A LITTLE WILDLIFE PERSPECTIVE

How tall is a moose?

Compare your height to a moose.

A large moose can reach around 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) at the shoulder. Its head and antlers can rise higher still.

A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE

Moose
next to the average.

Average U.S. adults, side by side.

Average man (U.S.): 5 ft 8.9 in. Moose: 8 ft 2.4 in. Average woman (U.S.): 5 ft 3.5 in0′ 0″1′ 0″2′ 0″3′ 0″4′ 0″5′ 0″6′ 0″7′ 0″8′ 0″
  • Average man (U.S.)5 ft 8.9 in
  • Moose8 ft 2.4 in
  • Average woman (U.S.)5 ft 3.5 in

How do you measure up?

Enter your height to stand beside a moose.

Side by side

Moose: 8 ft 2.4 in. Your place: Add your height0′ 0″1′ 0″2′ 0″3′ 0″4′ 0″5′ 0″6′ 0″7′ 0″8′ 0″
  • Moose8 ft 2.4 in
  • Your placeAdd your height
Add your height to see the difference.

The animal is an example adult in the pose shown. Its full outline is scaled to 250 cm. Shoulder height and body length are explained below.

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GET TO KNOW THE ANIMAL

Small facts. Big discoveries.

Moose · Alces alces

The moose is the largest living member of the deer family. Long legs, a heavy muzzle, and broad antlers on males make it easy to recognize.

Moose browse woody plants, taking twigs and stems in winter and fresh leaves and shoots during summer. They also eat aquatic vegetation when it is available, so a tall moose beside a pond may be looking for a meal as well as a drink.

  • A male sheds its antlers in winter and grows a fresh set.
  • Large males can have wide, flattened antlers rather than only narrow branches.

How big do adults get?

Male
Commonly 360–600 kg
Female
Commonly 270–400 kg

These are broad adult weight ranges; the largest Alaskan moose can exceed them. Shoulder height does not include raised antlers.

Height, length, or weight?

Standing height runs from the ground to the top of the animal. Shoulder height stops at the top of the shoulders. Length runs along the body; it is not how tall an animal stands. Weight tells us how heavy it is.

Explore the science: Animal Diversity Web · University of Michigan