The dataset contains 122 transmission electron microscopy images of ultrathin (60-70 nm) plastic sections through extracellular SARS-CoV-2 particles in Vero cell cultures. Images were recorded with 1376 x 1032 pixel dimensions at 0.64 nm pixel size (12 bit) and stored in 16 bit TIF format. For visualization of the images, use an image viewer capable of reading 16 bit images (e.g. IrfanView). Image files are size calibrated and can be opened with the correct size calibration using ImageJ or Fiji using the Bioformats importer. The image files are accompanied by a PDF document which describes the methods which were used for generation of the images. The dataset was produced as dataset 03 for a comparative morphometric analysis of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Further datasets which were used for the analysis are available in this repository (see dataset description document). Related publication: Laue M, Kauter A, Hoffmann T, Möller L, Michel J, Nitsche A. Morphometry of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 particles in ultrathin plastic sections of infected Vero cell cultures. Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 10;11(1):3515. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-82852-7. PMID: 33568700; PMCID: PMC7876034.