Order of magnitude (length)

This is a compilation of lengths of various orders of magnitude for comparison purposes. The information is often to be understood as “typical values”; the converted values ​​are rounded.

The basic unit of length in the international system of units is 1  meter ( unit symbol m ). Both the larger length measures up to 1 kilometer and the smaller ones up to the microscopic and submicroscopic units of length are the common decimal multiples .

See also : Unit prefixes  and Scientific notation

Lengths shorter than 1 nm

1 zeptometer is a trillionth of a meter (1 cm = 10 ⁻²¹ m).
1 attometer is a trillionth of a meter (1 am = 10 ⁻¹⁸ m).
1 femtometer is a quadrillionth of a meter (1 fm = 10 ⁻¹⁵ m).
1 picometer is a trillionth of a meter (1 pm = 10 ⁻¹² m).
1 nanometer is a billionth of a meter (1 nm = 10 ⁻⁹ m) and the eponym of nanotechnology .

• 1.616 · 10 ⁻³⁵ m - Planck length , currently the smallest physically meaningful length

subatomic to atomic range:

• Cosmic rays contain gamma rays with a wavelength below 30 cm
• 1 fm (1 · 10 ⁻¹⁵ m) = 0.000001 nm - approximate size of a proton and a neutron
• 10 fm (1 · 10 ⁻¹⁴ m) = 0.00001 nm - approximate size of an atomic nucleus
• 100 pm (1 · 10 ⁻¹⁰ m) = 0.1 nm = 1 Å (Ångström) - approximate size of a (hydrogen) atom
• 540 pm - pitch (and approximate diameter) of the protein α-helix

1 nm to 10 nm (nanometers)

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{-9}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{-8}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 2 nm - approximate diameter of the DNA double helix
• 4 nm - typical thickness of a lipid bilayer
• 7 nm - structure size of commercial microchips (as of 2019)

10 nm to 100 nm

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{-8}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{-7}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 15 nm - small viruses
• 55 nm - diameter of hemoglobin
• 80 nm - diameter of the rubella virus

100 nm to 1 μm

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{-7}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{-6}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 100 to 300 nm - particle size that is particularly difficult to separate, see HEPA filter
• 100 to 380 nm - wavelengths of ultraviolet light
• ≈ 300 nm - smallest bacteria
• 380 to 780 nm - wavelength of visible light, see spectral color , for other wavelengths see electromagnetic spectrum
• 700 nm - size of the largest known virus ( Megavirus chilensis )

1 μm to 10 μm (micrometers)

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{-6}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{-5}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 0.5 to 3 μm - diameter of respirable , carcinogenic asbestos fibers (with a length of more than 8 μm)
• 1 μm - smallest scale division of a micrometer screw in the optical range (0.001)
• 3 μm - smallest plasmodia
• 10 μm and smaller - fine dust , mostly allergenic or otherwise harmful

10 μm to 100 μm

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{-5}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{-4}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 10 μm (0.01 mm) - smallest scale division of a commercially available micrometer screw
• 30 μm - largest toner particle diameter
• 60 μm - human sperm
• 80 μm - normal thickness of a sheet of paper

100 μm to 1 mm

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{-4}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{-3}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 100 μm - approximate average diameter of a human hair
• 125 μm - telecom fiber
• 200 μm - human egg cell
• 250 μm - smallest known species of beetle
• 250 μm - diameter of the smallest endoscope (medicine)
• ≈ 260 μm - pixel pitch on a 17-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 × 1024 pixels.
• 700 μm - size of the largest known bacterium ( Thiomargarita namibiensis )

1 mm to 1 cm (millimeters)

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{-3}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{-2}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 1 mm - body length of the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans
• 1.67 to 2.2 mm - the thickness of the euro coins
• 5 mm - body length of a red wood ant

1 cm to 10 cm (centimeters)

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{-2}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{-1}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 2.22 or 2.38 cm - diameter bicycle handlebar tube in the grip area
• 2.54 cm = 1 inch
• 2.575 cm - diameter of the 2 euro coin
• 3.086 cm ≈ 3 cm - 1 attoparsec , is used ironically
• 3.5 cm - width of the 35mm film
• 7.2 cm - width of a 20 euro note

10 cm to 1 m

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{-1}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{0}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 12 cm - diameter of a CD
• 12.25 cm - wavelength in the microwave oven (at 2.45 GHz )
• 17.78 cm - diameter of a single (7 ″ record)
• 19.05 cm - wavelength GPS frequency (at 1.57542 GHz)
• 22 cm - approximate diameter of a soccer ball
• 30.48 cm = 1 foot = 12 inches
• 30.48 cm - the diameter of a long-playing record
• 60 cm - typical distance from railway sleepers
• ≈ 63 cm - the average stride length assumed in architecture for a person
• ≈ 73 cm = 1 step
• 0.9144 m = 1 yard = 3 feet

