There are more types of buses on the road than most people realize! Charter buses, minibuses, party buses, school buses, double-decker buses, articulated buses, and electric trolleybuses are each built for a very different job, and knowing the difference is the fastest way to book the right ride. Whether your group is heading to a bachelorette weekend on Broadway in Nashville, a tournament in Dallas, or a convention in Las Vegas, this guide to bus types covers what each bus is, how many people it carries, what's on board, and which one fits YOUR trip.
Partybus.com has been online since 1999, and as specialists in the party bus rental game, we've helped groups find and book seven types of buses and limos through a large network of independent transportation companies: party buses, charter buses, minibuses, school buses, sprinter vans, sprinter limos, and limousines. Because Partybus.com doesn't own the vehicles, you're never limited to just one fleet! Call 877-563-2133 or fill out one quick form to see what's open for your date.
- Which Type of Bus Should Your Group Rent?
- Types of Buses You Can Rent
- Other Types of Buses and What to Book Instead
- How to Tell Bus Types Apart at a Glance
- Frequently Asked Questions About Bus Types
- Rent Your Next Bus in Just a Few Minutes
| Bus Type | Passengers | Standout Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Party Bus | 15 to 50 | Wraparound lounge seating, LED lighting, sound system, bar | Birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, prom, nights out |
| Charter Bus | 40 to 56 | Undercarriage luggage bays, reclining seats, WiFi, onboard restroom | Corporate events, sports teams, trips of 200+ miles |
| Minibus | 15 to 35 | Overhead bins, power outlets, easy moves through city streets | Airport and hotel shuttles, weddings, local events |
| School Bus | Around 47 | Bench seating, big side windows, room for backpacks and gear | Field trips, sports teams, camps, church groups |
| Sprinter Van | Up to 14 | High-roof cabin, rear cargo area, captain's chairs on executive models | Airport transfers, executive travel, small groups |
| Sprinter Limo | 12 to 14 | J-shaped lounge seating, bar, LED ceiling, TVs | Prom, bachelorette parties, small celebrations |
| Limousine | 6 to 22 | Leather lounge seating, fiber-optic ceiling, privacy partition | Weddings, prom, anniversaries, VIP nights out |
Which Type of Bus Should Your Group Rent?
Choosing the right type of bus comes down to three quick questions. Answer them and you'll know exactly which bus to look for!
How many people are coming? A sprinter van or sprinter limo holds up to 14, a limousine holds 6 to 22, a minibus holds 15 to 35, a school bus holds around 47, a party bus holds 15 to 50, and a charter bus holds up to 56. Got a bigger crowd? Book more than one bus, or mix and match, like a charter bus for the wedding guests and a sprinter limo for the wedding party!
What's everyone packing? Suitcases for every passenger point straight to a charter bus, where the undercarriage bays swallow a week of luggage. Carry-ons and roller bags ride easy in a minibus or sprinter van, and backpacks tuck right into a school bus. Just phones and purses? That's party bus, sprinter limo, and limousine territory, where the space goes to seating and the dance floor instead.
What kind of trip is it? Birthdays, bachelorette parties, and prom call for a party bus, sprinter limo, or limousine. Field trips and team trips on a budget fit a school bus, and local airport or hotel shuttles fit a minibus or sprinter van. Heading 200 miles or more? A charter bus with reclining seats, WiFi, and an onboard restroom makes the long ride fly by!
Types of Buses You Can Rent
Here's everything you'll want to know about each type of bus in the Partybus.com network, from seating capacity and amenities to luggage space and the trips each one is made for. Wondering what each option costs? You can check bus prices for your trip online, and the charter bus prices guide breaks down everything that goes into a rental price.
Charter Bus
A charter bus (also called a motorcoach) is a full-size bus built for long-distance group travel, seating up to 56 passengers in a cabin raised above a luggage compartment. That raised cabin is the defining feature, too. Per the FMCSA's bus, motorcoach, and minibus definitions, a motorcoach is a bus with an elevated passenger deck over a baggage compartment, which is why you climb a few steps at the door and why there's so much room for bags below the floor. One bus carries the whole group. No splitting into cars. No comparing GPS routes. Nobody in your group stuck behind the wheel! First time booking one? The ultimate guide to renting a charter bus walks you through the basics.
