VFR Weather Minimums Chart (3-152) by Airspace Class

Basic VFR weather minimums tell you how much flight visibility you need and how far you must stay from clouds. They change with the class of airspace, your altitude, and (in Class G) whether it is day or night. Most of the chart is the "3-152" rule: 3 statute miles visibility, 1,000 ft above, 500 ft below and 2,000 ft horizontally from clouds.

VFR weather minimums chart

Airspace	Flight visibility	Distance from clouds
Class A	Not applicable (IFR only)	Not applicable
Class B	3 statute miles	Clear of clouds
Class C	3 statute miles	500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal
Class D	3 statute miles	500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal
Class E, below 10,000 ft MSL	3 statute miles	500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal
Class E, at or above 10,000 ft MSL	5 statute miles	1,000 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 1 statute mile horizontal
Class G, 1,200 ft or less above the surface: day	1 statute mile	Clear of clouds
Class G, 1,200 ft or less above the surface: night	3 statute miles	500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal
Class G, more than 1,200 ft AGL but below 10,000 ft MSL: day	1 statute mile	500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal
Class G, more than 1,200 ft AGL but below 10,000 ft MSL: night	3 statute miles	500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal
Class G, more than 1,200 ft AGL and at or above 10,000 ft MSL	5 statute miles	1,000 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 1 statute mile horizontal

Source: 14 CFR 91.155. Class G at night has one exception: in the traffic pattern within half a mile of the runway, 1 statute mile and clear of clouds is allowed (91.155(b)(2)).

Two more rules near airports

Ceiling: you may not fly VFR beneath a ceiling lower than 1,000 ft inside controlled airspace that goes down to the surface at an airport (91.155(c)).
Visibility to take off or land: in the surface area of Class B, C, D or E airspace, ground visibility at the airport must be at least 3 statute miles. If none is reported, use flight visibility (91.155(d)). Below these, you need a special VFR clearance.

How to remember it

Learn "3-152" first, because it covers Class C, D and E below 10,000 ft. Then learn the exceptions: Class B is "clear of clouds", high altitude is "5 and 1-1-1", and low Class G in the daytime is "1 and clear". Your flight planner and a real METAR from the METAR decoder are good places to practice applying them.

Airspace 3D lab

Fly through each class of airspace

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METAR decoder

Check real weather against the minimums

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Common questions

What does 3-152 mean?

3 statute miles visibility, 1,000 ft above, 500 ft below and 2,000 ft horizontally from clouds. It applies in Class C, D and E below 10,000 ft MSL.

What are the VFR minimums in Class B airspace?

3 statute miles visibility and clear of clouds.

Why are the minimums higher at 10,000 ft and above?

Airplanes fly faster up high, so you need more visibility and more room from clouds to see and avoid traffic: 5 statute miles, 1,000 ft above and below, and 1 statute mile horizontally.

Sources, review & change history

Published: Oct 26, 2026
Review status: Written from the FAA sources linked in the text. Not yet re-checked line by line or reviewed by a flight instructor.
Changes: Oct 26, 2026: first published.

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Study aid only. Your instructor, current 14 CFR and the FAA's handbooks and ACS have the final word.