1 m to 10 m (meters)

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{0}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{1}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 1 m = 1 meter
• 1.32 m - high jump record with the unicycle
• 1.435 meters - standard gauge on the railway
• 1.66 meters - the average height of an adult woman
• 1.80 meters - the average height of an adult male
• 1.8288 m = 1 filament = 1 fathoms
• 2.43 meters - height of a men's volleyball net
• 2.44 meters - height of a football goal (8 ft )
• 2.45 m - world record in high jump
• 2.50 / 2.55 / 2.60 m - typical maximum vehicle widths for cars and trucks
• 3,048 meters - height of basketball hoop (10 ft )
• 3.10 meters - mean wavelength of VHF sound broadcasting (FM)
• 6.16 m - world record in pole vault
• 7.32 meters - width of a football goal (8 yd )
• 8.95 meters - world record in long jump

10 m to 100 m

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{1}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{2}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 10.9728 m - distance of the penalty point from the goal in football (12 yard) "penalty"
• 23 m - height of the obelisk on the Place de la Concorde in Paris
• 30 m - length of a blue whale
• 55 m - height of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
• 68 m - width of a soccer field in the European Cup

100 m to 1 km

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{2}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{3}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 105 m - length of a soccer field in the European Cup
• 109.73 m - total length of an American football field
• 138.75 m - height of the Great Pyramid of Giza
• 157.4 m - height of Cologne Cathedral
• 168 m - height of the Bungsberg , highest point in Schleswig-Holstein
• 182.88m = 1 Imperial Cable Length = 100 Fathoms = 600 Feet
• 185.3184 m = 1 UK cable length = 608 feet
• 219.456 m = 1 US cable length = 120 fathoms = 720 feet
• 269 ​​m - length of the RMS Titanic
• 290 m - height of the Olympic Tower in Munich
• 324 m - height of the Eiffel Tower
• 340 m - distance traveled by sound in one second in air at room temperature; see speed of sound
• 368 m - height of the Berlin television tower
• 385 m - Height of the Belmont transmission mast , the tallest structure in the EU
• 448 m - Height of the Empire State Building
• 508 m - height of Taipei 101
• 527 m - height to the top of the mast of the World Trade Center before September 11, 2001 (to the roof 417 m)
• 527 m - Height of the Willis Tower to the top of the mast, the tallest skyscraper in the USA (to the roof 442 m)
• 541 m - Height of the One World Trade Center
• 555 m - longest wavelength of the medium wave band (at 540 kHz )
• 628 m - Height of the KVLY mast in North Dakota , the tallest structure on earth from 1963 to 1974 and from 1991 to 2008
• 646 m - height of the Konstantynow transmitter mast , which collapsed in 1991 and was the tallest structure in the world from 1974 to 1991
• 828 m - height of the Burj Khalifa , the tallest building and structure on earth

1 km to 10 km (kilometers)

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{3}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{4}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 1,280 m - span of the Golden Gate Bridge between the main pylons .
• 1,609,344 m - 1 English mile = 5280 feet
• 1,828.8 m - 1 data mile = 6,000 feet
• 1,852 m - 1 nautical mile = 1 nautical mile
• 6 km - mean wavelength of long waves
• 6 km - distance that a good hiker can cover in an hour
• 7,916 m - length of the longest German road tunnel, the Rennsteig tunnel
• 8,848 m - height of the highest mountain from sea ​​level , Mount Everest

10 km to 100 km

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{4}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{5}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 11,034 km below sea level - Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench , the lowest known point on the earth's surface
• 12 km - distance that a brisk runner or leisurely inline skater can cover in 1 hour
• 14 km - width of the Strait of Gibraltar at its narrowest point
• 18 km - altitude of the Concorde
• 20 km - typical diameter of a neutron star
• 20 km - distance that an everyday cyclist covers in 1 hour
• 13 miles - length of Manhattan
• 34 km - width of the English Channel at its narrowest point
• 42.195 km - running distance in the marathon
• 57.091 km - The Gotthard Base Tunnel is the longest tunnel in the world.
• 98.637 km - length of the Kiel Canal

100 km to 1000 km

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{5}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{6}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 111 km - distance between two latitudes
• 217 km - length of the Ruhr
• 371 km - length of the Ems
• 386 km - the altitude of the International Space Station's orbit
• 430 km - length of the Pyrenees mountain range
• 544 km - length of the Moselle
• 575 km - west-east extension of Austria
• 744 km - length of the Weser (with Werra )
• 960 km - diameter of (1) Ceres

