A bull moose stands about 5.5–7 feet (1.7–2.1 meters) tall at the shoulder and weighs between 840–1,600 pounds (381–726 kg). This makes the moose the largest member of the deer family, towering over elk, most horses, and the average adult human.
This guide breaks down exactly how big moose get. You’ll see how they measure up against elk, horses, humans, and even everyday objects, plus how fast a moose calf grows into that massive frame.
How Big Is a Moose?
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Average Moose Height and Weight
How tall and heavy is the average moose? A full-grown bull moose reaches 5.5 to 7 feet at the shoulder and weighs 840 to 1,600 pounds. Cows are smaller, typically topping out around 1,000 pounds.
Moose height is always measured at the shoulder, not the head. Once you factor in the neck and antlers, a bull moose can tower well past 9 feet from hoof to antler tip.
Moose Size by Subspecies
Not all moose are built the same. North America has four recognized subspecies, and size drops as you move south.
Alaska moose — the biggest of all, standing near 7 feet and weighing up to 1,600 pounds
Northwestern moose — close behind, over 6.5 feet and nearly 1,600 pounds
Eastern moose — around 6 feet tall, up to 1,400 pounds
Shiras moose — the smallest subspecies, about 6 feet tall and up to 1,200 pounds
Even the “smallest” moose subspecies would still dwarf a bull elk standing next to it.
Is a moose bigger than an elk? Yes, by a wide margin. Bull elk stand 4.5 to 5.5 feet at the shoulder and weigh 485 to 730 pounds. A large Alaska moose is nearly two feet taller and can outweigh a bull elk by 800 pounds or more.
The two animals also look different up close. Moose have a bulbous, rounded nose and a flap of skin called a dewlap hanging under the throat. Elk have a narrow, pointed nose and no dewlap at all — one of the fastest ways to tell them apart in the field.
Moose Size Comparison to Other Animals
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Moose vs. Horse Size Comparison
Horses are measured at the withers, the ridge between the shoulder blades. An average thoroughbred stands about 5 feet 4 inches there — a full foot and a half shorter than a big bull moose.
Even record-breaking horses barely close the gap. The tallest horse ever measured stood just under 7 feet — roughly the same height as an average Alaska moose, but still shorter than the largest moose on record.
Moose vs. Bison and Elephant Size Comparison
Bison actually outweigh moose, tipping the scales near 2,000 pounds, but they stand shorter at the shoulder — around 6 feet compared to a moose’s 7. Height goes to the moose; raw weight goes to the bison.
Elephants aren’t even in the same league. African elephants grow up to 13 feet tall and can weigh over 12,000 pounds, making even the biggest moose look small by comparison.
Moose vs. Deer and Other Cervids
Moose belong to the deer family, but they’re the giants of that family by a huge margin. A single bull moose weighs roughly ten times more than a whitetail deer. Compared to the world’s smallest deer species, the pudu, it would take dozens of them to match one moose’s body weight.
Moose Size Compared to Humans
How much taller is a moose than a human? The average American man stands 5 feet 9 inches; the average woman, about 5 feet 3 inches. A bull moose at the shoulder alone can be a foot taller than a man and nearly two feet taller than a woman — before you even count the antlers.
Moose Weight vs. Average Human Weight
The average U.S. adult weighs somewhere between 170 and 200 pounds. A bull moose can weigh six to nine times that much. Standing next to one isn’t just intimidating because of height — it’s the sheer mass.
Tallest and Heaviest Moose vs. Humans on Record
The largest moose ever recorded stood about 7 feet 8 inches tall and weighed over 1,800 pounds. For comparison, the tallest human ever recorded reached 8 feet 11 inches — technically taller, but nowhere near the same body mass. In terms of pure weight, that record moose still outweighs the heaviest human ever recorded by several hundred pounds.
Yes. Bulls outweigh cows by several hundred pounds and carry large, palmate antlers cows never grow. A mature cow moose usually weighs 600 to 1,000 pounds — heavy, but noticeably leaner and shorter than a bull.
This size gap, called sexual dimorphism, is common across the deer family, but it’s especially dramatic in moose because bulls need the extra bulk to compete during the fall rut.
Moose Growth: From Calf to Full-Grown Size
Newborn Moose Calf Size and Weight
A moose calf weighs around 28 pounds at birth — about the size of an average three-year-old child. Within days, that calf can already outrun an adult human.
How Fast Do Moose Grow?
This is where moose growth gets remarkable. Calves gain roughly 2 pounds a day early on, later climbing to 5 pounds a day during peak growing months. A human toddler, by comparison, gains around 5 pounds in an entire year.
Moose Size Compared to Everyday Objects
Moose vs. a Car or Truck
A full-grown bull moose is roughly as heavy as a compact car. At the shoulder, it’s tall enough to see clearly over the hood of most sedans and SUVs — one reason moose-vehicle collisions are so dangerous on northern highways.
Moose vs. a Doorway or Basketball Hoop
A standard interior doorway is about 6 feet 8 inches tall. A big bull moose’s shoulder height sits right around that same mark — meaning the antlers alone would need to duck through most home doorways.
Moose Antler Span Size Comparison
Moose antlers can span more than 6 feet across, wider than a king-size mattress is long. That antler spread makes the moose’s overall silhouette even more massive than its shoulder height suggests.
FAQs About Moose Size
How Big Is an Average Moose?
A bull moose typically stands 5.5–7 feet tall at the shoulder and weighs around 840–1,600 pounds.
What Is the Biggest Moose Ever Recorded?
The largest recorded moose was an Alaska moose weighing 1,808 pounds and standing about 7 feet 8 inches tall.
How Tall Is a Moose Compared to a Human?
A large bull moose can stand a foot or more taller than an average adult human at the shoulder alone.
Are Bull Moose Bigger Than Cow Moose?
Yes. Bull moose are several hundred pounds heavier than cows and also grow large, distinctive antlers.
Which Moose Subspecies Is the Largest?
The Alaska moose is the largest subspecies, followed by the Northwestern, Eastern, and Shiras moose.
How Much Do Moose Weigh at Birth?
A newborn moose calf typically weighs about 28 pounds at birth.
Is a Moose Bigger Than an Elk?
Yes. Moose are generally taller and heavier than elk and can outweigh a large bull elk by 800 pounds or more.
How Fast Do Moose Grow?
Moose calves can gain up to 5 pounds per day during their peak growing months.
Robert Taylor is a content researcher and writer specializing in dimensions, measurements, and size comparison guides. He creates clear, practical content that helps readers understand real-world sizes and measurements with confidence. His work focuses on delivering accurate, easy-to-use dimension information in both U.S. and metric units.