Seating Capacity. Charter buses seat 40 to 56 passengers, and the most booked sizes in the network seat 47, 55, or 56. Full-size coaches run 40 to 45 feet long, and the MCI J4500 (which MCI calls the best-selling touring coach in North America) comes in at 45 feet, according to the MCI J-Series specs.
Available Amenities. Settle into a reclining seat, plug your phone into the outlet at your row, and hop on the WiFi while the miles roll by! Most charter buses add climate control, overhead bins, an onboard restroom, TV monitors, a PA system for the group leader, and reading lights (perfect for one of these books to read on a long charter bus ride). You'll find coaches from MCI, Prevost, Van Hool, Setra, Temsa, and more (meet the most popular charter bus manufacturers), and the complete guide to charter bus amenities covers every feature. Must-have WiFi or a restroom? Add it to your trip details and you'll see the coaches that have it!
Luggage Storage. No bus type you can rent carries more bags. Hundreds of cubic feet of storage sit below the floor for suitcases, with overhead bins above every row for carry-ons. Packing for a long trip? The complete charter bus packing guide gets everything on board, and these road trip snacks for long bus rides and stretches for long charter bus trips keep the whole crew happy on the highway.
Best for: Weddings, corporate outings, school trips, sporting events, religious gatherings, national park trips, and anything 200 miles or more!
Pro Tip: Every city and venue handles bus loading its own way, and knowing your drop-off spot ahead of time makes arrival day so, so easy. The complete guide to charter bus loading and parking shows you where your group gets dropped off and where the bus waits.
Minibus
A minibus is a compact bus that seats 15 to 35 passengers, sized for small and medium groups who'd rather skip the crowded carpool and the surge-priced rideshares. The FMCSA notes that a minibus is typically built on a small truck chassis, which is exactly why a minibus zips through narrow roads and tight downtown streets that a full-size coach would rather avoid. That makes minibus rentals a favorite for offsite parking shuttles, wedding shuttles, and game-day runs to the stadium!
Seating Capacity. Minibuses in the network hold 15 to 35 passengers, and the 18-, 20-, and 25-passenger sizes get booked the most. You'll see builds from Grech, Glaval, Starcraft, Turtle Top, and more, most with a center aisle tall enough to walk to your seat.
Available Amenities. Expect cloth or leather seating and climate control, plus power outlets and USB charging on most models so everyone rolls into the event fully charged! Select layouts add flat-screen monitors, a PA system for tour guides, onboard WiFi, and even tables so your group can sit face to face on the way to the conference.
Luggage Storage. Overhead bins handle backpacks, tote bags, and jackets, and a rear luggage area on many layouts fits roller bags for the hotel run. Packing heavy? Add your bag count when you request your quote and you'll see the layouts built for it!
Best for: Airport and hotel shuttles, private gatherings, conventions and trade shows, small sports teams, and corporate travel.
Party Bus
A party bus (often called a limo bus in bigger cities) seats 15 to 50 passengers on wraparound lounge seating, with color-changing LED lighting and a built-in sound system that turn the ride into part of the night. Party buses are what Partybus.com is all about, and they're the top pick for birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, prom, and nights out on the town! Instead of meeting up at the venue in five different cars, your whole crew starts the celebration at the first pickup.
Seating Capacity. Party bus sizes run from 15 to 50 passengers, and the 20- and 28-passenger party buses are the most common sizes you'll see. Look for builds from Grech Motors, Krystal, Tiffany, and more in the network.
Available Amenities. Picture a bar running the length of the cabin, lights shifting color to the beat, and Bluetooth sound pumping your playlist to every seat! Most party buses pair that with flat-panel TVs and seating that wraps the walls, and many add hardwood or vinyl flooring with open space down the middle, built-in coolers and ice bins, USB outlets, and tinted windows. Planning a big one? Larger party buses (usually 30 passengers and up) can include an onboard restroom. For everything else, see the complete guide to party bus rentals.
Luggage Storage. A party bus puts its space where the fun is, into seating and that open floor down the middle. Coming straight from the airport with bags? Ask about adding a luggage trailer when you request your quote!
Best for: Birthday bashes, weddings, bachelor and bachelorette parties, wine tours, concerts, and nights on the town, like a cruise down the Las Vegas Strip.
