Polar Bear Weight Explained & Compared With Others 2024

Last Updated on March 22, 2024 by themubbi63

Polar Bear Weight

Polar Bear Weight
Polar Bear Weight Explained & Compared With Others 2024

Polar-bears (Ursus maritimus) is the world’s largest bear species as well as the largest terrestrial carnivore. The polar regions are home to these massive bears. Generally, male polar bears weigh between 770 and 1,300 pounds (350 to 600 kilograms) with a length of about 2.4-3m (8-10 feet). 

While, females weigh between 330 to 650 pounds (150 to 295 kg) with a length of about 1.8-2.4m (6-8 feet), which is half the weight of their male counterparts.

Moreover, the polar bear’s weight keeps fluctuating considerably during the year, with fat accounting for around 50% of their additional weight. 

The subcutaneous fat in their body can develop in layers up to 10 cm (4 inches) thick. However, there is not much fat on their limbs, neck, or head, as the majority of it is concentrated at the base of their back and butt. 

SizeMaleFemale
Height2.4 to 3m (8 to 10 feet)1.8 to 2.4m (6 to 8 feet)
Weight770 and 1,300 pounds (350 to 600 kilograms)330 to 650 pounds (150 to 295 kg)

Baby Polar Bear Weight

The Polar-bear cubs are born in the dens. The majority of mother polar bears give birth to two cubs in one litter. 

When it comes to the weight of the polar cubs, you’ll be amazed to know that these giants’ newborns typically weigh even less than an average newborn human.

At birth, the polar bear cubs weigh just 16 to 24 ounces (454 to 680 grams). They are also quite small, only about 12 inches (30 cm) in length.

All the young cubs are vulnerable. For roughly a month, their eyes are closed with no heavy coats at birth. 

The first few weeks of a polar bear cub’s life are spent nursing. The mother bear’s abundant milk promotes the rapid growth of her cubs. 

As previously said, Baby polar bears weigh just a little bit more than 1 pound when they are young. 

However, they grow significantly; in only a few short months, they will have developed 14–20 times their original size. When they emerge from the den, they weigh between 22 and 33 pounds at this time. 

In addition, the Baby polar-bears continue to develop outside the den, and after 8 months, they will weigh more than 99 pounds.

They would grow nearly as much weight as the average person after a year. 1

To understand the growth of the polar cubs at different ages, let us look at the growth chart below:

Polar Bear AgePoundsKilogram
Newborn1-1.5 lb0.45-0.7 kg
2-3 Months22-33 lb10-15 kg
8 Months>99 lb>45 kg
Adult Male775-1600 lb350-750 kg
Adult Female330-650 lb150-300 kg

World Record Polar Bear Weight

The largest polar bear ever documented was a male polar bear killed in 1960 in Kotzebue Sound in Northeastern Alaska.

It weighed 2,209 pounds or 1,002 kilograms. As per Guinness, this was the biggest polar bear ever reported, with a spectacular height of about 12 feet. This polar bear was also showcased at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair.

How Much Weight Can a Polar Bear Lift?

Polar bears are the largest species of bear, which is why many people get the obvious question about how powerful are polar bears. Such as how much weight can they lift.

To answer this Polar bears are enormously powerful; they are larger, stronger, and quicker than most of the bear species. 

A fully grown polar bear may weigh up to 1300 pounds and is ten times more powerful than an average person. 

In addition, they are so powerful that they can lift icebergs weighing more than 1000 pounds. 

Their paws are so powerful that they’ve been known to crush several creatures’ spines with a single hit. Polar bears are, in fact, the most powerful living bear species.

If You Want To Know About Other Bears Weight: Check Here

Polar Bear Vs Grizzly Bear Weight Comparison

Polar Bear Weight compared with other bears
Polar Bear Weight Explained & Compared With Others 2024

As mentioned previously, The Polar bear, also known as Ursus maritimus, is the biggest terrestrial carnivore, while the Grizzly bear, also known as the North American brown bear, is the second largest. 

These animals are related and have similar strengths and sizes. They have the capacity to take down massive prey.

However, comparatively the Polar bears are larger in general. Male polar bears weigh 770 to 1,500 pounds on average, whereas male grizzly bears, whose range coincides with polar bears, weigh 400 to 790 pounds. 

The heaviest polar bear ever recorded weighed a whopping 2,209 pounds, whereas just a handful of grizzly bears weighed more than 1,700 pounds. 

The above comparison between the two species’ males obviously shows that polar bears are heavier and more powerful. furthermore, polar bears appear to be doubled the size of mature grizzlies. 

