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Guide · Choosing a coach

Midibus or coach: what's the difference?

For a group of around 35 to 40 people the answer isn't always obvious: do you choose a (slightly too full) midibus, or a (slightly too roomy) coach?

Part 1 of 5

The difference in capacity

A midibus seats 20 to 39 people, a coach 35 to 66. If you're right on the boundary (around 35-40 people), it pays to compare both options. A midibus that is just too full is not an option, but a generously sized coach often isn't necessarily more expensive either.

Part 2 of 5

Manoeuvrability versus comfort

A midibus is more compact and therefore easier to manoeuvre in city centres and on narrower roads. A coach offers more comfort on longer journeys: more legroom, more often a toilet on board, and a roomier luggage compartment.

Part 3 of 5

When to choose which

For a school trip or day trip with a fixed, smaller group, a midibus is often enough. For a trip of several days, a long journey, or when luggage space matters, a coach is usually the better choice, even for a group that just fits within a midibus's capacity.

Part 4 of 5

The dimensions side by side

A midibus is seven to nine metres long; a coach is twelve to thirteen metres long and well over three and a half metres high. You notice the difference mostly when the vehicle pulls up: a narrow street, a school playground or a restaurant car park will often take a midibus but not a coach. If you're unsure about the spot where the vehicle needs to go, put it in your request; the coach company knows which vehicle will fit.

Both have luggage space under the floor. On a coach it's larger, and that makes a difference for a trip with suitcases, a camp or a ski trip.

To scale: the shortest size in dark, dashed up to the longest. Taken from the sizes on our coach type pages.

Part 5 of 5

What the fleets tell us

Below is what the companies on our site actually run: how many seats their midibuses and coaches have, and how many of each have a toilet, air conditioning or wifi. That is exactly the difference this question is about, and it has been counted rather than summed up with a word like often or usually.

Written and checked by Martijn Smeets, founder of BusOffer.com. Last updated on 10 October 2026.

Counted, not estimated

What the fleets tell us

We have the fleets of the affiliated coach companies. These numbers come from them, and change when a coach is added.

Seats per coach at the affiliated companies, from the smallest to the largest; the dot is the most common size.

How many seats the coaches really have, by type

What the affiliated companies run, counted for midibus and coach:

20–34seats in a midibus23 coaches; most often 20 seats (5×)
35–64seats in a coach38 coaches; most often 50 seats (6×)

Counted in our own overview of the affiliated fleets, not estimated, without the driver’s seat. Enter your trip and you will see which of these coaches are available for your group.

What is on board, counted side by side

For each type, the number of coaches at the affiliated companies that have this feature:

Toilet on board in a midibus1 of 23
Toilet on board in a coach34 of 38
Air conditioning in a midibus18 of 23
Air conditioning in a coach35 of 38
Wi-Fi on board in a midibus7 of 23
Wi-Fi on board in a coach1 of 38

Counted in our own overview of the affiliated fleets, not estimated. If you really need something, turn it on as a filter once you have entered your trip.

Coach types

View these coach types

Midi­bus
20–39 people
Coach
35–66 people
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Is a midibus cheaper than a coach?

Usually, provided the group actually fits in the midibus. Compare the concrete price estimates for your group size.

Does a midibus have a toilet on board too?

This varies by provider and is less standard than on a coach. Check this for each provider under the facilities.

Can a midibus travel abroad?

This varies by coach company; for international journeys a coach is used more often because of the comfort on a long trip.

Can a coach go everywhere a midibus can?

No. A coach is three to six metres longer and doesn't turn as easily. Put in your request where the vehicle needs to pull up, and the coach company will know whether a coach can get there.

What do I do with a group of 36 to 40 people?

Fill in your number and see what comes up. Some midibuses have more seats than the usual size and some coaches fewer; on your price overview you'll see per company which vehicle fits and what it costs.

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