How many decks did the Ark have in the Genesis account?

The Genesis account describes Noah’s Ark as having three decks.

Genesis 6 gives instructions for constructing the vessel and says it should have lower, second, and third decks. The ark is also described as being divided into compartments and coated with pitch inside and out. These details present it as a large, enclosed survival vessel rather than a conventional sailing ship designed for speed or navigation.

Genesis supplies dimensions in cubits: 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. Because the ancient cubit was not a universally fixed measurement, modern estimates of the ark’s exact size vary. The text also mentions a roof or opening and a door in its side, though translations differ in how some construction details are rendered.

Later artistic reconstructions often add features not specified in Genesis, such as masts, sails, or elaborate decks. The three-deck detail is one of the clearest structural statements in the biblical passage.