School Bus
A school bus is the classic yellow bus with rows of bench seats and big side windows, carrying around 47 passengers in one easy-to-book package. Simple, sure. But simple is exactly the point when you need a whole team, camp, or youth group on one bus without overthinking it! Sports teams, church groups, and any group watching the budget can rent a school bus for a field trip, a tournament, or a theme park day, like a ride to Six Flags Over Texas with a Dallas school bus rental. Long ride to the tournament? Pack a few games to play on a charter bus, since they work just as well on a school bus!
Seating Capacity. School buses in the network seat around 47 passengers, with bench seats that fit two or three people apiece on either side of a center aisle.
Available Amenities. Bench seating, big side windows, and front entry steps with handrails come standard, plus a PA system on select buses so the coach can go over the game plan on the way. Need a wheelchair lift or an ADA layout? Mention it with your trip details and you'll see buses that have one!
Luggage Storage. Backpacks, lunch bags, and instrument cases tuck under and above the seats, so a whole team's gear rides right along with everyone. Suitcase-heavy trip? The charter bus's undercarriage bays are made for that one.
Best for: School field trips, sports teams and tournaments, summer camps, church groups, and campus or event shuttles.
Sprinter Van
A sprinter van is a high-roof passenger van on a Mercedes-Benz chassis that carries up to 14 passengers, giving small groups big-vehicle comfort in a package that slips into any hotel drive. Your group walks down the aisle standing up, not hunched over, with up to 76 inches of standing height on high-roof models per the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van specs. It's the go-to pick for the airport run!
Seating Capacity. Sprinter vans in the network seat up to 14 passengers, and executive sprinters trade standard seats for individual reclining captain's chairs so everyone gets more room to stretch out.
Available Amenities. Depending on the model, you'll ride on cloth or leather seating with USB and 110-volt outlets for the laptops, rear air conditioning with separate floor heat, and onboard WiFi for the last email before the meeting. Lounge layouts bring the fun side, with LED lighting, a sound system, and TV screens!
Luggage Storage. A rear cargo area behind the last row carries the bags, with 70 to 117 cubic feet of cargo volume depending on the Sprinter configuration. Add your bag count when you request your quote, and you'll see the right size for your crew and their carry-ons.
Best for: Airport transfers, executive and corporate travel, small wedding parties, and small group day trips.
Sprinter Limo
A sprinter limo is a Mercedes-Benz sprinter van with a limousine interior, seating 12 to 14 passengers on J-shaped lounge seating along the walls so everyone faces each other. Want the party bus look for a smaller crew? This is it! You get the bar, the lights, and the TVs, all sized for a prom group or a bachelorette squad.
Available Amenities. Sprinter limos typically bring a bar glowing with LED and RGB accent lighting, a custom lit ceiling, front and rear TVs, and Bluetooth sound for the playlist you've been building all week! Most add USB and 110-volt outlets, a privacy divider with rear window shades, and wood-grain flooring the length of the cabin.
Best for: Prom, homecoming, bachelorette parties, birthdays, and small winery tours. Planning an airport run with bags instead? The standard sprinter van, with its rear cargo area, is made for that trip.
Limousine
A limousine is a stretched luxury vehicle with a lounge-style cabin, and limo rentals run from stretch sedans for 6 passengers to super stretch SUVs for up to 22. Too small a group for a party bus but still want the red-carpet arrival? A limousine rental is your move! Choose from Hummer limos, Escalade limos, Chrysler 300 limos, Lincoln limos, Navigator and Excursion limos, Suburban limos, and much, much more through the network.
Available Amenities. Slide onto leather lounge seating, grab a glass from the built-in bar, and look up at a fiber-optic ceiling with LED mood lighting! Limousines typically round that out with flat screens, Bluetooth sound, tinted windows, and a power privacy partition, and exterior colors run from classic white and black all the way to pink for the bachelorette crowd.
Best for: Weddings, prom, anniversaries, milestone birthdays, and VIP nights out.
Other Types of Buses and What to Book Instead
Double-deckers, bendy buses, electric trolleybuses... you've seen them all around town! Most of these bus types are built for public transit agencies, cities, and specialty jobs, so here's what each one is, how to spot it, and the bus you can book through Partybus.com to get the same job done for your group.
