A variety of different types of Viking ships existed, beyond the simple classifications of cargo ship and war ship discussed in the main article. Archaeological finds show a broad range of ship types, and the sagas use a number of different words to describe the different kind of ships.

The distinctions between different types is not firm, nor are the different categories particularly distinct. The common elements among all Norse ships include: clinker construction; open to the elements with minimal decking; and a side rudder. Compared to warships, trading vessels tended to be rounder, with a bigger freeboard, a deeper draft, fewer places for oars, and fixed masts, since they tended to be used primarily with sails.

The size of ships was described as being a certain number of rúm (rooms). The ship's frame divided the length of the ship into spaces for pairs of rowers (one rower each on port and starboard sides). Thus the number of rúm describes the number of pairs of rowers. One would expect at least a one meter (three foot) spacing between rowers, so the number of rúm also gives a minimum dimension for the length of the ship.

Batúr (boats) had fewer than six rúm, while a skip (ship) had six or more. The two boats shown to the left were found with the Gokstad ship. The closer boat has two pairs of oars and is about 6.5m (21ft) long overall, while the further boat has three pairs of oars and is about 9.7m (32ft) long.

The byrðingur (cargo vessel) was short and broad, and meant primarily for coastal trade. The knörr was larger, with a wide-body and was the largest of the trading ships. Such ships were intended for ocean crossing voyages. The settlers of Iceland and the explorers of Vínland used knörrs, which could carry not only people, but also supplies, livestock, and cargo.

The langskip (longship) was a general purpose word to describe any large warship of more than sixteen rúm. The sagas describe some very large langskips. King Óláf Tryggvasson's Long Serpent is described as having 34 rúm. In addition to her 68 rowers, the ship also had space for additional warriors. A karfi is a smaller warship usually owned by a king or great chieftan. The size clearly varied, with a range from six to sixteen rúm. The Gokstad ship (a 9^th century ship recovered in the 19^th century) is a karfi.

The word dreki (dragon) also was used to describe a warship, but usually in the more imaginative and inventive sagas. The term refers to the dragon head attached to the prow (and occasionally the stern) of the ship, as shown to the right on the Íslendingur. A dreki probably had more than 30 rúm.

A ferja (ferry) referred to a ship used for cargo and local transport. The general term kaupskip (trading ship) referred to any vessel used for trade. And the words skeið (light warship), skúta (light ship), and snekkja (swift warship) are used in sagas, although we have no information to make a distinction between any of them and more general warships.

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