The North Sea has an average depth of about 90 to 95 meters (approximately 300 to 312 feet)

. Most of the sea lies on the European continental shelf, which explains its generally shallow nature. However, there are notable exceptions with much greater depths. The Norwegian Trench, running parallel to the Norwegian coast, is the deepest part of the North Sea, reaching a maximum depth of around 700 to 725 meters (about 2,300 feet)

. Other deep trenches include the Devil's Hole east of Dundee, Scotland, with depths up to 230 meters (750 feet)

, and some trenches off the western part of the North Sea where depths can exceed 450 meters (1,500 feet)

. In contrast, the southern parts of the North Sea are much shallower, often only 15 to 35 meters deep, with features like the Dogger Bank rising to just 15 to 30 meters below the surface

. In summary:

• Average depth: ~90-95 meters (300-312 feet)
• Maximum depth (Norwegian Trench): ~700-725 meters (2,300 feet)
• Southern North Sea: very shallow, 15-35 meters
• Other deep trenches: 230-450+ meters

This depth variation influences navigation, ecology, and resource exploitation in the North Sea.