Flight category checker
Find out whether conditions are VFR, MVFR, IFR or LIFR from the visibility and ceiling, or check the current METAR of an airport.
Flight category thresholds
FAA definitions, also used by aviationweather.gov and on MetarBrief. A category applies when either the ceiling or the visibility falls in its range.
| Category | Ceiling | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| VFR Visual Flight Rules | 3,000 ft or higher | more than 5 sm (8 km) |
| MVFR Marginal VFR | 1,000 to below 3,000 ft | 3 to 5 sm (4.8–8 km) |
| IFR Instrument Flight Rules | 500 to below 1,000 ft | 1 to below 3 sm (1.6–4.8 km) |
| LIFR Low IFR | below 500 ft | below 1 sm (1.6 km) |
These categories describe the weather, not what you may fly. VFR minima depend on the airspace class, the country and the time of day, so always check the rules that apply to your flight.
Frequently asked questions
What do VFR, MVFR, IFR and LIFR mean?
They are weather categories based on ceiling and visibility. VFR: good visual conditions. MVFR (marginal VFR): ceiling 1,000 to below 3,000 ft or visibility 3–5 statute miles. IFR: ceiling 500 to below 1,000 ft or visibility 1 to below 3 miles. LIFR (low IFR): ceiling below 500 ft or visibility below 1 mile.
What counts as a ceiling?
The ceiling is the height above ground of the lowest broken (BKN) or overcast (OVC) cloud layer, or the vertical visibility (VV) into an obscuration. FEW and SCT layers are not a ceiling.
Which wins when visibility and ceiling give different categories?
The worse of the two. With 10 km visibility and a 700 ft overcast, the flight category is IFR.
Does VFR mean I can fly under visual flight rules?
Not by itself. The flight category describes the weather. The VFR minima you must meet depend on the airspace class, the country and the time of day.