Flight time: San Francisco to São Paulo

Route details

Distance breakdown: San Francisco to São Paulo

The 10,427-km great-circle distance between San Francisco (37.62°N, 122.38°W) and São Paulo (-23.44°N, 46.47°W) spans 61.1° of latitude and 75.9° of longitude, trending primarily east. In miles, this is 6,479 mi or 5631 nautical miles. The great-circle path — the shortest distance over Earth's curved surface — is calculated using the Haversine formula from the two airports' precise coordinates.

Cruise speed and flight phases

On this 10,427-km long-haul route, aircraft spend the majority of the 12h 05m to 13h 33m journey at optimal cruise altitude of 35,000–42,000 feet, where modern wide-body jets achieve true airspeeds of 820–900 km/h (Mach 0.82–0.86). The initial climb and final descent represent a smaller fraction of total flight time compared to shorter routes. Aircraft like the Boeing 777, 787, or Airbus A350 typically operate routes of this distance, with step climbs during the flight to reach progressively more efficient altitudes as fuel burns off and the aircraft lightens.

Ground time and routing overhead

Our 30–50 minutes overhead allowance covers: taxi-out at SFO, takeoff and initial climb, descent and approach at GRU, and taxi-in to the gate. SFO is a major international hub where taxi times of 15–25 minutes are common during peak periods. At GRU, arrival taxi and gate assignment can add 10–20 minutes, especially during busy arrival banks. Continental air traffic corridors between San Francisco and São Paulo may add 3–8% beyond the great-circle distance. Standard instrument departures and arrivals at both airports use predefined routing that adds distance but ensures safe separation.

Return flight: São Paulo → San Francisco

The return flight from São Paulo to San Francisco is generally similar in duration to the outbound — typically within 10–20 minutes. Continental routes like this one are less affected by the jet stream asymmetry that makes oceanic east-west routes so uneven. The main variables affecting any difference are: prevailing winds at these latitudes (modest effect), different standard instrument departures/arrivals at each airport (minor effect), and air traffic congestion patterns that vary by time of day and direction.

Seasonal variation in flight times

Flight times between San Francisco and São Paulo vary modestly by season — typically 10–20 minutes. Upper-level wind patterns shift with the seasons: winter generally brings stronger westerly winds at these latitudes, while summer patterns are more variable. Thunderstorm activity along the route corridor peaks in summer months, occasionally causing routing diversions that add distance. Winter operations may include de-icing delays at SFO, which extend the overall gate-to-gate time.

Airport information

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a major international hub in San Francisco, United States. As a tier-1 airport, it handles high traffic volumes, which means longer average taxi times but also higher flight frequency and competition that can benefit travelers on pricing. São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) is a major international hub in São Paulo, Brazil. As a tier-1 airport, it handles high traffic volumes, which means longer average taxi times but also higher flight frequency and competition that can benefit travelers on pricing.

Flight times from San Francisco to other destinations

Flight time FAQ: San Francisco to São Paulo