How Large Was the Ark?

God told Noah to make his ark 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits tall. However, we cannot be certain which cubit Noah used.

Which Cubit Did We Use?

The Ark Encounter decided to use a royal cubit since major construction projects in the ancient world were often based on them. Beginning with one of the shortest common cubits of 17.5 inches, we added a handbreadth of 2.9 inches, yielding a royal cubit length of 20.4 inches. Most royal cubits in ancient times measured between 20.4 and 21.6 inches, placing our cubit on the short end of the spectrum.

Adding Up

Based on a 20.4-inch cubit, our Ark measures 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet tall. The Ark’s volume is approximately 1.88 million cubic feet, large enough to contain nearly 450 semi-truck trailers.

Start planning your trip to the Ark Encounter today, and see our life-size Noah’s Ark for yourself!