How Long Is a City Block in Feet? Manhattan, Chicago and Portland Compared

How long is a city block in feet? A Manhattan short block is about 264 feet, a Chicago block is about 660 feet, and a Portland block is about 200 feet — so there is no single answer, and the city you are in changes the length.

This guide compares how long a city block is in Manhattan, Chicago and Portland, and then connects those lengths to 12 familiar things with pictures. A short Manhattan block (about 264 feet) is the reference used for most comparisons below, while the longer blocks (about 660 to 900 feet) appear where the object is bigger.

You will find 12 things that are about a city block long, grouped by category so the length sticks instantly.

Quick Conversion: How Long Is a City Block?

Reference Guide A Manhattan Short Block Conversion Chart
Unit	Equivalent to a Manhattan short block (264 feet)
Feet	264 ft
Inches	3,168 in
Meters	80.47 m
Centimeters	8,047 cm
Yards	88 yd
Miles	0.05 mi

Quick tip: There are about 20 short blocks to a mile in Manhattan. So a Manhattan short block is about one-twentieth of a mile — roughly 264 feet.

Quick Reference List: 12 Things That Are About a City Block Long

Reference Guide 12 Things That Are About a City Block Long
Category	Common Objects
Buildings and Landmarks	The Statue of Liberty, height The Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben), height A 25-storey apartment building, height A suspension bridge tower, height
Vehicles and Transport	A Boeing 747 airplane, length A passenger ferry boat, length Six city buses parked end to end A long commuter train
Sports and Structures	An American football field, length A soccer field, length A wind turbine, height A stadium floodlight pole, height

Here is the full list of city block comparisons covered in this guide, organized by category.

How Long Is a City Block — Buildings and Landmarks

Buildings and landmarks give some of the most memorable city block references, because a famous tower or a tall building standing next to a street makes the length easy to picture.

1. The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty stands about 305 feet tall from the ground to the tip of its torch. That is a little longer than a Manhattan short block of about 264 feet.

This city block comparison works because the statue is one of the most famous heights in America. If you lay the Statue of Liberty on its side along a Manhattan street, it would stretch just past one short block.

2. The Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben)

The Elizabeth Tower in London, home of Big Ben, stands about 316 feet tall. That is a little longer than a Manhattan short block of about 264 feet.

This city block comparison turns a famous clock tower into a street-length measure. Picture Big Ben lying along a Manhattan block and it would run just past the far corner.

3. A 25-Storey Apartment Building

A 25-storey apartment building stands around 250 feet tall, with each storey adding about 10 feet. That is close to a Manhattan short block of about 264 feet.

This city block comparison is an everyday one for anyone who lives in a city. A 25-storey tower block is roughly as tall as one short Manhattan block is long.

4. A Suspension Bridge Tower

A suspension bridge tower on a big bridge rises around 750 feet tall — the Golden Gate Bridge towers are about 746 feet. That is close to a Manhattan long block of about 750 to 900 feet.

This city block comparison shows how the long side of a Manhattan block works as a measure. One long block laid upright would reach about as high as a Golden Gate tower.

How Long Is a City Block — Vehicles and Transport

Vehicles and transport give practical city block references, because planes, boats, buses and trains are all measured in feet and fill real space on streets, water and tracks.

5. A Boeing 747 Airplane

A Boeing 747 airplane is about 230 feet long from nose to tail. That is just short of a Manhattan short block of about 264 feet.

This city block comparison is a travel reference most people can picture. Park a 747 along a Manhattan street and it would fill nearly the whole short block, with a little room to spare at the end.

6. A Passenger Ferry Boat

A large passenger ferry boat is about 310 feet long — the Staten Island Ferry boats are around this length. That is a little longer than a Manhattan short block of about 264 feet.

This city block comparison works because ferries carry whole crowds of city commuters. A big ferry laid alongside a Manhattan block would stick out just past the far corner.

7. Six City Buses Parked End to End

Six city buses parked end to end stretch about 240 feet, since a standard city bus is around 40 feet long. That is close to a Manhattan short block of about 264 feet.

This city block comparison is a street-level one anyone can check at a bus stop. Line up six buses bumper to bumper and you have nearly one whole short Manhattan block.

8. A Long Commuter Train

A long commuter train with about 10 cars stretches around 850 feet, with each car about 85 feet long. That is close to a Manhattan long block of about 750 to 900 feet.

This city block comparison shows the long-block scale in action. A full commuter train passing a crossing is about as long as one long Manhattan block.

How Long Is a City Block — Sports and Structures

Sports fields and tall structures round out the list of city block comparisons, showing how pitches, turbines and floodlights can all land on block-length scales.

9. An American Football Field

An American football field is about 360 feet long including both end zones. That is longer than a Manhattan short block of about 264 feet — roughly one and a third short blocks.

This city block comparison is a sport reference most Americans know by heart. Walk a football field end to end and you have covered a short city block plus about a third of another.

10. A Soccer Field

A soccer field is about 345 to 360 feet long, depending on the stadium. That is longer than a Manhattan short block of about 264 feet, by around a third of a block.

This city block comparison turns a pitch into a street measure. A soccer field laid along a Manhattan street would run past one short block and well into the next.

11. A Wind Turbine

A large modern wind turbine stands around 300 feet tall or more to the top of its tower. That is a little longer than a Manhattan short block of about 264 feet.

This city block comparison works because turbines are hard to judge from a distance. A turbine tower on its side would stretch just past one short Manhattan block.

12. A Stadium Floodlight Pole

A stadium floodlight pole stands around 150 feet tall. That is a little more than half of a Manhattan short block of about 264 feet.

This city block comparison is a night-game reference for a length that lights a whole field. Two floodlight poles stacked end to end would reach a little past one short city block.

FAQ Section

How long is a city block in feet?

It depends on the city. A Manhattan short block is about 264 feet, a Chicago block is about 660 feet, and a Portland block is about 200 feet, so there is no single length for every city block.

How many city blocks are in a mile?

In Manhattan there are about 20 short blocks to a mile, since a short block is about 264 feet and a mile is 5,280 feet. In Chicago, with blocks of about 660 feet, there are about 8 blocks to a mile.

How long is a city block in Chicago?

A Chicago block is about 660 feet on its long side, which is one-eighth of a mile. Chicago blocks are much longer than Manhattan short blocks of about 264 feet.

How long is a city block in Manhattan?

A Manhattan short block is about 264 feet, with about 20 short blocks to a mile. A Manhattan long block is much longer, about 750 to 900 feet.

How can I picture a city block without measuring?

Picture six city buses parked end to end for a short Manhattan block of about 264 feet, or a Boeing 747, which at about 230 feet fills nearly a whole short block.

Conclusion

So, how long is a city block? A Manhattan short block is about 264 feet, a Chicago block is about 660 feet, a Portland block is about 200 feet, and a Manhattan long block runs about 750 to 900 feet. These 12 comparisons — from the Statue of Liberty and Big Ben to a Boeing 747, six city buses and a football field — make those lengths easy to picture. Next time you need to estimate a city block, picture one of these familiar things instead of reaching for a map.