Whale Length Comparison (NOAA Maxima)
Compare 11 whale species lengths, from 1.5 m Vaquitas to 30 m Blue Whales. NOAA maxima, sourced. The complete table of species lengths is sourced below.
Visual comparison
All values
Click any row to load it as Entry A.
| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaquita 1.5 m. Shortest row here. | 1.5 m (4.9 ft) | Smallest porpoise, Gulf of California | NOAA Fisheries: Vaquita up to 1.5 m |
| Bottlenose Dolphin 2.5 m. One over Vaquita. | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) | Common bottlenose dolphin | NOAA Fisheries: Bottlenose Dolphin up to 2.5 m |
| Beluga Whale 5 m. Double the Dolphin. | 5 m (16.4 ft) | Arctic white whale | NOAA Fisheries: Beluga up to 5 m |
| Narwhal 5 m. Tied with Beluga. | 5 m (16.4 ft) | Arctic tusked whale | NOAA Fisheries: Narwhal up to 5 m |
| Orca (Killer Whale) 8 m. Three over the tie. | 8 m (26.2 ft) | Black and white orca | NOAA Fisheries: Orca males up to 8 meters |
| Minke Whale 10 m. Two over Orca. | 10 m (32.8 ft) | Small rorqual, pointed snout | NOAA Fisheries: Minke Whale up to 10 m |
| Gray Whale 15 m. Five over Minke. | 15 m (49.2 ft) | Gray Pacific migrator | NOAA Fisheries: Gray Whale up to 15 m |
| Humpback Whale 16 m. One over Gray. | 16 m (52.5 ft) | Acrobatic humpback singer | NOAA Fisheries: Humpback up to 16 m |
| Sei Whale 19 m. Three over Humpback. | 19 m (62.3 ft) | Slim sei rorqual | NOAA Fisheries: Sei Whale up to 19 m |
| Fin Whale 27 m. Eight over Sei. | 27 m (88.6 ft) | Fast finback giant | NOAA Fisheries: Fin Whale up to 27 m |
| Blue Whale 30 m. Longest row here. Three over Fin. | 30 m (98.4 ft) | Largest animal ever | NOAA Fisheries: Blue Whale up to 30 m |
About this converter
Whale lengths run 1.5 to 30 meters across species maxima. Vaquitas hold 1.5, Bottlenose Dolphins 2.5, Belugas and Narwhals 5 each, Orcas 8, Minke Whales 10, Gray Whales 15, Humpbacks 16, Sei Whales 19, Fin Whales 27 and Blue Whales 30. That makes one Blue equal twenty Vaquitas. Every figure here is the published length maximum.
How to use it
Pick two entries and a unit in the top row. The three boxes below stay linked. Change any box and the other two update. Try 1 Blue Whale against Dolphins to see the twelve to one gap.
Females run larger in baleen species, so rows pin the larger sex with the split noted. Strandings measure short and stay out because healthy maxima compare only. Extinct basilosaurus stays out as a fossil estimate. Calves never entered adult rows and stay out. Krill counts never entered length rows and stay out. Flukes never spanned length and stay out. Pods travel together and stay noted. Spouts never measured backs and stay out. Songs never sized singers and stay out. Whale falls feed depths and stay noted.
FAQ
How long is a Blue Whale?
Up to 30 meters. Largest animal known.
How long is a Dolphin?
Up to 2.5 meters. Twelve fit one Blue.
How long is an Orca?
Up to 8 meters for males. Triple the Dolphin.
Sources
- NOAA Fisheries species profiles: Vaquita 1.5 m through Blue Whale 30 m
Last verified: 2026-09-30 · 11 entries
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