amsterdam or Houston to Rio are typical. It was one of the first twinjets cleared for long overwater flying, which helped kill off three- and four-engine jets on the Atlantic.
- 737-800: domestic and regional flights up to about six hours. Think New York to Denver, US transcontinental hops, London to the Canary Islands, or most of Ryanair’s network across Europe.
A 737-800 can technically cross the Atlantic on the shortest routes, such as eastern Canada to Ireland, but with a full cabin and winter headwinds it runs out of margin. Airlines that fly narrowbodies across the ocean today mostly use the 737 MAX 8 or Airbus A321LR instead.
The overlap is domestic. Delta, for example, flies some 767-300ERs on premium domestic routes and Hawaii, where the 737-800 also operates. That’s where you might actually get a choice.
Cabin and Comfort: 2-3-2 vs. 3-3
The 767-300ER has the more comfortable economy cabin, and it isn’t close. Its 2-3-2 layout means only one middle seat in every seven, against two in every six on the 737-800.
The cleanest comparison is the same airline. On Delta:
| Cabin (Delta) | 767-300ER seat width / pitch | 737-800 seat width / pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Main Cabin | 18.1 in / 31-32 in | 17.3 in / 31-32 in |
| Comfort+ | 18.1 in / 34-35 in | 17.3 in / 34 in |
| Front cabin | Delta One lie-flat, 20.5 in, 77 in bed | First Class recliner, 20.9 in / 38-39 in |
That 0.8-inch difference sounds small, but you notice it on a four-hour flight. What you notice more is the window pair: on the 767, couples can book A-B or F-G and have the row to themselves.
Other comfort differences:
- Two aisles make boarding, getting to the toilet and meal service much less of a scrum on the 767.
- Lie-flat business class is standard on long-haul 767s, including Delta One and United Polaris. The 737-800’s front cabin is a wider recliner.
- Cabin age favors the 737-800 on some airlines. Many 767-300ERs are close to 30 years old, and some interiors show it. Recent 737-800s with the Boeing Sky Interior have bigger overhead bins and LED mood lighting.
- Noise and ride: a bigger, heavier aircraft generally rides more smoothly through light turbulence.
For seat-by-seat advice on either plane, see my guide to the best seats on a plane.
Engines, Speed and Economics
Both planes cruise at roughly the same speed, about 525 mph (844 km/h) in Delta’s published figures, so neither gets you there meaningfully faster. The real difference is cost.
Engines. The 767-300ER uses one of three big turbofan families: the GE CF6-80C2, Pratt & Whitney PW4000 or Rolls-Royce RB211-524, each making around 60,000 lbf of thrust. The 737-800 uses two CFM56-7B engines at 24,000 to 27,300 lbf each. That’s less than half the thrust per engine.
Economics. The 737-800 burns far less fuel per trip, and on short routes it carries enough people to make money. The 767-300ER burns roughly twice as much fuel per hour, so it only pays off where its range, extra seats, premium cabin and cargo hold are all being used.
That’s why airlines are retiring the 767-300ER from passenger work. Newer widebodies like the 787 and A330neo carry more people the same distance on less fuel. The 737-800 is being replaced too, by the 737 MAX 8, but more slowly, because it still earns its keep on short-haul routes.
If you’re comparing the 767 against its Airbus rival instead, read my A330-300 vs. 767-300ER comparison.
History and Production Status
Neither plane is built for passengers anymore, but both had remarkably long careers.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2027 | Boeing expected to end 767 production (freighter and KC-46 tanker) |
| 2020 | Last commercial 737-800s delivered; 737 MAX 8 takes over |
| 2017 | 737 MAX 8, the 737-800’s replacement, enters service |
| 2014 | Last passenger 767 delivered |
| 1998 | 737-800 enters service |
| 1997 | 737-800 first flight |
| 1994 | Boeing launches the 737 Next Generation family, including the -800 |
| 1988 | 767-300ER enters service |
| 1982 | Original 767-200 enters service with United Airlines |
The 737-800 became the best-selling version of the 737 Next Generation, with nearly 5,000 built. Its military cousin, the P-8 Poseidon, is still in production.
