Bear Size Comparison

There are many different types of bears in the world, and each one is unique in its own way.

The Kodiak Bear is the largest brown bear and can weigh up to 1,500 pounds and grow up to 10 feet tall. The sun bear is the smallest bear and can weigh up to 150 pounds and grow up to 5 feet.

Here is a chart of the largest bears:

Here is a chart comparing the smaller bears:

List of Bears and Size Facts

Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)

The polar bear is a large bear that is native to the Arctic. The polar bear has white fur and spends most of its time on the ice.

Polar Bears have a thick fur coat either white or cream in color, which helps them blend into their surroundings and stay hidden from prey although their black noses sometimes gives them away. A Polar Bear’s skin, visible only on the nose and footpads, is black. The black color enables the bear to absorb sunlight energy to warm its body. Polar bear fur is oily and water repellent. The hairs do not become matted when wet, allowing the polar bears to easily shake free water and any ice that may form after swimming. Polar Bears have a relatively narrow head with a long muzzle and long neck.

The biggest polar bear ever discovered was in Alaska. It stood at a whopping 12 feet tall and weighed over 2,000 pounds. When it comes to how much polar bears weigh, however, this is an outlier.

Adult females weigh less than 600 pounds on average. Males weigh around 1,500 pounds on average.

Height: 2’8”-5’3” | .81-1.6 m
Length: 7’10”-9’10” | 2.4-3 m
Standing Height: 8’-10’ | 2.5-3.05 m
Weight: 330-1500 lb | 150-680 kg

Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

The giant panda is a bear that is native to China. The giant panda has black and white fur and spends most of its time in the bamboo forests.

Giant Pandas have a stocky build with short front legs, long rear legs, and large molar teeth. They have black fur on their ears, eye patches, muzzle, legs, and shoulders. The rest of the panda’s coat is white. Giant pandas grow to be 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) long and 3 to 3.7 feet (0.9 to 1.1 meter) tall at the shoulder. Males are larger than females and can weigh up to 275 pounds (125 kilograms). Females usually weigh about 220 pounds (100 kg).

Height: 1’6”-3″ | .46-.91 m
Length: 4’6”-6’ | 1.37-1.83 m
Weight: 150-250 lb | 68-114 kg

Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus)

The sloth bear is a bear that is native to India and Sri Lanka. The sloth bear has black fur and spends most of its time in the forests.

Sloth Bears have a long snout and long claws. They are the only bears with completely white claws. They use these claws to dig for termites and ants, which make up most of their diet. Sloth bears are good swimmers and can climb trees well despite their clumsy appearance. Sloth bears are nocturnal animals, meaning they sleep during the day and are active at night. They are largely solitary animals, coming together only to mate.

Height: 2’6”-3’4” | .76-1.02 m
Length: 5’6”-6’6” | 1.68-1.98 m
Weight: 150-350 lb | 68-159 kg

Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus)

The spectacled bear, also known as the Andean bear or Andean short-faced bear, is the last remaining short-faced bear. It is the only living member of the subfamily Tremarctinae, and its closest living relatives are the other bears in the family Ursidae. The species is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

The spectacled bear is the largest land carnivore in South America, and the only bear found in that continent.

Height: 2’-3’ | .61-.91 m
Length: 5’-6’ | 1.52-1.85 m
Standing Height: 5’3”-6’3″ | 1.6-1.9 m
Weight: 80-440 lb | 36-200 kg

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)

The brown bear is a large bear that is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. The brown bear has brown fur and spends most of its time in the forests.

Brown bears have a large body with a hump on their shoulders, long claws, and a big head. They can be 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 meters) long and 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) tall at the shoulder. Males are larger than females. Brown bears can weigh up to 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms). Females usually weigh about 500 pounds (230 kg).

The Grizzly Bear (Ursus Arctos Horribilis) is a subspecies of the brown bear with a large population. Grizzly bears are found in North America and are a keystone species. Male Grizzly Bears have a shoulder height between 3’6”-4’6” (1.07-1.37 m) and a weight in the range of 400-800 lb (181-363 kg). The shoulder heights of females are between 3’-3’8” (.91-1.12 m) with weights from 300-400 lb (136-181 kg). The Grizzly Bear has an overall body length of roughly 5’6”-8’ (1.68-2.44 m), standing height of 8’-9’9” (2.5-3 m), and a typical lifespan of 20-25 years in the wild or up to 45 years when protected in captivity.

The Kodiak Bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi), also known as the Alaskan Brown bear is one of the largest brown bears. The Kodiak bear looks similar to other brown bears except it is much larger. The Kodiak bear is native to the Kodiak Islands in Alaska.

Male Kodiak Bears have a shoulder height between 4’-5’ (1.22-1.52 m) and a weight in the range of 600-1400 lb (272-635 kg). The shoulder heights of females are between 3’4”-4’ (1.02-1.22 m) with weights from 400-700 lb (181-318 kg). The Kodiak Bear has an overall body length of roughly 6’5”-9’ (1.96-2.74 m), standing height of 9’-10’ (2.75-3.05 m), and a typical lifespan of 20-25 years in the wild and up to 35 years in captivity.

Height: 3’-5’ | .91-1.52 m
Length: 6’6”-9’ | 1.98-2.74 m
Standing Height: 8′-10′ | 2.5-3.05m
Weight: 500-1500 lb | 230-680 kg

Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

The black bear is a medium-sized bear that is native to North America. The black bear has black fur and spends most of its time in the forests. Black bears have a large body with a long snout, small eyes, and big claws. They can be 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) long and 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meter) tall at the shoulder. Males are larger than females. Black bears can weigh up to 600 pounds (270 kilograms). Females usually weigh about 150 pounds (68 kg).

The American black bear is the most common bear in North America.

Height: 2’6”-3’5” | .75-1.05 m
Length: 4’-6’8” | 1.25-2.1 m
Standing Height: 5’3”-5’8” | 1.6-1.75 m
Weight: 200-600 lb | 90-272 kg

Asiatic Bear (Ursus thibetanus)

The Asiatic black bear is a medium-sized bear that is native to Asia. The Asiatic black bear has black fur and spends most of its time in the forests. Asiatic black bears have a large body with a long snout, small eyes, and big claws. They can be 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) long and 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meter) tall at the shoulder. Males are larger than females. Asiatic black bears can weigh up to 600 pounds (270 kilograms).

Height: 2’5”-3’4” | .71-1.02 m
Length: 3’10”-6’6” | 1.2-2 m
Standing Height: 5’-5’6” | 1.5-1.7 m
Weight: 90-440 lb | 41-200 kg

Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus)

The sun bear is the smallest bear. The sun bear has brown fur and spends most of its time in the forests. Sun bears have a small body with a long snout, small eyes, and big claws. They can be 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) long and 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meter) tall at the shoulder. Males are larger than females. Sun bears can weigh up to 150 pounds (68 kilograms).