San Francisco to Beijing
12h 13m The flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) covers 9,494 km (5,899 miles) and takes approximately 12h 13m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-west on an initial great-circle bearing of 319°, passing near 58.6° N, 178.9° E at its midpoint.
The route
The great-circle path — the shortest line between the two airports across the curve of the earth. On a flat map it looks bent; on a globe it is straight.
Flight time at different cruise speeds
Aircraft type, winds and routing all move the real number. This is the same distance flown at different speeds, plus the 25-minute ground and climb allowance.
| Typical of | Cruise speed | Airborne | Gate to gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop / regional | 550 km/h | 17h 16m | 17h 41m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 12h 10m | 12h 35m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 10h 33m | 10h 58m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 11h 10m | 11h 35m |
Headwinds on an eastbound long-haul routinely add 30–60 minutes; the same route westbound can be quicker. Airlines publish schedules with padding built in.
Both airports
| SFO | PEK | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | San Francisco International Airport | Beijing Capital International Airport |
| City | San Francisco | Beijing |
| Country | United States | China |
| ICAO | KSFO | ZBAA |
| Coordinates | 37.6198, -122.3748 | 40.0773, 116.5967 |
| Elevation | 13 ft | 116 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Beijing?
A non-stop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Beijing (PEK) takes about 12h 13m. The great-circle distance is 9,494 km (5,899 miles, 5,126 nautical miles), flying north-west on an initial bearing of 319°.
How far is San Francisco from Beijing?
9,494 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 5,899 miles or 5,126 nautical miles. Actual flown distance is usually 2–5% longer because aircraft follow airways, avoid weather and route around restricted airspace.
Is there a non-stop flight between SFO and PEK?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 9,494 km the route is comfortably within range of a non-stop service if an airline chooses to fly it. Check an airline or booking site for what is actually scheduled.
What should I expect on a 12h 13m flight?
Anything past six hours is a long-haul flight: expect at least one meal service, a significant time-zone shift, and enough sitting that circulation and hydration start to matter. Cabin altitude, dry air and disrupted sleep do more damage to a training routine than the flight itself.
Other routes from San Francisco
Airport coordinates from OurAirports (public domain). Distance is a great-circle calculation; flight time uses the model described on the method page. Flight times are great-circle estimates for planning only — always check the airline's published schedule.