Genesis describes Noah’s Ark as having three decks.
Genesis 6:16 instructs Noah to make the Ark with lower, second, and third decks. The verse appears among the construction instructions given before the flood, alongside directions for the Ark’s window, door, rooms, and coating of pitch. “Three” is therefore a direct detail from the biblical narrative rather than an estimate based on later artwork.
Illustrations often show the Ark as a large wooden ship with multiple levels, but artists have added many details that Genesis does not specify. The text does not provide a complete architectural plan, a modern ship classification, or an exact arrangement for every animal and human occupant.
The three-deck description also helps explain why the Ark is usually pictured as a large enclosed structure rather than a small open boat. Its stated dimensions are 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. Because the length of a cubit varied, modern conversions are approximate.