Cessna 172 vs Cessna 182
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk and Cessna 182 Skylane are the two most-built four-seat trainers/ touring singles in history — same design DNA, but the 182 has 230-235 hp vs the 172's 160 hp, with constant-speed prop and dramatically more useful load (~1,100 lb vs ~650 lb).
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
- 489
- Median asking
- $218,897
- Range
- $104,725–$564,768
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 167
- Source marketplaces
- 21
- Model years available
- 1956–2027
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 182 — 4 generations
| Generation | Years | Engine | MTOW | Cruise | Range | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 182 Continental (early) | 1956–1976 | Continental O-470-L/R | 2650 | 140 | 640 | 186 |
| 182 Continental (late) | 1977–1986 | Continental O-470-U | 3100 | 142 | 700 | 74 |
| T182 Turbo | 1981–now | Lycoming TIO-540-AK1A | 3100 | 158 | 970 | 42 |
| 182 Lycoming | 1997–now | Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 | 3100 | 145 | 930 | 134 |
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 182 |
|---|---|---|
| All events | 6810 | 2779 |
| Serious | 542 | 249 |
| Fatal | 960 | 529 |
| Fatalities | 1802 | 1000 |
| % Fatal | 14% | 19% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Cessna 172 | Cessna 182 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $61,563 – $324,965 | $104,725 – $564,768 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Horsepower | 145–180 HP | 230–235 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 118–124 kts (230 km/h) | 140–158 kts (293 km/h) |
| Range | 518–585 nm (1,083 km) | 640–970 nm (1,796 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) | 18,100 ft (5,517 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 2300–2,550 lbs (1,157 kg) | 2650–3,100 lbs (1,406 kg) |
| Useful Load | 878 lbs (398 kg) | 1,110 lbs (503 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 56.0 gal (212 L) | 92.0 gal (348 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 8.6 GPH (33 L/h) | 12.5 GPH (47 L/h) |
| TBO | 1,400 hrs | 1,700 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $30,000 | $32,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $18,000 | $20,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $130 | $160 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimateCessna 172
Cessna 182
Which Should You Buy: Cessna 172 or Cessna 182?
Bottom line: Choose the 172 for primary training, the cheapest four-seat ownership and the gentlest handling. Step up to the 182 when load-hauling, ~25 kt more cruise and short-field utility matter — the high-performance Cessna four-seater.
Pick the 172 if…
- Budget matters — from $61,563 vs $104,725, you save ~$43,162.
- Lower operating cost — ~$130/hr vs $160/hr.
Pick the 182 if…
- Faster cruise — 140 kts vs 118 kts.
- Longer range — 640 nm vs 518 nm.
- More inventory — 488 listings vs 428.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.