At One Place

Gorilla vs Grizzly bear

Gorilla vs grizzly bear
Grizzly bear is larger on weight
Grizzly bear is 1.7× gorilla on weight.

A gorilla and a grizzly bear can be compared on 4 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.

Side by side

Larger value in bold. Ranges reflect genuine variation, not uncertainty.
Gorilla Grizzly bear
Weight 70–270 kg 130–360 kg
Height 1.3–1.8 m 0.9–1.1 m
Typical lifespan 35–55 yr 20–35 yr
Bite force 1,300 psi 975 psi

What the numbers say

  • Grizzly bear is 1.7× gorilla on weight.
  • Gorilla is 1.7× grizzly bear on height.
  • Gorilla is 1.6× grizzly bear on typical lifespan.
  • Gorilla is somewhat greater than grizzly bear on bite force — about 1.3×.

Weight compared.

Grizzly bear 130–360 kg
Gorilla 70–270 kg

Gorilla

The largest living primate; dominant males, called silverbacks, are roughly twice the mass of females.

Grizzly bear

The inland North American brown bear, smaller than coastal populations because it eats less salmon.

This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.

Common questions

Which is bigger, gorilla or grizzly bear?
Grizzly bear is 1.7× gorilla on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do gorillas and grizzly bears compare on height?
Gorilla: 1.3–1.8 m. Grizzly bear: 0.9–1.1 m. Gorilla is 1.7× grizzly bear on height.
How do gorillas and grizzly bears compare on typical lifespan?
Gorilla: 35–55 yr. Grizzly bear: 20–35 yr. Gorilla is 1.6× grizzly bear on typical lifespan.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution
  2. Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked