Beyond Quadrillion: What Comes Next in Huge Numbers
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you hear a number like a quadrillion. Imagine £1,000,000,000,000,000 – that’s a 1 followed by 15 zeros! In the UK, a quadrillion is a thousand trillion. But is that the end of the line for our number system? Absolutely not. The universe of numbers stretches far beyond, with fascinating names and even more staggering magnitudes.
Last updated: April 22, 2026
So, what comes after quadrillion? The sequence continues with quintillion, sextillion, septillion, and so on, following a pattern that allows us to name increasingly enormous quantities. These aren’t just abstract concepts. they help us grapple with everything from global economic figures to the vastness of space.
The Short Answer: A Numbered Progression
The immediate successor to a quadrillion is a quintillion. In the short scale (used in the US and increasingly in the UK for finance), a quintillion is 1 followed by 18 zeros (1018). This naming convention follows a Latin-based pattern, with each new ‘illion’ representing a thousand times the previous one.
Understanding Number Naming: Short Scale vs. Long Scale
Before we dive deeper, it’s Key to understand that there have historically been two main systems for naming large numbers: the short scale and the long scale. You can cause confusion, especially when comparing figures from different regions or historical contexts.
- Short Scale: Used primarily in the United States, Canada, and increasingly in the UK for financial and scientific contexts. Here, each new ‘-illion’ name represents a thousand times the previous one. So, a million is 106, a billion is 109 (a thousand million), a trillion is 1012 (a thousand billion), and a quadrillion is 1015 (a thousand trillion).
- Long Scale: Traditionally used in most of continental Europe and some Commonwealth countries (though its use is declining). In this system, a million is 106, a billion is 1012 (a million million), a trillion is 1018 (a million billion), and so on. A ‘milliard’ is used for 109 (a thousand million).
For clarity, especially when discussing global finance or scientific data, the short scale is now more common. According to the UK Government (as of their guidance on number names), while the long scale was historically prevalent, the short scale is now generally understood and used, especially in finance.
What Comes After Quadrillion on the Short Scale?
Let’s stick to the short scale, as it’s the most relevant for contemporary discussions about large numbers. After quadrillion (1015), the sequence unfolds:
| Name | Short Scale (10x) | Number of Zeros |
|---|---|---|
| Quadrillion | 1015 | 15 |
| Quintillion | 1018 | 18 |
| Sextillion | 1021 | 21 |
| Septillion | 1024 | 24 |
| Octillion | 1027 | 27 |
| Nonillion | 1030 | 30 |
| Decillion | 1033 | 33 |
Each step up multiplies the number by one thousand. So, a quintillion is 1,000 quadrillions. A sextillion is 1,000 quintillions, and so on. It’s a systematic climb up the ladder of magnitude.
Real-World Examples of Large Numbers
While these numbers sound abstract, they do appear in real-world contexts, though often still short of the higher ‘-illions’.
Global Economy and Debt
The total value of all financial assets globally is a staggering figure. While it fluctuates, estimates often place it in the hundreds of trillions of US dollars. For instance, a report might discuss global wealth reaching $450 trillion (4.5 x 1014) in a given year. National debts can also reach similar magnitudes. The US national debt, for example, surpassed $34 trillion in early 2024, according to the US Treasury Department. These figures are immense but still fall short of a quadrillion.
Scientific Distances
When we look at the cosmos, even quadrillions become small. The observable universe is estimated to be about 93 billion light-years in diameter. A light-year is approximately 9.461 trillion kilometres (9.461 x 1012 km). So, 93 billion light-years is roughly 8.8 x 1023 km. This number is in the septillions! It highlights how quickly astronomical scales dwarf terrestrial financial figures.
Computing and Data
The amount of data generated globally is also growing exponentially. Estimates suggest that by 2025, the world will generate over 175 zettabytes of data. A zettabyte is 1021 bytes — which is a sextillion bytes. This sheer volume of information processing and storage is pushing the boundaries of what our current infrastructure can handle.
