C-17 Cargo Capacity: Payload, Pallets, Troops and Vehicles

The C-17 Globemaster III has a published maximum payload of 170,900 pounds and 18 pallet positions. Its cargo compartment measures 88 feet long, 18 feet wide and 12 feet 4 inches high. Those figures explain its capacity better than lists of vehicles that ignore dimensions, restraint and center-of-gravity limits.

Official C-17 cargo-capacity figures

The aircraft’s 585,000-pound figure is maximum gross takeoff weight, not cargo-floor capacity. Payload is also not interchangeable with gross weight: the aircraft, fuel, crew and cargo all contribute to takeoff weight.

How 18 pallet positions work

The cargo floor can convert from a flat surface for vehicles to a roller system for palletized freight. The Air Force publishes 18 pallet positions. A planner may use fewer positions because of cargo weight, dimensions, restraint, mission equipment or center-of-gravity requirements.

Can a C-17 carry an M1 Abrams?

Yes. The Air Force fact sheet identifies a 69-ton M1 Abrams main battle tank as an example of Army equipment accommodated by the aft ramp and door system. That does not make every tank configuration automatically acceptable; the actual load must meet current technical and mission requirements.

Vehicles and helicopters

The C-17 was designed for outsized and oversized cargo, including armored vehicles, trucks, trailers and rotary-wing aircraft prepared for air transport. There is no single trustworthy “how many fit” answer for every platform because variants, installed equipment and preparation change both dimensions and weight.

Use official load-planning data for operational decisions. Public examples are useful for understanding scale, not for building a load plan.

Troop and paratrooper capacity

The published capacity is 102 troops or paratroopers. Personnel movement, static-line airdrop and mixed cargo/personnel missions use different configurations and crew requirements. “102” is therefore a standard published capacity, not a promise for every mission.

Aeromedical capacity

The Air Force lists 36 litter and 54 ambulatory patients and attendants. A basic aeromedical evacuation crew includes two flight nurses and three medical technicians, with adjustments based on patient needs.

Why payload and range change together

At a payload of 164,900 pounds and an initial cruise altitude of 28,000 feet, the Air Force publishes an unrefueled range of about 2,400 nautical miles. The C-17 has global reach with aerial refueling. Fuel, cargo, route, runway, weather and reserve requirements interact, so maximum payload and maximum unrefueled range are not simultaneous absolutes.

Short and austere airfield capability

The aircraft’s high-lift wing, slats and externally blown flaps support operations from relatively short, austere airfields. The Air Force says it can take off and land on runways as short as 3,500 feet and 90 feet wide under the conditions behind that published figure. Thrust reversers also let it back on the ground and assist with maneuvering in confined areas.

What determines whether cargo fits?

1. Total payload weight.
2. Item length, width and height through the loading envelope.
3. Axle, wheel, track and local floor-loading limits.
4. Available restraint and tie-down provisions.
5. Aircraft center of gravity.
6. Fuel, range, runway, weather and mission requirements.

For a visual walkthrough of these spaces, see inside the C-17 cargo hold and interior.

C-17 cargo FAQ

How much cargo can a C-17 carry?

The published maximum payload is 170,900 pounds.

Can it carry 36 pallets?

No. The U.S. Air Force lists 18 pallet positions.

Is 585,000 pounds the cargo capacity?

No. That is maximum gross takeoff weight. Maximum payload is 170,900 pounds.

Official sources

• U.S. Air Force: C-17 Globemaster III fact sheet
• National Museum of the U.S. Air Force: Boeing C-17

Related cargo and mission guides

• Inside the C-17 cargo hold
• C-17 weight and balance
• How C-17 cargo airdrop missions work

For the aircraft in service worldwide, see the current C-17 fleet and operator totals.

Payload is only one mission variable; see how the Department of Defense defines the C-17 operating cost per flight hour.

For cargo delivered without landing, see the C-17 airdrop operations guide.