Scale Explorer

Space

How big is the International Space Station?

International Space Station

End-to-end length
109 m 356 ft
Pressurized module length
66.4 m 218 ft
Truss length
94.5 m 310 ft
Mass
≈ 419.725 t 925,335 lb approx.
Show
Human, Basketball court (NBA), Boeing 737, International Space Station drawn to the same scaleHuman: height 1.61–1.75 m. Basketball court (NBA): length 28.7 m. Boeing 737: length 39.47 m. International Space Station: end-to-end length 109 m.Human: 1.61–1.75 mBasketball court (NBA): 28.7 mBoeing 737: 39.47 mInternational Space Station: 109 mInternational Space Station109 mBoeing 73739.47 mBasketball court (NBA)28.7 mHuman1.61–1.75 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 International Space Station with something else →

Zoom out from an average adult to the International Space Station

The International Space Station 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 → International Space Station

    The International Space Station is about 4.5–7.2 times as long as a megalodon.

    Megalodon, International Space Station drawn to the same scaleMegalodon: maximum length (estimates) 15–24.3 m. International Space Station: end-to-end length 109 m.Megalodon: 15–24.3 mInternational Space Station: 109 mInternational Space Station109 mMegalodon15–24.3 m
    Step 2: Megalodon and International Space Station at the same scale.

Dimensions

MeasurementMetricImperialNotesSource
End-to-end length 109 m 356 ft End to end (109 m); the same as the solar array wingspan [1]
Pressurized module length 66.4 m 218 ft Along the major axis (67 m) [1]
Truss length 94.5 m 310 ft Integrated truss structure (94 m) [1]
Mass ≈ 419.725 t ≈ 925,335 lb Whole station (419,725 kg) as listed by NASA (page last updated July 2024); changes as modules, cargo and visiting vehicles come and go. Approximate [1]

About the International Space Station

The International Space Station is a crewed orbiting laboratory run by a partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. NASA gives its size as 356 feet (109 m) from end to end, one yard short of an American football field including the end zones. Its pressurized modules run 218 feet along the main axis, and the whole station has a mass of about 925,000 pounds (about 420 tonnes).

  • The station's pressurized volume is 35,491 cubic feet (1,005 cubic meters); its habitable volume is 13,696 cubic feet (388 cubic meters), not counting visiting vehicles. [1]
  • Eight solar arrays generate 75 to 90 kilowatts of power. [1]
  • The solar array wingspan, 356 feet (109 m), is longer than an Airbus A380's wingspan (262 feet, 80 m). [1]
  • ESA's ISS page lists the station as 108 m wide, 74 m long and 45 m high. [2]

How many fit?

  • ≈ 65 × Human · height lined up end to end match the International Space Station · end-to-end length
  • ≈ 5,000 × Human · body mass on the scales weigh as much as International Space Station · mass
  • ≈ 2.2 × Olympic swimming pool · length lined up end to end match the International Space Station · end-to-end 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

  • 65× The International Space Station is about 65 times as long as an average adult is tall. See side by side
  • 2.2× The International Space Station is about 2.2 times as long as an Olympic swimming pool. See side by side
  • 1.5× The International Space Station is about 1.5 times as long as a Boeing 747. See side by side
  • 1/1 The International Space Station is about as long as an American football field. See side by side
  • 1/1.8 The Gateway Arch is about 1.8 times as tall as the International Space Station is long. See side by side
  • 1/2.5 The Titanic is about 2.5 times as long as the International Space Station. See side by side

Factors compare the end-to-end length of the International Space Station 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

  • The station's mass changes as modules, cargo and visiting vehicles are added or removed.
  • ESA measures the long truss-and-array axis as the station's 'width' (108 m), which matches NASA's 356 ft (109 m) end-to-end figure; ESA's 74 m 'length' is along the pressurized modules. ESA's '~450,000 kg at completion' is an older planning figure; ESA's 'About the ISS' page gives 420 tonnes, in line with NASA's 419,725 kg.
  • The drawing is a front view scaled to the 109 m (356 ft) end-to-end span. The height of the drawing is illustrative: the solar arrays rotate to track the Sun.

Sources

  1. NASA, International Space Station Facts and Figures. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  2. European Space Agency, ISS: International Space Station. Accessed 24 September 2026.

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