Seats vs Length: How Long is a 48 Passenger School Bus?
With 7 distinct school bus types, you will find these vehicles in a variety of lengths. That is a good thing as you get plenty of choices and you can find the right length to fit your purpose.
The rule of thumb is 30 inches per window and 2 1/2 inches per strut. In a 48 passenger bus, you will have 8 windows and approx 10 struts. That equals an interior length of 265 inches without the driver’s space or engine. Or 28 feet from bumper to bumper.
To learn more about the total length of different types of buses just continue to read ou article. It has the information you want to know about so you can filter out those vehicles that are too long or too short for your needs.
How Long is a 48 Passenger School Bus?
When figuring out the length of any type of bus, there are some facts to keep in mind. Where the engine is located, the driver’s space, and how many passengers per seat all play a role in the length of the bus. Plus, some bus companies may leave a space at the rear which may add another foot or two overall.
Bus companies make their seats to hold 6 people per row, so a 48 passenger bus would have 8 rows or 8 windows and that equals just over 20 feet. Then add in the driver’s space and engine and you have roughly 28 feet in length.
54 Passenger School Bus Length
This is just one row longer than the previous bus length so you are only adding roughly 3 feet to the total. You are looking at approx. 31 feet in length. But this figure will depend on the company that made the school bus.
6 x 9 = 54 so you can see that adding an additional window only nets you 1 more row of seats. There has to be a window per seat and their measurements are 2.5 feet wide. This design is supposed to ensure that the riders can get out fast and safely
60 Passenger School Bus
This size of bus is only adding one more row onto the last section’s bus size. With 6 people per seat, or we should say, students, one row adds 6 passengers or another 3 feet approx.
You are looking at having a 32-foot long bus with this many passengers. That includes the driver’s space and the engine. Keep in mind that the engine is not always out in front like a car engine.
Sometimes a school bus motor is beside the driver or at the rear of the vehicle. The engine location will change the dimensions a little.
65 Passenger School Bus Length
This number of passengers translates into an 11 window bus and depending on the interior design and engine location, you are looking at 33 feet from bumper to bumper approx.
The flat nose model may give you extra room inside keeping the length smaller than a dog nose style of the school bus. Some 11 window models will only measure 32 feet in length. Again, it all depends on the company that designs these vehicles that will determine the actual length.
Use a tape measure to get an accurate reading on the bus you want to buy. Don’t trust the dealer or the seller as they will make mistakes.
How Many Feet Long is a 66 Passenger School Bus?
This model would be the same as the previous section’s model. It will be between 32 and 33 feet long depending on the design and engine location. Some makers place an empty spot behind the last row of seats which will extend the bus a little bit.
Counting the windows will get you an approx. length as you have to figure in that extra space at the back and also the strut size between the windows.
How Long is a 72 Passenger School Bus
One owner says his 12 window 72-passenger bus measures 34 feet from bumper to bumper. That includes the dog nose design and the driver’s space. Also, keep in mind that some bus makers make the back window a little bit larger, roughly 6 inches, and have it covering the two rear rows of seats.
That design option will throw off any measurement using windows. As will the style of the engine in the bus. Those come in 4 categories- van front, snub nose, dog nose, or flat front. Each style will have its own measurement influencing the overall length of the bus.
How Long is a 78 Passenger School Bus
So far, all the buses mentioned here have been under what is called a full-sized bus. Those vehicles measure 35 + with the longest legal length of 45 feet. This many passengers translates into a 13 window bus and that pushes it over that 35-foot mark.
This is a full-size bus and measures roughly 35 to 36 feet approx. You will find that some of the above-mentioned buses will reach this length as well. There is little consistency when it comes to bus length.
The best thing to do is to determine what length you want to drive and then count the windows to see if you are getting close.
Some Final Words
Counting windows or passenger limits will only get you an approx. length. You have to include the bumper thickness, the engine length, and how much room the driver has. It is not hard to get the length but use a tape measure to make sure you are accurate.
Buses come in lengths between 20 and 45 feet with 40 feet being the legal limit in some states. But that is not going to be your interior size. There are different aspects that will limit your living space.