The 767-300ER became the most popular 767 variant. The 767 line has stayed open on freighter and tanker orders, but reports say production winds down by 2027.
Who Flies Each Plane in 2026
You’re far more likely to fly a 737-800 than a 767-300ER. The 737-800 is in fleets everywhere; the passenger 767 is down to a shrinking group of airlines.
Boeing 767-300ER (passenger)
- Delta Air Lines: about 37 in 2026, the biggest passenger fleet. Delta plans to end international 767-300ER flying by 2028 and retire the type by 2030
- United Airlines: a similar-sized fleet averaging about 30 years old, being replaced by 787s through the end of the decade
- Japan Airlines and ANA: JAL even flies it on busy domestic routes from Tokyo Haneda, but plans to retire it by 2028.
- Others: a handful of carriers such as LATAM and Uzbekistan Airways.
American Airlines retired its 767s in 2020. Freight still flies on 767s with FedEx, UPS, Amazon Air and DHL, so you’ll keep seeing the shape at airports for years.
Boeing 737-800
- Ryanair: the world’s largest 737-800 operator, with about 396 in mid-2026 at 189 seats each
- US carriers: American, United, Delta, Southwest and Alaska all fly large 737-800 fleets.
- Elsewhere: Qantas, LOT, Turkish Airlines’ AJet and dozens of airlines across Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Which Should You Pick When Booking?
If the same route offers both, pick the 767-300ER in most cases. Here’s how I’d decide:
- Flying economy as a couple: the 767. Book a window pair (A-B or F-G) and you skip the middle-seat problem entirely.
- Flying alone in economy: the 767 still edges it on seat width and a calmer two-aisle cabin. Avoid the centre block of three.
- Paying for the front cabin: the 767, every time. A lie-flat Delta One or Polaris seat beats a domestic First Class recliner, often for a similar fare on domestic routes.
- Carrying a big roller bag: a newer 737-800 with the Sky Interior has generous bins, but boarding late on any 737 means a fight for space.
- Sensitive to cabin age: check the tail number or seat map. A refreshed 737-800 can feel newer than an unrefurbished 30-year-old 767.
On most routes you won’t get a choice, because the airline picks the aircraft for the distance. So focus on the fare first: my guide to finding cheap flights without hidden fees covers that. And if an aircraft swap or delay hits your trip in Europe, check what you’re owed with the flight delay compensation calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Boeing 767 bigger than the 737? Yes. The 767-300ER is about 15 m (50 ft) longer than the 737-800, has a wider twin-aisle cabin, and typically seats 40 to 60 more passengers.
Can a 737-800 fly across the Atlantic? Only on the shortest crossings, such as eastern Canada to Ireland, and not reliably with a full load. Its range is about 2,900 nautical miles, roughly half the 767-300ER’s.
Which is more comfortable in economy, the 767 or the 737? The 767. Its 2-3-2 layout has fewer middle seats, and on Delta its economy seats are 18.1 inches wide against 17.3 inches on the 737-800.
How many seats does a 767-300ER have? Usually 211 to 269 depending on the airline, with up to 351 in a maximum-density layout. Delta’s versions seat 211 to 226.
How many seats does a 737-800 have? About 160 to 162 in a two-class layout and up to 189 in all-economy, which is how Ryanair flies it.
Is the 737-800 the same as the 737 MAX? No. The 737 MAX 8 replaced the 737-800 in production. It has newer, more efficient LEAP-1B engines and slightly more range, but a very similar cabin.
Is the Boeing 767 still being made? Not for passengers. The last passenger 767 was delivered in 2014. Boeing has kept building the 767-300F freighter and KC-46 tanker, with production expected to end in 2027.
Which plane is safer? Both have long, strong safety records over decades of heavy use. Aircraft type is not a meaningful safety factor when choosing between these two.
Hi, I’m Bruno. I’ve worked in the aviation industry for over 6 years as a B1.1 Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. This blog is where I share insights on aviation and travel globally.