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VFR Weather Minimums: Complete Guide by Airspace Class

Complete guide to VFR weather minimums by airspace class. Covers Class A through G visibility and cloud clearance requirements, day vs night, special VFR, and memory tricks.

April 2026·8 min read read·Faraim Editorial

KEY POINT

VFR weather minimums are one of the most tested topics on the FAA knowledge test and checkride. This guide covers every airspace class with the exact numbers from §91.155 and the memory tricks that make them stick.

VFR weather minimums define the minimum visibility and cloud clearance required to legally fly under Visual Flight Rules. They vary by airspace class, altitude, and whether it's day or night. The governing regulation is 14 CFR §91.155, and every pilot needs to know these numbers cold.

Class A Airspace (18,000 ft MSL and above)

VFR flight is not permitted in Class A airspace. All operations in Class A must be conducted under IFR. There are no VFR weather minimums because VFR flight simply doesn't happen there.

Class B Airspace (Around major airports)

Visibility: 3 statute miles
Cloud clearance: Clear of clouds
Note: 'Clear of clouds' means you don't have to maintain specific distances — but you cannot fly through a cloud
Memory trick: Class B = Big airports = Basic minimums

Class C Airspace (Around busy airports)

Visibility: 3 statute miles
Cloud clearance: 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal
Memory trick: 3-152 (3 miles vis, 1-5-2 clouds: 500 below, 1,000 above, 2,000 horizontal) — wait, that's C and D

Class D Airspace (Around smaller towered airports)

Visibility: 3 statute miles
Cloud clearance: 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal
Same as Class C — memory trick: Class C and D = 3 miles, 500-1,000-2,000

Class E Airspace (Below 10,000 ft MSL)

Visibility: 3 statute miles
Cloud clearance: 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal
Same as C and D — the 3-152 rule applies to all controlled airspace below 10,000 ft

Class E Airspace (At or above 10,000 ft MSL)

Visibility: 5 statute miles
Cloud clearance: 1,000 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 1 mile horizontal
Memory trick: High altitude = higher minimums. Think 5-111 (5 miles, 1-1-1)

Class G Airspace — Day

1,200 ft AGL or less: 1 SM visibility, clear of clouds
More than 1,200 ft AGL but less than 10,000 ft MSL: 1 SM visibility, 500 below / 1,000 above / 2,000 horizontal
More than 1,200 ft AGL and at or above 10,000 ft MSL: 5 SM visibility, 1,000 below / 1,000 above / 1 mile horizontal

Class G Airspace — Night

1,200 ft AGL or less: 3 SM visibility, 500 below / 1,000 above / 2,000 horizontal
More than 1,200 ft AGL but less than 10,000 ft MSL: 3 SM visibility, 500 below / 1,000 above / 2,000 horizontal
More than 1,200 ft AGL and at or above 10,000 ft MSL: 5 SM visibility, 1,000 below / 1,000 above / 1 mile horizontal

The DPE trick question: What are the VFR minimums in Class G airspace below 1,200 AGL during the day? Answer: 1 statute mile and clear of clouds. This is the only situation where you can legally fly in Class G with just 1 mile visibility.

Special VFR

Special VFR (SVFR) is an ATC clearance that allows a pilot to operate in a control zone (Class B, C, D, or E surface area) below basic VFR minimums. To fly SVFR, you need: 1 SM flight visibility, remain clear of clouds, and ATC clearance. At night, you must be instrument rated and the aircraft must be instrument equipped. Student pilots may not fly SVFR at night.

The Master Memory Aid

For controlled airspace below 10,000 ft (Classes B, C, D, and E): 3 miles visibility, 500 below / 1,000 above / 2,000 horizontal. Except Class B which is just 3 miles clear of clouds. For everything high (above 10,000 ft): 5 miles, 1,000/1,000/1 mile. For Class G low and day: 1 mile, clear of clouds. Everything else in G: 3 miles, 500/1,000/2,000.