Cessna 172 vs Cessna 150
The Cessna 150/152 (two-seat primary trainer) and Cessna 172 Skyhawk / 182 Skylane (four- seat trainer/touring singles) are different-class aircraft — the 150 is a two-seat primary trainer; the 172/182 are real four-seat travel airplanes.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 421
- Median asking
- $134,231
- Range
- $61,563–$324,965
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 112
- Source marketplaces
- 19
- Model years available
- 1956–2028
- For sale now
- 136
- Median asking
- $53,250
- Range
- $32,955–$91,808
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 34
- Source marketplaces
- 13
- Model years available
- 1959–1978
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Generations Breakdown
Per-generation specs — engine/weight/performance differ materially across production eras.
Per-era “For sale” counts exclude listings with unspecified year and separate variants (RG retractable, Hawk XP), so they may not sum to the total above.
Cessna 172 — 5 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 172 Continental | 1956–1967 | Continental O-300 | 2300 | 118 | 520 | 107 |
| 172 O-320 150hp | 1968–1976 | Lycoming O-320-E2D | 2300 | 120 | 585 | 105 |
| 172 O-320 160hp | 1977–1986 | Lycoming O-320-H2AD/D2J | 2400 | 122 | 585 | 89 |
| 172R | 1996–2007 | IO-360-L2A | 2450 | 120 | 520 | 19 |
| 172S | 1998–now | IO-360-L2A | 2550 | 124 | 518 | 40 |
Cessna 150 — 1 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 172 O-320 150hp | 1968–1976 | Lycoming O-320-E2D | 2300 | 120 | 585 | 105 |
Safety Record
Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.
| NTSB (1982–now) | Cessna 172 | Cessna 150 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 6810 | 3241 |
| Serious | 542 | 351 |
| Fatal | 960 | 427 |
| Fatalities | 1802 | 611 |
| % Fatal | 14% | 13% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Cessna 172 | Cessna 150 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $61,563 – $324,965 | $32,955 – $91,808 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 4 | 2 |
| Horsepower | 145–180 HP | 100 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 118–124 kts (230 km/h) | 97 kts (180 km/h) |
| Range | 518–585 nm (1,083 km) | 420 nm (778 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 2300–2,550 lbs (1,157 kg) | 1,600 lbs (726 kg) |
| Useful Load | 878 lbs (398 kg) | 530 lbs (240 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 56.0 gal (212 L) | 26.0 gal (98 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 8.6 GPH (33 L/h) | 6.0 GPH (23 L/h) |
| TBO | 1,400 hrs | 1,800 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $30,000 | $25,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $18,000 | $15,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $130 | $100 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateCessna 172
Cessna 150
Which Should You Buy: Cessna 172 or Cessna 150?
Bottom line: Choose the 150/152 for primary training and the cheapest two-seat fun flying. Step up to the 172 for the most forgiving four-seat trainer ever built, or the 182 when load-hauling and ~140 kt cruise matter more than entry-level training.
Pick the 172 if…
- More seats — 4 vs 2.
- Faster cruise — 118 kts vs 97 kts.
- Longer range — 518 nm vs 420 nm.
- More inventory — 428 listings vs 140.
Pick the 150 if…
- Budget matters — from $32,955 vs $61,563, you save ~$28,608.
- Lower operating cost — ~$100/hr vs $130/hr.
- Newer design — production from 1959 vs 1956.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.