Glock 17 vs Glock 19: Official Specs Compared

The Glock 17 and Glock 19 are closely related 9x19 mm Safe Action pistols, but Glock’s Gen5 specifications show a clear size and capacity split. The G17 Gen5 is longer, taller, and listed with a 17 round standard magazine. The G19 Gen5 is shorter, lower, and listed with a 15 round standard magazine. Both have the same listed Gen5 overall width and slide width.

This comparison is limited to official specifications and official or agency records. It does not make a buying verdict, and it does not include range impressions, concealment impressions, trigger opinions, or accuracy claims.

Glock 17 vs Glock 19 specs, Gen5

For a like for like comparison, the main table uses Glock’s official U.S. law enforcement pages for the G17 Gen5 and G19 Gen5. Glock lists both models as 9x19 mm Safe Action pistols.

Specification	Glock 17 Gen5	Glock 19 Gen5
Caliber	9x19 mm	9x19 mm
System	Safe Action	Safe Action
Standard magazine capacity	17 rounds	15 rounds
Optional capacities listed by Glock U.S.	19, 24, 31, 33 rounds	15, 17, 24, 31, 33 rounds
Barrel length	114 mm, 4.49 in	102 mm, 4.02 in
Overall length	202 mm, 7.95 in	185 mm, 7.28 in
Slide length	186 mm, 7.32 in	174 mm, 6.85 in
Overall width	34 mm, 1.34 in	34 mm, 1.34 in
Slide width	25.5 mm, 1.00 in	25.5 mm, 1.00 in
Height including magazine	139 mm, 5.47 in	128 mm, 5.04 in
Weight without magazine	630 g, 22.22 oz	610 g, 21.52 oz
Weight with empty magazine	708 g, 24.97 oz	670 g, 23.63 oz
Weight with loaded magazine	945 g, 33.33 oz	855 g, 30.16 oz

The simple spec difference is size. Glock lists the G17 Gen5 at 202 mm overall length and 139 mm height with magazine, while the G19 Gen5 is listed at 185 mm overall length and 128 mm height with magazine. The G17 Gen5 barrel is 114 mm, compared with 102 mm for the G19 Gen5.

Weight depends on how Glock measures it. Without a magazine, Glock lists the G17 Gen5 at 630 g and the G19 Gen5 at 610 g. With empty magazines, Glock lists 708 g for the G17 Gen5 and 670 g for the G19 Gen5. With loaded magazines, Glock lists 945 g for the G17 Gen5 and 855 g for the G19 Gen5.

Capacity and magazine listings

Glock’s U.S. Gen5 pages list the G17 Gen5 with a 17 round standard magazine and the G19 Gen5 with a 15 round standard magazine. Glock also lists higher optional capacities for both models on those pages.

Glock’s EU pages give useful model specific magazine listings. On the EU G19 page, Glock lists G17 pattern magazines among the options for the G19 page, including a 17 round G17 magazine and a 19 round G17+2 magazine. The same G19 page also lists 24 round, 31 round, and 33 round magazine options.

On the EU G17 page, Glock lists G17 magazine options including 17 round, 19 round G17+2, 24 round, 31 round, 33 round, and 10 round G17 magazines. The EU G17 page does not list the G19 15 round magazine in the quoted magazine options.

That is best read as Glock’s published magazine listing, not as a broad promise about every magazine, generation, market, or legal configuration. Magazine capacity laws and product availability can vary by jurisdiction and model configuration, so owners should confirm current Glock listings and applicable rules before relying on any capacity option.

Generations and current model notes

Glock’s history page says Gen5 began with the G17 Gen5 and G19 Gen5 in 2017. Glock also says the G17 Gen5 MOS and G19 Gen5 MOS added a mounting system for popular optical sights in 2018.

For broader background on how the company and pistol line developed, see our queued Glock history page when it is available: Glock history.

Glock announced its sixth generation on December 6, 2025. The announcement listed the G17 Gen6, G19 Gen6, and G45 Gen6, all chambered in 9 mm Luger. Glock later said January 20, 2026 marked the official U.S. launch of Gen6 pistols and again listed the GLOCK 17 Gen6, GLOCK 19 Gen6, and GLOCK 45 Gen6 in the lineup.

Do not mix Gen5, Gen5 MOS, Gen6, and other variants when comparing weights or dimensions. The main table above stays with Gen5 because Glock’s Gen5 U.S. pages provide detailed, matching specifications for both pistols.

Military and law enforcement adoption history

Glock’s own history page says the Glock service pistol was developed for the Austrian military and accepted by the Austrian Army in 1982. The same Glock history page says the Glock 17 passed a NATO durability test in 1984 and was selected by the Norwegian Army as its standard sidearm.

For a later official military example, the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support publication said the Glock 17 was selected as the UK military’s new standard issue sidearm. That publication also said DE&S signed a £9 million contract for more than 25,000 pistols. In the same publication, the UK military pistol was identified as the Glock 17 Gen 4, and the article said it replaced the Browning pistol.

For the Glock 19 side of the record, Glock said in a 2020 press release that the U.S. Coast Guard selected the Glock 19 Gen5 MOS as the standard service pistol through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection contract. Glock’s 2019 CBP press release said that contract included the GLOCK 19 Gen5 MOS, GLOCK 26 Gen5, and GLOCK 47 models.

Federal Bureau of Investigation procurement documents also reference both model families. A 2020 FBI request for quotations identified FBI approved Glock 19M and Glock 17M 9 mm handguns. The FBI statement of work said some requested holsters were for FBI issued Glock 19M pistols, and it also said some requested holsters were for FBI issued Glock 17M pistols.

Police agency records show both models in official contexts. Louisville Metro Police Department SOP 4.13 lists the Glock Model 17 and Glock Model 17 MOS as official issued uniform service pistols. Glock also said in a 2019 press release that Allentown Police Department transitioned to the Glock 19 Gen5 after testing and evaluation.

These examples do not make either pistol universally preferred. They show that both the Glock 17 and Glock 19 families appear in official military, federal, and police records.

What the comparison shows

The official Gen5 specifications show the G17 as the larger pistol with the longer barrel and higher standard magazine capacity. Glock lists the G17 Gen5 with a 4.49 inch barrel, 7.95 inch overall length, 5.47 inch height including magazine, and 17 round standard magazine.

The G19 Gen5 is the shorter and lower pistol in the same official comparison. Glock lists it with a 4.02 inch barrel, 7.28 inch overall length, 5.04 inch height including magazine, and 15 round standard magazine.

The two pistols are the same in two key listed width measurements for Gen5: 34 mm overall width and 25.5 mm slide width. They also share the same listed caliber and system: 9x19 mm and Safe Action.

Before making decisions based on these numbers, check Glock’s current product pages for the exact generation and variant, especially if comparing MOS, Gen6, or restricted capacity versions. Also confirm magazine capacity rules and any agency, range, or department requirements with the relevant official authority.