Short answer
A nodachi is defined by its blade, and the traditional floor is 3 shaku — about 90.9 cm (35.8 in) of cutting edge. In our catalog right now, the 13 ready-made nodachi models run 118 to 168 cm overall (46.5 to 66.1 in), with blades of 82 to 120 cm (32.3 to 47.2 in) and handles of 32 to 42 cm. Modern collectible nodachi cluster into two tiers: about 130 cm (51.2 in) and 168 cm (66.1 in, or 5 ft 6 in) overall. The numbers behind those ranges are below, model by model tier.
Why "how long" needs a qualifier
Every length answer depends on which part of the sword was measured, and listings do not all measure the same thing. Blade length (nagasa) runs from the point to the notch at the base of the cutting edge. Overall length adds the handle, guard, and fittings on top of the blade. Handle length is a third, separate number. A 168 cm nodachi with a 120 cm blade carries a 40 cm handle — quoting "168 cm" as the blade length would overstate the blade by 48 cm. Before comparing two listings, confirm which of the three numbers each one shows. The same measurement vocabulary is used in our parts of a katana diagram if you want to see where each measurement starts and ends.
Historical baseline: 3 shaku and beyond
Historical sources treat a blade of at least 3 shaku (about 90.9 cm / 35.8 in) as the entry point of the ōdachi/nodachi class, and museum records show how far "longer" went from there. A 1359 Osafune Kanemitsu sword in the Tokyo National Museum record lists a 93.0 cm blade; a 1366 Osafune Tomomitsu blade recorded with Nikko Futarasan Shrine lists 126 cm of blade. Surviving museum examples run far beyond anything sold as a modern replica, so a "nodachi" label alone tells you nothing about a specific sword's size. For the full treatment of the two overlapping terms and their museum records, see our article on odachi vs nodachi.
Real measurements from our catalog: 13 nodachi
The table below is compiled from the specification tables on the live product pages in our Nodachi collection, read from our store admin on November 1, 2026. Sample: all 14 fixed products in the collection except the made-to-order custom option, which has no fixed dimensions. n = 13. Figures are the published spec-sheet values; we did not re-measure any sword.
| Overall length | Models | Blade length | Handle length | Blade steels | Weight without scabbard | Weight with scabbard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 118 cm (46.5 in) | 1 | 82 cm (32.3 in) | 32 cm (12.6 in) | 1065 | 1,100 g | not listed |
| 130–132 cm (51.2–52 in) | 6 | 87–90 cm (34.3–35.4 in) | 35–41 cm (13.8–16.1 in) | T10 ×3, 1060 ×1, high-manganese ×1 | 1,233–1,350 g | 1,475–1,610 g |
| 168 cm (66.1 in) | 6 | 119–120 cm (46.9–47.2 in) | 40–42 cm (15.7–16.5 in) | 1065 ×5, 65Mn ×1 | 1,500–1,600 g | 1,800–1,900 g |
Other facts from the same 13 listings:
- Blade length concentrates at two values: 90 cm (6 models, including one 87 cm) and 120 cm (6 models, including one 119 cm). One model uses an 82 cm blade.
- All 13 are full tang, one-piece construction.
- All 13 offer a Hand Sharpened or Unsharpened choice.
- Base-variant prices on the same date ran $279 to $857.31, median $356.31.
- The 130 cm tier includes the Devil May Cry "Yamato" replica (130 cm overall, 90 cm blade) and the Peony Flower odachi (130 cm overall, 90 cm blade).
Nodachi vs katana, tachi, and wakizashi
Medians from the same store snapshot (all active swords with spec sheets, November 1, 2026):
| Type | Models with spec sheets | Overall length (median) | Blade length (median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katana | 440 | 102 cm | 72 cm |
| Tachi | 21 | 103 cm | 72 cm |
| Wakizashi | 29 | 77 cm | 50 cm |
| Nodachi (13 fixed models) | 13 | 168 cm | 120 cm |
Ranges behind the medians: katana swords run 92–118 cm overall and 66–76 cm in blade; tachi run 103–128 cm overall and 68–85 cm in blade. A 168 cm nodachi is therefore about 66 cm longer overall than the median katana (102 cm), and its 120 cm blade is about 48 cm longer than the median 72 cm katana blade. Weight scales with the length: the 168 cm tier lists 1.5–1.6 kg without scabbard, against a 1.1 kg median bare weight for katanas measured in our earlier 502-sword weight survey.
One anime detail worth knowing: Trafalgar Law's sword from One Piece is usually called a nodachi in the show, but our replica is built at 103 cm overall with a 71 cm blade — squarely in katana proportions. Anime-proportioned "nodachi" are often shorter than historical ones, so check the spec table rather than the label.
What the numbers mean when you buy or display one
- Display space: a 168 cm sword needs about 66 inches of clear wall or floor space, and most standard katana stands are sized for ~100–110 cm katanas. For the 168 cm tier, plan on a long horizontal rack, a wall mount, or a tall corner.
- The 130 cm tier is the closest thing to a "usable" modern nodachi. A 90 cm blade is still 14 cm longer than the longest katana blade in our catalog (76 cm), but the sword remains liftable and displayable on standard furniture.
- Weight, not just length: the 168 cm tier weighs 1.5–1.9 kg depending on scabbard. Swinging one indoors or practicing cuts needs real clearance — see the video below for what a 5-foot blade handles like.
- Compare blade to blade: two listings can both say "nodachi" while differing by 50 cm. Read the blade length and overall length lines first, then compare. You can browse the full range of nodachi for sale in our Nodachi collection; the made-to-order option has no fixed size because it is built to your dimensions.
Video: what a 5-foot nodachi handles like
For a sense of the real-world size, this test-cutting review shows a 5-foot (about 152 cm) nodachi being handled, drawn, and cut with. Video by Kane Shen on YouTube; we did not make it and it does not feature our products.
