Carpenter ants can vary in size depending on the species, but on average, they are typically larger than other common ant species. Worker ants, the most commonly seen in a colony, can range from ¼ to ½ inch long. The queens, responsible for laying eggs and reproducing, are generally larger than the workers and can be up to 1 inch long. Males responsible for mating with the queen are smaller than the workers and can range from ¼ inch to ¾ inch in length.