A large moose can weigh 800–1,400 pounds and stand about 5–7 feet tall at the shoulder. A brown/grizzly bear can weigh 200–1,000 pounds and stand about 3–5 feet tall at the shoulder.
A moose vs bear size matchup is one of the most asked questions among hikers and wildlife lovers across the USA. The short answer: a moose is usually taller and heavier than most bears, but a grizzly or polar bear can rival or beat a moose in raw bulk. Below is the full breakdown of moose size vs bear size, height, weight, and length, backed by real numbers.
Moose vs Bear Size at a Glance
Moose vs Bear Size Comparison Table
| Trait | Moose | Bear (Grizzly) |
|---|---|---|
| Height at shoulder | 5.5–6.9 ft | 3.5–4.5 ft |
| Standing height | Rarely stands upright | Up to 8 ft |
| Weight | 800–1,500 lbs | 300–700 lbs |
| Length | 8–10 ft | 6–7 ft |
Moose vs Bear Height
Moose Height at the Shoulder
A mature bull moose stands 5.5 to 6.9 feet tall at the shoulder. That’s roughly eye level with an adult man’s head, sometimes taller. This moose height comes almost entirely from leg length, not body bulk.
Bear Height on All Fours
A grizzly bear typically stands 3.5 to 4.5 feet tall at the shoulder on all four legs. Black bears run slightly shorter, usually 2 to 3 feet at the shoulder. On four legs, a bear looks compact next to a moose.
Bear Standing Height vs Moose Height
When a bear rears up on its hind legs, the picture changes fast. A large grizzly can reach 7 to 8 feet tall standing upright, and a polar bear can top 9 to 10 feet. Moose almost never stand fully upright, so this is the one scenario where a bear can out-tower a moose.
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Moose vs Bear Weight
Average Moose Weight (Bull vs Cow)
A bull moose weighs 1,000 to 1,500 pounds, while a cow moose weighs 800 to 1,100 pounds. Alaska-Yukon moose, the largest subspecies, sit at the top of that range. This makes moose one of the heaviest land mammals in North America.
Average Bear Weight (Grizzly, Black Bear, Polar Bear)
A grizzly bear typically weighs 300 to 700 pounds, with large males topping 800 pounds in prime salmon habitat. Black bears are lighter, usually 150 to 400 pounds. Polar bears are the heavyweight outlier, ranging 600 to 1,200 pounds, with the largest males pushing past 1,500 pounds.
Heaviest Moose vs Heaviest Bear on Record
The heaviest recorded moose weighed close to 1,800 pounds, an Alaska-Yukon bull. The heaviest recorded polar bear tipped the scale at over 2,200 pounds. So while an average moose outweighs an average bear, a record-size polar bear beats every moose on the books.
Moose vs Bear Length
Moose Body Length
A full-grown moose measures 8 to 10 feet from nose to tail. Combined with its height, this gives the moose a long, rectangular silhouette that’s easy to spot across open terrain.
Bear Body Length by Species
A grizzly bear measures 6 to 7 feet long. Black bears run shorter, around 5 to 6 feet. Polar bears are the longest bear species, reaching 7 to 8 feet, and occasionally longer in large males. Even at their longest, most bears stay shorter than an adult moose.
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Moose Size Compared to Other Animals
Moose vs Elk Size
A moose is significantly bigger than an elk in every measurement. Elk stand 4.5 to 5 feet at the shoulder and weigh 500 to 700 pounds, well under half the weight of a large bull moose.
Moose vs Caribou Size
Caribou are the smallest of the three, standing 3.5 to 4.5 feet at the shoulder and weighing 150 to 400 pounds. A moose can weigh nearly five times as much as a large caribou bull.
Moose vs Horse Size
An average riding horse stands 5 to 5.5 feet at the shoulder and weighs 900 to 1,200 pounds. A bull moose is often taller and can outweigh a horse, though the two sit in a similar overall size class.
Moose vs Bison Size
Bison are shorter but heavier-built, standing 5 to 6 feet at the shoulder and weighing up to 2,000 pounds for large bulls. A bison can out-weigh a moose, but a moose typically stands taller due to its longer legs.
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FAQ’s About Moose vs Bear Size
Is a Moose Bigger Than a Grizzly Bear?
Yes, in height, length, and average weight, a moose is bigger than a grizzly bear. A grizzly only closes the gap when it stands upright on its hind legs.
Is a Moose Taller Than a Bear?
Yes, at the shoulder a moose stands taller than any bear species on all four legs. A standing bear can temporarily out-height a moose.
Which Weighs More, a Moose or a Polar Bear?
An average bull moose outweighs an average polar bear. The largest recorded polar bears, however, outweigh every moose ever recorded.
Can a Bear Kill an Adult Moose?
Yes, grizzly and brown bears do kill adult moose, especially in ambush situations. Size alone doesn’t decide the outcome; hunting instinct and attack strategy matter more.
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.
