Scale Explorer

Vehicles

How big is a Boeing 747?

Boeing 747 · 747-400 and 747-8

Length
70.67–76.25 m 231.9–250.2 ft range
Wingspan
64.44–68.4 m 211–224 ft range
Tail height
18.8–19.51 m 61.7–64 ft range
Maximum takeoff weight
363–448 t 800,000–987,000 lb range
Show
Human, Brachiosaurus, Tennis court, Boeing 747 drawn to the same scaleHuman: height 1.61–1.75 m. Brachiosaurus: head height (estimated) ≈ 12 m. Tennis court: length 23.8 m. Boeing 747: length 70.67–76.25 m.Human: 1.61–1.75 mBrachiosaurus: ≈ 12 mTennis court: 23.8 mBoeing 747: 70.67–76.25 mBoeing 74770.67–76.25 mBrachiosaurus≈ 12 mHuman1.61–1.75 mTennis court23.8 m
Everything is drawn to the same scale, standing on the same ground line. Silhouettes are simplified outlines scaled to the measured dimension. A faded outline shows the top of a size range.

Compare Boeing 747 with something else →

Zoom out from an average adult to a Boeing 747

A Boeing 747 is too big to show next to an average adult in one picture, so here it is in 2 steps. Each step is drawn to its own scale and zooms out from the step before.

  1. Step 1 of 2 Human → Megalodon

    A megalodon is about 8.6–15 times as long as an average adult is tall.

    Human, Megalodon drawn to the same scaleHuman: height 1.61–1.75 m. Megalodon: maximum length (estimates) 15–24.3 m.Human: 1.61–1.75 mMegalodon: 15–24.3 mMegalodon15–24.3 mHuman1.61–1.75 m
    Step 1: Human and Megalodon at the same scale.

  2. Step 2 of 2 Megalodon → Boeing 747

    A Boeing 747 is about 2.9–5.1 times as long as a megalodon.

    Megalodon, Boeing 747 drawn to the same scaleMegalodon: maximum length (estimates) 15–24.3 m. Boeing 747: length 70.67–76.25 m.Megalodon: 15–24.3 mBoeing 747: 70.67–76.25 mBoeing 74770.67–76.25 mMegalodon15–24.3 m
    Step 2: Megalodon and Boeing 747 at the same scale.

Dimensions

MeasurementMetricImperialNotesSource
Length 70.67–76.25 m 231.9–250.2 ft 747-400 (231 ft 10.25 in) to 747-8 (250 ft 2 in). Range: varies [1] [2]
Wingspan 64.44–68.4 m 211–224 ft 747-400 (211 ft 5 in, jig position) to 747-8 (224 ft 5 in). Range: varies [1] [2]
Tail height 18.8–19.51 m 61.7–64 ft Ground to top of the tail, varying with version, loading and attitude. Range: varies [1] [2]
Maximum takeoff weight 363–448 t 800,000–987,000 lb Lightest listed 747-400 (GE engines) to the 747-8 passenger version. Range: varies [1] [2]

About the Boeing 747

The Boeing 747 'jumbo jet' first flew in 1969 and is known for its hump-shaped upper deck. Boeing's airport planning documents give the 747-400 a length of 231 ft 10 in (70.67 m) and the stretched 747-8 a length of 250 ft 2 in (76.25 m), with wingspans of about 64.4 m and 68.4 m. The heaviest 747-8 can take off at 987,000 lb.

  • The 747-8 is 250 ft 2 in (76.25 m) long with a 224 ft 5 in (68.40 m) wingspan and a maximum takeoff weight of 987,000 lb (447,695 kg). [2]
  • The 747-400 is 231 ft 10.25 in (70.67 m) long; its maximum takeoff weight ranges from 800,000 to 875,000 lb with General Electric engines. [1]

How many fit?

  • ≈ 44 × Human · height lined up end to end match the Boeing 747 · length
  • ≈ 4,000–5,700 × Human · body mass on the scales weigh as much as Boeing 747 · maximum takeoff weight
  • ≈ 2.6 × Basketball court (NBA) · length lined up end to end match the Boeing 747 · length

Counts divide one sourced figure by another. "End to end" uses each object's main measurement; weight and volume rows appear only when both figures are sourced.

How it compares

  • 44× A Boeing 747 is about 44 times as long as an average adult is tall. See side by side
  • 2.6× A Boeing 747 is about 2.6 times as long as an NBA basketball court. See side by side
  • 1.5× A Boeing 747 is about 1.5 times as long as an Olympic swimming pool. See side by side
  • 1× A Boeing 747 is about as long as an Airbus A380. See side by side
  • 1/1.3 Big Ben is about 1.3 times as tall as a Boeing 747 is long. See side by side
  • 1/2.6 The Gateway Arch is about 2.6 times as tall as a Boeing 747 is long. See side by side

Factors compare the length of a Boeing 747 with each object’s own main measurement (height for a human). Where a size varies, the factor is given as a range.

Notes on these figures

  • Ranges run from the 747-400 to the 747-8. Earlier versions (747-100 to -300) are not included.
  • Each range starts with the 747-400 value from Boeing document D6-58326-1 and ends with the 747-8 value from D6-58326-3.

Sources

  1. Boeing Commercial Airplanes, 747-400 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning (D6-58326-1, Rev F, December 2024). Accessed 25 September 2026.
  2. Boeing Commercial Airplanes, 747-8 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning (D6-58326-3, Rev D, December 2024). Accessed 24 September 2026.

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