Ever wondered, “How long is 40 meters?” For most of us, it’s hard to picture distances without something to compare it to. Whether you’re estimating walking distances, learning measurements for school, or simply curious, knowing real-world objects around 40 m long can help make this number more tangible.
In this guide, we’ll explore 8 things that are about 40 meters long, from sports fields to everyday structures, so you can easily imagine this length in real life.
8 Things That are about 40 Meters (m) Long
1. Half of a Soccer Field
A full-size soccer field can range from 90 to 120 meters in length. That means half a soccer field is roughly 45 meters, which is just a little longer than 40 m—making it a close, practical comparison.
2. Four School Buses Lined Up
The average school bus is about 10 meters long. Line up four buses, and you’ll have a distance of around 40 meters.
3. A Blue Whale (the Largest Animal)
The blue whale, the largest animal on Earth, can grow up to 30–33 meters on average, with some reports of individuals reaching 40 meters. So, one massive blue whale is about the same length as 40 m!
4. An Olympic Swimming Pool
An official Olympic swimming pool is exactly 50 meters long, so 40 meters is just slightly shorter—think of swimming four-fifths of the pool’s length.
5. A Passenger Train Car
A typical train passenger coach measures about 20 meters in length. Put two cars together, and you get about 40 meters total.
6. A 13-Story Building (Approx.)
On average, one building story is about 3 meters high. Multiply that by 13 stories, and you reach around 39–40 meters, making a medium-rise building a good way to picture this distance.
7. A Commercial Jet Wingspan
Some medium-sized airplanes, like the Airbus A320, have wingspans around 34–36 meters, while larger jets like the Boeing 737 MAX 10 stretch to about 41 meters. That’s nearly identical to 40 meters.
8. A Highway Bridge Span
Many small to mid-sized highway bridge spans measure around 40 meters across, making them a real-world structural example of this distance.
Quick Reference: 8 Things About 40 Meters Long
- Half a soccer field
- 4 school buses in a row
- A blue whale
- 4/5 of an Olympic pool
- 2 train cars
- A 13-story building
- A commercial jet’s wingspan
- A highway bridge span
Conclusion
So, how long is 40 meters? From sports fields to buses, whales, and even airplanes, it’s a distance you can now easily imagine. The next time you’re asked to picture 40 m, you’ll have 8 clear and relatable examples at your fingertips.