Back to the bear comparison chart
Why bear sizes are hard to picture
A single number like 120 cm or 450 kg rarely sticks. You usually want to know how a black bear stacks up against a grizzly, or whether a polar bear really outsizes a Kodiak—and by how much.
This page puts living bear species on one scale. Start with the chart above for the four North American bears people compare most often, then use the table for every living species we list—including pandas and sun bears.
Shoulder height, not standing on two legs
Wildlife sizes for land bears usually mean shoulder height with all four feet on the ground—the top of the shoulder when the animal is standing normally. That is not the same as a bear rearing up on its hind legs, which can look much taller in photos.
We also show typical body length and mid-range adult weight so you can feel overall bulk, not only height. Real animals vary by sex, age, and region; treat these as typical adults for fair visual comparison.
Living bear sizes at a glance
Sorted from shortest to tallest at the shoulder. Open a portrait to compare that bear alone side by side.
Typical adult mid-range values for visual comparison. Length is nose-to-tail style body length; weight is approximate and can swing widely by season.
Popular bear size matchups
A few pairings that make the differences easiest to see:
- American black bear vs grizzly: the black bear sits much lower at the shoulder; a grizzly looks bulkier and taller on all fours.
- Grizzly vs Kodiak: both are brown bears, but Kodiaks from Alaska’s islands run larger at the shoulder and in mass.
- Kodiak vs polar bear: among living bears, both sit near the top. Polar bears often edge out on overall mass and length; Kodiaks are among the tallest at the shoulder.
- Sun bear vs polar bear: the smallest and one of the largest living bears—useful when you need the full span of the family.
Where these sizes come from
Figures are typical adult mid-range values drawn from commonly cited wildlife references—roughly the middle of published ranges for shoulder height, body length, and weight.
They are meant for relative size comparison, not as a field guide measurement of any one animal. Sex, age, season, and region all shift real numbers.
When this page helps
Use it when you need a clear picture of bear size—not a list of disconnected numbers:
- Settling how much bigger a grizzly is than a black bear
- Checking polar vs Kodiak without mixing up standing height and shoulder height
- Seeing where pandas or sun bears sit among living bears
If you want wolves, moose, or whales on the same scale, open the animal sizes list and add them beside these bears.
Bear size questions
Is bear “height” shoulder height or standing on two legs?
Here it means shoulder height with all four feet on the ground—the usual wildlife listing. Photos of bears standing upright look much taller and are a different measurement.
Which living bear is the biggest?
Polar bears and Kodiak bears are the largest living bears. Polar bears often lead on mass and length; Kodiaks are among the tallest at the shoulder. Compare them on the chart above to see the trade-off.
How does a black bear compare to a grizzly?
A typical American black bear sits much lower at the shoulder than a grizzly and usually weighs less. The chart makes that gap obvious without juggling separate stats.
Is a Kodiak the same as a grizzly?
Both are brown bears, but Kodiak bears from Alaska’s Kodiak Islands tend to grow larger. We list them separately so you can see that island-mainland size difference.
How accurate are these bear sizes?
They are typical adult mid-range figures for comparison. Real bears vary widely. Use them to understand relative size, not as a precise measurement of a specific animal.
Can I compare bears with people or other animals?
Yes. Open this lineup on the home comparison, then add a person or another animal so everything shares one scale.
Compare more bears yourself
The chart above is a starting lineup. To swap species or share a link:
- Start from the button above that opens this North American lineup, or browse animal sizes for more bears.
- Choose two or more species—pandas and sun bears are there too—and open them side by side.
- Share the link so others see the same bears on the same scale.