Beyond the ‘-illions’: Googols and Beyond
The ‘-illion’ system is systematic but finite in its commonly used prefixes. What happens when we need to describe numbers far larger than a decillion (1033)? Mathematicians have names for these!
The Googol
Perhaps the most famous super-large number is the googol. Coined in 1920 by 9-year-old Milton Sirotta, nephew of American mathematician Edward Kasner, a googol is 10100. That’s a 1 followed by 100 zeros. It’s vastly larger than any ‘-illion’ name we’ve discussed. Kasner introduced it in his book “Mathematics and the Imagination” to illustrate the difference between an unimaginably large number and infinity.
The Googolplex
If a googol is mind-boggling, a googolplex is almost incomprehensible. A googolplex is 10 raised to the power of a googol (10googol, or 1010100). Writing this number out would require more zeros than there are atoms in the observable universe. Physically writing it down, even with the smallest font, would be impossible. As of 2024, the Wikipedia entry for Googolplex notes its immense scale and impracticality for physical representation.
Practical Tips for Grasping Large Numbers
Dealing with these colossal figures can feel like trying to drink from a firehose. Here are a few ways to make them more manageable:
1. Use Scientific Notation
Here’s the go-to method for scientists and mathematicians. Expressing a number as a coefficient multiplied by a power of 10 (e.g., 6.022 x 1023 for Avogadro’s number) makes it much easier to write, read, and compare. It instantly tells you the magnitude of the number.
2. Compare to Familiar Scales
When you hear a large number, try to relate it to something you understand. For instance, if a national debt is $30 trillion, you might think, “That’s 30,000 times the UK’s total annual GDP (around £1 trillion).” Or, relating astronomical distances: “If the Earth were a marble, the Sun would be about 160 miles away.” These analogies help ground the abstract.
3. Focus on the Zeros (or the Exponent)
The number of zeros (or the exponent in scientific notation) is the key indicator of magnitude. A quadrillion has 15 zeros. A quintillion has 18. The difference of three zeros is a factor of 1,000. Understanding this pattern is Key for grasping the progression.
4. Understand the Context
Is the number referring to global GDP, the number of stars in a galaxy, or the theoretical limit of a computational process? The context dictates whether a quadrillion is considered “big” or “small” (relatively speaking!). For instance, the total number of possible chess games is estimated to be around 10120, far exceeding a googolplex, but this is a theoretical number, not a physical count.
Frequently Asked Questions
what’s the number after a nonillion?
Following the short scale convention, the number after a nonillion (1030) is a decillion — which is 1033. This means it’s a 1 followed by 33 zeros.
Is a billion a thousand million or a million million?
In the short scale (used in the US and UK for finance), a billion is a thousand million (109). In the long scale (historically used in continental Europe), a billion is a million million (1012).
How many zeros are in a googol?
A googol is defined as 10100, so it has exactly 100 zeros following the digit 1.
Are there names for numbers larger than a googolplex?
Yes, while googolplex is incredibly large, mathematicians have devised names for even larger numbers using more complex systems, often involving recursive definitions or notations like the Conway chained arrow notation. However, these are typically used in highly specialized mathematical fields.
Why do we need names for such large numbers?
These names help us conceptualize and communicate extremely large quantities encountered in fields like cosmology, particle physics, computer science, and economics. They provide a framework for discussing magnitudes that would otherwise be impossible to articulate clearly.
The Journey Continues
The sequence of numbers doesn’t stop. After decillion comes undecillion, duodecillion, and so on, continuing the Latin-based prefixes. Even the largest of these ‘-illions’ pales in comparison to a googol. Our quest to name and understand quantity seems boundless, much like the numbers themselves.
So, the next time you hear about a quadrillion, remember it’s just a waypoint on an incredible numerical journey. Whether you’re tracking global finance, contemplating the cosmos, or simply curious about the limits of counting, understanding what comes after quadrillion opens up a new perspective on the scale of existence.
Editorial Note: This article was researched and written by the Milano Golden editorial team. We fact-check our content and update it regularly. For questions or corrections, contact us.
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