The polar bear is the largest bear in the world, weighing up to
1,700 pounds and standing
10 feet tall on its hind legs. The
sun bear is the smallest, weighing as little as
55 pounds. Between these two extremes sit six more bear species, each with its own size, weight, and strength.
This guide breaks down every bear size comparison you need, from polar bear vs grizzly bear size to how bears stack up against humans.
Bear Size Comparison Chart (All 8 Species at a Glance)
Bear Species
Weight
Height (Standing)
Length
Polar Bear
800–1,700 lbs
8–10 ft
7–8 ft
Kodiak Bear
600–1,400 lbs
8–10 ft
8 ft
Grizzly Bear
400–790 lbs
6–7 ft
6.5 ft
American Black Bear
200–600 lbs
5–7 ft
5–6 ft
Giant Panda
200–300 lbs
4–5 ft
4–6 ft
Asian Black Bear
220–440 lbs
5–6 ft
4–6 ft
Spectacled Bear
175–340 lbs
5–6 ft
4.5–6 ft
Sun Bear
55–143 lbs
4–5 ft
3.5–4.5 ft
Weight is where bears differ the most. A polar bear can outweigh a sun bear by more than 1,500 pounds. That’s the biggest bear size gap in the entire Ursidae family.
Biggest to Smallest Bear Size Ranking
From largest to smallest,
Polar Bear → Kodiak Bear → Grizzly Bear → American Black Bear → Asian Black Bear → Spectacled Bear → Giant Panda → Sun Bear
This order shifts slightly depending on whether you rank by weight or by height.
Polar Bear Size Comparison
polar-bear-size-comparison
The polar bear size comparison conversation always starts the same way: this is the largest land carnivore alive today. Adult males average 800 to 1,300 pounds, though some coastal bears have weighed far more.
Polar Bear Size vs Other Bear Species
Standing at the shoulder, a polar bear reaches about 5 feet, already taller than most humans before it even rises up. On its hind legs, it can hit 10 feet tall. No other bear species matches that combination of height and bulk.
Its paws grow up to 12 inches wide, acting like natural snowshoes across sea ice. This is wider than a grizzly’s paw and nearly double a black bear’s paw size.
Male vs Female Polar Bear Size Comparison
Male polar bears are almost twice the size of females. Males average 1,000 to 1,500 pounds, while adult females typically weigh 330 to 650 pounds. This size gap is larger than in almost any other bear species, driven by males competing directly for mates.
Largest Polar Bear Ever Recorded (Size Record)
The largest polar bear ever documented was shot in Alaska in 1960. It weighed 2,209 pounds and stood nearly 12 feet tall on its hind legs. That single bear remains the heaviest wild bear ever recorded, of any species.
A grizzly bear’s shoulder height maxes out around 3.5 feet, compared to a polar bear’s 5 feet. In weight, grizzlies average 400 to 790 pounds, well under a polar bear’s typical range.
Coastal grizzlies that feast on salmon can bulk up close to 1,700 pounds in rare cases, occasionally rivaling a polar bear’s mass. Still, on average, the polar bear wins on both height and weight.
Bite force favors the polar bear slightly, measured near 1,200 PSI, compared to a grizzly’s already fearsome 975 PSI. Both bites can crush bone with ease.
Grizzly, Black Bear & Other Species Size Comparisons
bears-size-comparison
Grizzly Bear vs Kodiak Bear Size Comparison
Kodiak bears are actually a subspecies of brown bear, isolated on Alaska’s Kodiak Archipelago. They grow larger than mainland grizzlies thanks to a protein-rich salmon diet. Kodiaks reach 600 to 1,400 pounds, compared to a grizzly’s 400 to 790 pounds. Kodiaks can also stand nearly a foot taller.
Black Bear Size Comparison
The American black bear is the smallest bear native to North America, weighing 200 to 600 pounds. Stack two black bears and you’d roughly match one grizzly’s height. Compared to a giant panda, black bears run slightly longer but similar in weight, since pandas top out near 300 pounds.
Diet explains much of this gap. Black bears and pandas eat mostly plants, while grizzlies and polar bears eat far more protein, which builds larger muscle mass.
The sun bear holds the title of smallest bear species on Earth, weighing just 55 to 143 pounds. It stands under 5 feet tall even on its hind legs.
The spectacled bear, South America’s only native bear, is slightly larger at 175 to 340 pounds. Both species rely on agility and tree-climbing rather than size for survival.
Bear Height vs Human Height (Standing on Hind Legs)
On all fours, most bears stay lower than eye level with an adult human. Stand a bear up, though, and the picture changes fast.
A black bear reaches 5 to 7 feet upright, already taller than most people. A polar bear towers at 10 feet, nearly double the height of an average adult.
Bear Weight vs Average Human Weight
The average adult weighs around 180 pounds. A grizzly bear can outweigh that person by 600 pounds or more.
Even the smallest bear species, the sun bear, can weigh close to what a grown adult weighs, and it’s built entirely of muscle and claws.
The polar bear is the biggest bear species in the world, reaching up to 1,700 pounds (770 kg) and nearly 10 feet (3 m) tall when standing on its hind legs.
How Does a Polar Bear’s Size Compare to a Grizzly Bear?
Polar bears are generally larger and heavier than grizzly bears. However, some large coastal grizzlies, such as Kodiak bears, can come close to polar bears in weight and overall size.
Which Is the Smallest Bear Species by Size?
The sun bear is the smallest bear species, weighing around 55–143 pounds (25–65 kg) and standing only about 4–5 feet (1.2–1.5 m) tall when upright.
How Tall Is a Bear Compared to a Human When Standing?
Most bears can stand taller than an average human when they rise on their hind legs. A large polar bear can reach nearly 10 feet (3 m) tall, while many other bear species reach 6–8 feet.
Which Bear Has the Strongest Bite Relative to Its Size?
The polar bear has the strongest raw bite force among bears, but smaller species like the sun bear have an impressive bite relative to their body size due to their powerful jaws and adaptations for feeding.
Conclusion
Bear size varies more than most people expect. The polar bear stands as the largest, the sun bear as the smallest, and everything from diet to habitat shapes where each species lands in between. Whether comparing polar bear vs grizzly bear size or picturing a bear next to a human, the numbers tell a clear story: size in the bear family comes down to food, climate, and evolution working together.
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.
