Sperm whale
The sperm whale is a deep-diving toothed whale distinguished by its large, block-shaped head.
How big is it?
16 m long
Also 52.49 ft
Length · defined specimen
A little perspective
Sperm whale vs Volleyball court: length comparison
A volleyball court is about 1.12 times as long as a sperm whale.
The sperm whale is a deep-diving toothed whale distinguished by its large, block-shaped head.
A volleyball court is the marked rectangular playing surface divided by a net for the team sport of volleyball.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Sperm whale
Length: 16 m; defined specimen.
A chosen 16 m, 40 tonne adult male. Length is measured from nose to tail extremity.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Volleyball court
Length: 18 m; standard.
18 × 9 m playing surface. Excludes surrounding space.
WA Government — volleyball dimensions
The marked length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Use the visual comparison to explore its scale, then check the measurements and sources.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 16 m
We compare the length of a sperm whale. This is an illustrative comparison value, not a claim that every example is the same.
A chosen 16 m, 40 tonne adult male. Length is measured from nose to tail extremity.
The marked horizontal span follows the measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 m | Not recorded | defined specimen | |
| 40 t | Not recorded | defined specimen |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valueLiving thingsHumpback whale15 mLengthThe humpback whale is a baleen whale recognised for its long pectoral fins and complex vocalisations.
Around the same scaleVehicles and transportArticulated lorry16.5 mLengthAn articulated lorry is a heavy goods vehicle with a cab and a detachable trailer for carrying freight.
Nearest higher valueLiving thingsBlue whale25 mNose-to-tail lengthA blue whale is a baleen whale that feeds by filtering small animals from seawater.Sources and method
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The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
More ways to see it
Curated comparisons
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
Living thingsHoneybee1.5 cmA honeybee is a social insect that lives in a colony and gathers nectar and pollen from flowers.
PeopleHuman1.75 mA human is a primate of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished by habitual upright walking, language and complex tool use.
Living thingsAfrican elephant3.3 mAn African elephant is a large plant-eating mammal recognised by its trunk, tusks and broad ears.Living thingsBlue whale25 mA blue whale is a baleen whale that feeds by filtering small animals from seawater.
SportVolleyball court18 mA volleyball court is the marked rectangular playing surface divided by a net for the team sport of volleyball.
TransportCanal narrowboat17.7 mA canal narrowboat is a long, slender vessel designed for navigating the narrow canals of the United Kingdom.
SpaceHubble Space Telescope13.2 mThe Hubble Space Telescope is an orbiting observatory launched by NASA to capture detailed images of astronomical objects.
Living thingsTyrannosaurus rex12 mTyrannosaurus rex was a large, meat-eating dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period, recognised for its massive skull and powerful jaws.