When trying to understand measurements, it often helps to compare them with real-world objects. 120 feet (ft) equals 36.57 meters (m) or 40 yards (yd). That’s longer than most buildings are tall and nearly the length of a city block in some places. To give you a clearer idea, here are 6 things that are roughly 120 feet long.
6 Things That Are About 120 Feet (ft) Long
1. A Blue Whale
The blue whale, the largest animal ever known to exist, can reach lengths of up to 100–120 feet. That means a fully grown blue whale is almost exactly the size of this measurement. Imagine a living creature stretching the length of a 12-story building lying on its side!
2. A Boeing 737 Aircraft
One of the most common commercial airplanes, the Boeing 737-800, is around 129 feet long, which is close to 120 feet. This makes it a great real-world example of this length.
3. A Basketball Court and a Half
A standard NBA basketball court is 94 feet long. Add another half-court (about 47 feet), and you get 141 feet, which is just a little more than 120 feet. So, a full court plus part of another gives you an idea of this distance.
4. A Medium-Sized Ship
Many riverboats and medium yachts fall into the 110–130 foot range. Standing on the deck of one of these vessels would give you a direct sense of how long 120 feet really is.
5. A Red Oak Tree
Some species of red oak trees can grow to heights of about 120 feet. That’s as tall as a 12-story office building! Looking at such a tree helps you visualize this measurement vertically.
6. A Suspension Bridge Span
The shorter spans of suspension bridges (between the towers) can measure around 120 feet. While larger bridges are much longer, some pedestrian or local roadway suspension bridges often have spans right around this size.
Final Thoughts
Visualizing 120 feet can be tricky, but comparing it to familiar objects like a blue whale, an airplane, or a tall tree makes it much easier. Whether you’re working on a project, trying to measure space, or just curious about scale, these examples help put the measurement into perspective.