Transit Bus (City Bus)
A transit bus is the city bus on public routes, usually a single-deck bus with more than one door, a mix of seats, and standing room for riders hopping on and off at every stop. Want to move your group around town on YOUR schedule instead of a posted timetable? A minibus or school bus is the closest match, with a seat for every passenger and only the stops you planned!
Low-Floor Bus
A low-floor bus sits close to the ground with no steps at the door, and many kneel at the curb so riders using wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers can roll right on. Low-floor buses mostly run in city transit fleets. Need step-free boarding for your group? Request an ADA-accessible bus with a wheelchair lift in your trip details, and you'll see accessible options from the network.
High-Floor (Step-Entrance) Bus
A high-floor bus has steps at the door leading up to a raised passenger cabin. Most charter buses you can rent are high-floor buses, and that's great news for your group, because the raised deck is what makes room for the luggage bays underneath. Suitcases for everyone? Book the high-floor coach!
Articulated and Bi-Articulated Bus
An articulated bus (the "bendy bus") is an extra-long bus with a flexible joint in the middle so it can turn city corners, and a bi-articulated bus bends in two places for even more length. In San Francisco, Muni's first fleet of 60-foot articulated buses hit the streets in June 1984 with 57 seats apiece, mostly on the 38 Geary routes. Bigger group than one coach? Book two 56-passenger charter buses for the same trip, and your whole crowd rolls out together with a seat for everyone!
Double-Decker Bus
A double-decker bus stacks two passenger decks so it can carry more people without adding length. Across the Bay, AC Transit's double-decker buses carry 80 passengers each on its Transbay lines, with 5 feet 7 inches of upper-deck clearance, on routes picked for minimal obstacles like power lines and low tree branches. Moving a big crowd? A 56-passenger charter bus (or two) keeps every passenger on one level with luggage bays below, and it goes wherever your itinerary does!
Open-Top Bus
An open-top bus is a single-deck or double-decker bus with no roof, most often running ticketed sightseeing tours in big tourist cities. Want the sightseeing without the ticket line? Book a minibus or charter bus with big side windows, build your own route, and stop wherever your group wants to go!
Trolleybus
A trolleybus (or electric trolley bus) is a rubber-tired bus powered by overhead wires, which it reaches through poles on its roof. According to SFMTA, San Francisco Muni runs the largest trolley bus fleet of any transit agency in the United States and Canada, and modern trolley buses carry a battery to travel off-wire around construction or street fairs. For a private trip, a minibus, party bus, or charter bus takes your group anywhere the itinerary goes, wires or no wires!
Hybrid and Electric Buses
A hybrid bus pairs two power sources, like a diesel engine with an electric motor and battery, while a battery-electric bus runs on battery power alone and charges between trips. SFMTA, for example, ordered low-floor biodiesel-electric hybrid buses for its Muni fleet. Want a lower-emission ride for your group? Mention it in your trip details and see what's available for your date.
Midibus
A midibus sits between a minibus and a full-size bus, and transit agencies and shuttle services use it on routes that don't need a full-size coach. In the rental world, the closest match is a larger minibus in the 30- to 35-passenger range, giving your group more seats while still fitting down tight city streets!
Tour Bus (Entertainer Bus)
A tour bus (also called an entertainer bus or sleeper bus) is a full-size coach built out for multi-day travel, with bunks, lounges, and living space in place of most seats, and bands and film crews use them to live on the road between shows and locations. Most layouts sleep 8 to 12 people in bunks and can include a private lounge, a master suite, a restroom, a kitchen area, WiFi, and flat-screen TVs, with a hitch for a trailer full of gear. Need one for your tour? Call 877-563-2133 and the team will check with providers serving your pickup city! Taking an overnight trip on a charter bus instead? Here's how to sleep on a bus so everyone arrives rested.
Guided Bus
A guided bus runs along a special guideway for part of its route, steered by the track like a train, then drives normal streets like any other bus. You'll find guided busways in public transit systems in places like the UK and Australia, so keep an eye out on your next trip abroad!