Size Grizzly bearsPolar bears
Length 168 to 244 cm (5’6”-8’ ft)240 to 300 cm (7’10”-9’10” ft)
Height 91 to 138 cm (3’-4’6” ft)82 to 160 cm (2’8”-5’3” ft)
Weight 300-800 lb330-1500 lb

Polar Bear Vs Kodiak Bear Weight Comparison

Another subspecies of brown bear is the Kodiak bear, which can be found in coastal Alaska and on Kodiak Island. 

These bears, which weigh about 272 to 680 kg (600 to 1,500 lb) with a length of 244 cm (8 ft 0 in), are comparable in size to some of the smaller polar bears. 

However, a polar bear is still larger on average weighing between 770 and 1,300 pounds (350 to 600 kilograms) with a length of about 2.4-3m (8-10 feet). 

The polar bears are heavier and more powerful bears of the two. It is, in fact, the biggest living bear species.

As per the Guinness World Records, a Kodiak bear is often more robustly built than a polar bear despite being smaller in length.

Size Kodiak bearsPolar bears
Length 244 cm (8’ ft)240 to 300 cm (7’10”-9’10” ft)
Height 101 to 152 cm (3’4”-5’ ft)82 to 160 cm (2’8”-5’3” ft)
Weight 600 to 1,500 lb330-1500 lb

Polar Bear Vs Elephant Weight Comparison

Elephants and polar bears are both enormous, agile, and powerful animals. However, there are several contrasts between the two such as their diets and body sizes being the two important factors. 

Polar bears are carnivores who are 5 feet tall, weigh over 1,000 pounds, and measure over 9 feet in length, but elephants are herbivores that are 12 feet tall, over 10,000 pounds, and up to 20 feet long.

In addition, the biggest elephant ever discovered, which weighs over 24,000 pounds, is currently on exhibit in a Smithsonian Museum. 

As a comparison, the heaviest polar bear ever recorded weighed 2,209 pounds. You can observe how an elephant’s size gives it a distinct edge over polar bears. Compared to the polar bear, it is significantly heavier and stronger.

Size Elephants Polar bears
Length 18’ – 21’ ft7’10”-9’10” ft
Height 8’ – 10’ ft2’8”-5’3” ft
Weight 4,000-11,000 lbs330-1500 lb

Polar Bear Vs Panda Weight Comparison

The Pandas may grow up to 5 feet tall and weigh 350 pounds on average. As mentioned previously, Polar bears are enormous and powerful animals, with weights that can exceed 1500 pounds and lengths of roughly 8 feet. They can also chew at a pressure of around 1000 pounds per square inch. 

As a result, it is obvious that polar bears are larger and heavier than pandas. In comparison to polar bears, the world’s largest land carnivores, and the largest bear species, the pandas have no chance.

Size PandaPolar bears
Length 153 to 183 cm (5’ – 6’ ft)240 to 300 cm (7’10”-9’10” ft)
Height 60 to 90 cm (1’12” – 2’11” ft)82 to 160 cm (2’8”-5’3” ft)
Weight 350 lb330-1500 lb

Polar Bear Vs Lion Weight Comparison

Polar bears are considerably larger than lions. Polar bears, as we have previously noted, are massive and incredibly strong animals, weighing more than 1500 lbs and having an average body length of nearly 8 feet. 

However, the greatest lions may grow to reach 5 feet long at the shoulders and weigh up to 500 pounds. 

Given the details, one can easily conclude that polar bears are the stronger and more powerful of the two animals.

Size LionPolar Bears
Length 140 to 200 cm (4’7”-6’5”)240 to 300 cm (7’10”-9’10”)
Height 92 to 138 cm (3’0”-4’6”)82 to 160 cm (2’8”-5’3”)
Weight 265-500 lb330-1500 lb

Conclusion

And that was everything you need to know about the weight of Polar bear. I hope this article was able to answer your queries and you got something valuable from it.

Thank You For Reading!

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2 thoughts on “Polar Bear Weight Explained & Compared With Others 2024”

  1. These polar bear numbers are clearly incorrect. Lady polar bears could shop for clothes at Walmart if they only weighed 350-550 pounds. Plenty of people weigh that much, and every polar bear – even the ladies – is much bigger than a person. No?

    1. This guide is thoroughly researched and the numbers are based on average of the Polar bear Population across the globe. Here’s Wikipedia link if you think our guide is faulty.
      Also which country are you from where people weighs as much as a polar bear.

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