An adult American elk stands about 5 ft tall at the shoulder, runs about 8 ft long, and weighs 500 to 1,100 lbs. Bulls are bigger than cows. Subspecies, age and season also change the numbers.
This guide gives the full elk size and weight picture. It also shows how elk compare to a moose, a horse and a person.
American Elk Size Chart
Measure
Cow (female)
Bull (male)
Shoulder height
About 4.5 ft
About 5 ft
Body length
6 to 7 ft
Up to 8 ft
Weight
500 to 600 lbs
700 to 800 lbs (up to 1,000+)
American Elk Height
An elk stands about 4.5 to 5 ft at the shoulder. Add the neck and head, and it towers over most people. With antlers, a bull can reach about 9 ft from hoof to tip.
American Elk Weight
Most adult elk weigh 500 to 800 lbs. A big bull can pass 1,000 lbs. The heaviest wild elk on record topped 1,200 lbs.
American Elk Length
Measured from nose to tail, a bull elk is up to 8 ft long. Cows are a bit shorter. The body is long and deep-chested, built for mountain travel.
Bull vs Cow Elk Size
A bull elk is about 200 lbs heavier than a cow elk. He also has a thicker neck and a darker mane. Cows are leaner, and they lead the herd.
The Rocky Mountain elk is the most common. Bulls weigh 700 to 800 lbs. Cows weigh 500 to 600 lbs. This subspecies also grows the largest antlers.
Roosevelt Elk Size
The Roosevelt elk lives in the Pacific Northwest. It is the largest elk subspecies by body size. Bulls often pass 900 lbs, and some reach about 1,100 lbs. Cows weigh 600 lbs or more.
Tule Elk Size
The Tule elk lives in California. It is the smallest subspecies. Bulls weigh about 400 to 500 lbs. Cows weigh around 300 lbs.
American Elk Antler Size
american-elk-antler-size
Antler Spread and Weight
A mature bull’s antlers can reach about 4 ft in height and spread. A big set can weigh up to 40 lbs. The antlers can grow as fast as an inch a day in summer. They are covered in velvet while they grow.
Antler Size by Age
A yearling grows spikes. At 2 to 3 years, the antlers start to branch. At 4 to 6 years, they fill out into a 5×5 or 6×6 rack. Bulls 7 years and older grow the biggest racks.
Record-Size Bull Elk
Hunters score antlers with the Boone and Crockett system. It counts beam length, tine length and spread. The top wild bulls score over 430 points.
The moose wins this one. A bull moose stands 6 to 7 ft at the shoulder. He is about 8 to 10 ft long. He weighs 1,000 to 1,500 lbs.
A bull elk stands about 5 ft tall. He is about 8 ft long and weighs 700 to 800 lbs. So the moose is taller, longer and up to 300 to 700 lbs heavier.
Antlers tell a different tale. A moose’s antlers are wider and flatter. An elk’s antlers are tall, with long, curved tines.
Elk vs Horse Size
This match is close. A horse stands 4.8 to 5.7 ft at the shoulder. It is about 8 ft long and weighs around 900 lbs on average. An elk stands about 5 ft, runs about 8 ft long and weighs 500 to 800 lbs.
Height and length are nearly even. The horse is often heavier. The elk is leaner and has the antlers. It is a draw on size, with a slight edge to the horse on weight.
Elk vs Human Size
An elk is far bigger than a person. The average American man is about 5 ft 9 in and roughly 200 lbs. A bull elk is about 5 ft at the shoulder, but his head and antlers rise well above a person’s. He weighs 3 to 4 times as much.
A 5 ft 4 in woman would stand eye to eye with an elk’s shoulder. The elk wins by a wide margin.
Elk vs Whitetail and Mule Deer Size
Next to common deer, the elk is a giant. A whitetail deer stands about 3 ft at the shoulder. It is about 5 to 6 ft long and weighs 100 to 300 lbs. A mule deer is a bit bigger. It stands 3 to 3.5 ft and weighs up to about 300 lbs.
An elk stands 1 to 2 ft taller and weighs 2 to 3 times more. The elk wins against both.
An adult American elk stands about 5 ft tall at the shoulder and runs up to 8 ft long. It weighs about 500 to 1,100 lbs, depending on sex and subspecies.
How tall is an elk at the shoulder?
A bull elk is about 5 ft tall at the shoulder, and a cow is about 4.5 ft. With antlers, a bull can reach about 9 ft from hoof to tip.
How much does a bull elk weigh?
A bull elk usually weighs 700 to 800 lbs. Large bulls pass 1,000 lbs, and the heaviest wild elk topped 1,200 lbs.
Is an elk bigger than a horse?
Not by weight. An elk matches a horse in height and length, at about 5 ft and 8 ft. Horses often weigh more, at around 900 lbs on average.
What is the largest elk subspecies?
The Roosevelt elk is the largest by body size. Bulls often weigh over 900 lbs and can reach about 1,100 lbs.
Hi, I’m Natalie Collins, the admin at MooseSizes.com. We simplify animal sizes, measurements, and wildlife comparisons with easy-to-follow guides, useful size charts, and accurate information to help you understand animal dimensions with confidence.