Gyrobus
A gyrobus is a rare electric bus that stores energy in a big, fast-spinning flywheel instead of a fuel tank or large battery, recharging at special stations along its route. Gyrobuses cost a lot to run and never caught on, which makes them a fun piece of bus history for your next trivia night.
Police, Off-Road, Training, and Neighborhood Buses
Some buses are built for one specific job. Police buses move large groups of officers for crowd control and big events, off-road buses tackle rough terrain (often for the military), training buses teach people how to operate a bus, and neighborhood buses run small local loops through residential streets. Need your own loop around a campus, neighborhood, or festival grounds? A minibus or school bus shuttle running on your schedule gets it done!
How to Tell Bus Types Apart at a Glance
Trying to figure out what kind of bus you're looking at, or which one you're about to book? Four quick details give almost every bus type away.
Check the floor height. Steps up into the cabin and luggage doors along the side mean a high-floor charter bus, the raised passenger deck over a baggage compartment that defines a motorcoach. A bus sitting close to the curb with no steps is a low-floor transit bus.
Check the seats. Rows of forward-facing individual seats mean a charter bus, minibus, or sprinter van, and rows of bench seats mean a school bus. Seating that wraps the walls facing inward? That's a party bus, sprinter limo, or limousine!
Check the length. Sprinter vans and limousines are the shortest, minibuses come next, full-size charter buses run 40 to 45 feet, and articulated transit buses stretch to 60 feet with a bend in the middle.
Look up. Two decks mean a double-decker (AC Transit's stands 13 feet 6 inches tall, versus 11 feet 3 inches for an MCI coach). No roof means an open-top sightseeing bus, and poles reaching up to overhead wires mean an electric trolleybus.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bus Types
Which bus types can I book through Partybus.com?
You can find and book party buses, charter buses, minibuses, school buses, sprinter vans, sprinter limos, and limousines through Partybus.com. Every bus comes from a large network of independent transportation companies, and the group transportation services you can book cover everything from airport transfers and weddings to prom, concerts, sporting events, and corporate shuttles.
What bus types are available in my city?
Enter your pickup city and travel date, and you'll see the bus types, sizes, and models from companies serving your area. Partybus.com connects you with bus companies in over 1,000 cities across the United States, from Las Vegas party bus rentals and Nashville party bus rentals to New York charter bus rentals and Atlanta charter bus rentals. The earlier you check your date, the more buses you'll have to choose from!
Can I book a double-decker bus, trolleybus, or tour bus?
Call 877-563-2133 and the team will check with providers serving your pickup city for specialty buses like double-deckers and tour buses. For most groups, a charter bus, minibus, or party bus does the same job and books in minutes online, and you'll see every one available for your date.
Do amenities vary by make and model?
Yes, amenities change by bus type and by the make, model, and age of each bus. Charter buses lead with reclining seats, WiFi, restrooms, and luggage bays, party buses lead with lighting, sound, bars, and perimeter seating, and minibuses and sprinter vans land somewhere in between. Browse the features on each bus in your results, and add must-haves like WiFi, a restroom, or a wheelchair lift to your trip details.
Does Partybus.com own the buses?
No, Partybus.com does not own or operate any buses. We're not a bus company, but we know a lot of them. Partybus.com connects you with a large network of independent transportation companies, so you can compare more bus types, more sizes, and more packages than any one company offers. Learn more about Partybus.com and how the site works.
How does booking a bus work?
Fill out one quick form with your date, pickup location, destination, and passenger count, then book the bus you want online. The online quote tool takes you to a national booking platform's results page with buses, photos, and pricing for your trip, and you can book your favorite right there. You do not need to create an account to easily view instant online quotes and vehicle pictures, and if you'd rather talk it through first, you can always contact Partybus.com.
Rent Your Next Bus in Just a Few Minutes
A party bus for the bachelorette weekend. A school bus for the tournament. A minibus for the wedding guests and a charter bus for the company trip across the state. Partybus.com is your one-stop spot for all of it, from Chicago party bus rentals to every one of the more than 1,000 cities in the network. Why call five companies for one date? Fill out one form, see every type of bus available for your trip, and book the one that fits your group and your budget. It's that easy!
Prefer to talk to someone? Call 877-563-2133 any day of the year and a live support team will help you find the right bus. And for more trip planning tips, head over to the Partybus.com blog.