1,000 km to 10,000 km

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{6}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{7}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 1000 km - distance between Cologne and Königsberg i. Pr. , See also Reichsstrasse 1
• 1236 km - length of the Rhine
• 1421 km - length of the three-phase line Ekibastus – Kökschetau
• 1572 km - north-south extension of Sweden
• 2800 km - width of the Atlantic Ocean at its narrowest point ( Brazil - West Africa )
• 2889 km - length of the Danube
• 3476 km - diameter of the moon
• 3534 km - length of the Volga , the longest river in Europe
• 3800 km - north-south expansion of Europe
• 3945 km - wavelength of the longest-wave technically usable transmitter (the US sanguine system)
• 4391 km - north-south extension of Chile
• 4880 km - diameter of the planet Mercury
• 5120 km - diameter of Saturn's moon Titan
• 5276 km - diameter of Jupiter's moon Ganymede
• 6000 km - east-west extension of Europe
• 6,051 km - length of the Missouri - Mississippi , longest river in North America
• 6300 km - length of the Yangtze River , the longest river in Asia
• 6350 km - length of the Great Wall of China
• 6448 km - length of the Amazon , longest river in South America
• 6671 km - length of the Nile , longest river in Africa and the world
• 6787 km - diameter of the planet Mars
• 9289 km - length of the Trans-Siberian railway line

10,000 km to 100,000 km

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{7}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{8}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 10,000 km - typical diameter of a white dwarf
• 10,000 km - approximate height of the outer limit of the exosphere
• 10,002 km - “ Paris Meridian ” from the North Pole to the equator
• 12,104 km - diameter of the planet Venus
• 12,756 km - diameter of the earth at the equator
• 35,790 km - geostationary orbit altitude
• 40,077 km - the circumference of the earth at the equator
• 49,500 km - diameter of the planet Neptune

100,000 km to 1,000,000 km

The diameter of Jupiter is about an order of magnitude (factor 0.10045) smaller than the sun and about an order of magnitude (factor 10.9733) larger than the earth

${\displaystyle =1\cdot 10^{8}\,\mathrm {m} {\text{ bis }}1\cdot 10^{9}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 142,800 km - diameter of the planet Jupiter
• 299,792.458 km = 1 light second
• 384,000 km - mean distance of the moon from the earth

Lengths greater than 1,000,000 km

${\displaystyle >1\cdot 10^{9}\,\mathrm {m} }$

• 1.39 million km - diameter of the sun
• 1.5 / 149/300 million km - distance of the Lagrange points 1, 2/4, 5/3 from the earth
• 17.99 million km = 1 light minute
• 57.91 million km - mean distance of Mercury from the sun
• 149.6 million km = 1 astronomical unit = 8.3 light minutes - mean distance between the earth and the sun
• 1.079 billion km = 1 light hour
• 1.427 billion km - mean distance of Saturn from the sun
• 5.9 billion km - the mean distance of Pluto from the sun
• 20.1 billion km - the distance of the Voyager 1 spacecraft to Earth in February 2016
• 25.902 billion km (2.5902 · 10 ¹³ m) = 1 light day
• 9.46 trillion km (9.46 · 10 ¹⁵ m) = 1 light year
• 30.857 trillion km (3.0857 · 10 ¹⁶ m) = 1 parsec (pc) = about 3.26 light years
• 4.22 ly (approx. 1.3 pc or 40 · 10 ¹² km) - distance to the star closest to the Sun, Proxima Centauri
• 1 trillion km (1 · 10 ²¹ m) - Estimated diameter of the Milky Way (about 33,000 pc)
• 23.84 trillion km (2.384 · 10 ²² m) - distance of the Andromeda galaxy M31 (about 2.52 million light years )
• 9 million light years - length of the Virgo galaxy cluster
• up to 14 million light years - diameter of the local group (local galaxy cluster to which our Milky Way belongs)
• 150 to 200 million light years - diameter of the Virgo supercluster (galaxy supercluster containing the local group )
• 100 mega-parsec (= 326 million light years) - typical diameter of voids
• 500 million light years - the length of the Great Wall
• 1 billion light years - diameter of the largest known void and the Pisces-Cetus Supercluster Complex
• 1.37 billion light years - length of the Sloan Great Wall
• 4 billion light years - Huge Large Quasar Group (approx. Maximum extent) (1200 Mpc)
• 870 trillion km (8.7 10 ²⁶ m) - Estimated diameter of the observable universe (approx. 90 billion light years )

Web links

• Interactive visualization of views of the world at different distances ( Java applet , English)
• The Scale of the Universe 2 (interactive Flash animation, English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ AMD shows 7nm Vega II graphics cards. June 5, 2019, accessed June 9, 2019 . 
2. ^ John Noble Wilford: Massive Clusters of Galaxies Defy Concepts of the Universe , New York Times , November 10, 1987, accessed March 16, 2014.