# How deep is Lake Erie?

> Lake Erie averages 62 ft (19 m) deep. Its deepest point, in the eastern basin, reaches 210 ft (64 m), according to the U.S. EPA; NOAA's detailed bathymetry puts the maximum at 63 m (about 207 ft).

URL: https://lakeerie.info/facts/how-deep-is-lake-erie · Facts as of 2026-08-28 · Checked 2026-10-04

## Key numbers

| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average depth (EPA) | 62 ft / 19 m | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
| Maximum depth (EPA) | 210 ft / 64 m | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
| Maximum depth (NOAA bathymetry) | 63 m / about 207 ft | NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NGDC) |
| Western basin, average / maximum | 24 ft / 7.4 m / 62 ft / 19 m | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
| Central basin, average / maximum | 60 ft / 18.3 m / 82 ft / 25 m | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
| Eastern basin, average / maximum | 80 ft / 24 m / 210 ft / 64 m | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |

## Three basins, three depths

Lake Erie is not one bowl but three, and they get deeper from west to east. The U.S. EPA describes the lake as naturally divided into western, central and eastern basins that behave almost like separate lakes.[1] The western basin, about about 20% of the lake, averages only 24 ft (7.4 m) and reaches 62 ft at most; its fine bottom sediment is easily stirred up by wind and waves, which makes it the murkiest part of the lake. The central basin is remarkably even, averaging 60 ft (18.3 m) with a maximum of 82 ft. The eastern basin, beyond Long Point, is the deepest, averaging 80 ft (24 m) and reaching 210 ft (64 m).[1]

| Basin | Average depth | Maximum depth |
|---|---|---|
| Western | 24 ft (7.4 m) | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Central | 60 ft (18.3 m) | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Eastern | 80 ft (24 m) | 210 ft (64 m) |

## Where the deepest water is

Both federal sources place the deepest water in the eastern basin. The EPA's table of Great Lakes physical features gives a maximum of 210 ft (64 m), measured at low water.[2] NOAA's bathymetry of Lake Erie, compiled from more than a century of soundings, describes the western basin as reaching 10–11 m, the central basin 24–25 m, and the eastern basin more than 40 m, with a maximum of 63 m.[3] The one-meter difference between the two maximums comes from different methods and datums, so this page shows both. NOAA also notes some striking features of the lake floor: the sandy Long Point spit runs about about 35 km out from the Ontario shore and rises 55 m above the floor of the eastern basin, the greatest relief anywhere in the lake, while in the shallow west the sharpest relief, about about 15–20 m, surrounds the Bass Islands.[3]

## Why the shallowness matters

Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes and the smallest by volume. That is why it warms quickly in spring and summer, cools quickly in autumn and often freezes over in winter, and the EPA calls it the most biologically productive of the five.[1] Shallow water also means rough water: the lake's waves build fast in a strong wind, and storms can pile water up at one end of the lake. See the pages on water temperature, ice cover and seiches for more.

## Questions people ask

**What is the deepest part of Lake Erie?**

The eastern basin, east of Long Point. The U.S. EPA gives a maximum depth of 210 ft (64 m); NOAA's bathymetry gives 63 m.

**How deep is the western basin of Lake Erie?**

Very shallow: it averages 24 ft (7.4 m) and reaches no more than 62 ft (19 m), according to the EPA.

**Is Lake Erie the shallowest Great Lake?**

Yes. Its average depth of 62 ft is far less than any of the other four Great Lakes, according to EPA figures.

## Sources

1. Lake Erie | US EPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/lake-erie (accessed 2026-10-04)
2. Physical Features of the Great Lakes, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/physical-features-great-lakes (accessed 2026-10-04)
3. Bathymetry of Lake Erie and Lake Saint Clair: Lake Erie and Lake Saint Clair Geomorphology, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NGDC). https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/greatlakes/lakeerie_cdrom/html/e_gmorph.htm (accessed 2026-10-04)

## How to cite

Lake Erie Gazetteer, How deep is Lake Erie?, lakeerie.info/facts/how-deep-is-lake-erie, accessed October 19, 2026.

Lake Erie Gazetteer is an independent reference operated by WeldonPC. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency, lake or historical society, museum, Ohio Sea Grant, Lake Erie Waterkeeper, the U.S. Lighthouse Society or Lake Erie Shores & Islands.