How many levels did Noah’s Ark have in the Book of Genesis?

The Book of Genesis says Noah’s Ark had three levels. Genesis 6:16 instructs Noah to make the Ark with lower, second, and third decks, describing a vessel divided vertically into three stories.

These decks are part of the Ark’s construction instructions, alongside its rooms, roof, opening, and side door. The passage does not provide a detailed floor plan or explain exactly how space was allocated among people, animals, food, and equipment.

The three-level description is important because it shows that the biblical Ark was imagined as a substantial multi-deck structure, not simply as a single floating box. Later artwork often adds ladders, stalls, windows, and elaborate internal layouts that are not specified in Genesis.

The number of decks should not be confused with the Ark’s dimensions. Genesis separately gives its length, width, and height, while the three levels describe its internal arrangement. Different retellings may add architectural details, but the canonical biblical number is three.