Which is bigger, horse or polar bear?

Horse is somewhat greater than polar bear on weight — about 1.1×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

How do horses and polar bears compare on height?

Horse: 1.42–1.83 m. Polar bear: 1–1.6 m. Horse is somewhat greater than polar bear on height — about 1.2×.

How do horses and polar bears compare on length?

Horse: 2.1–2.8 m. Polar bear: 1.8–3 m. Horse and polar bear are near enough identical on length.

Horse vs Polar bear

Horse vs polar bear

Horse is larger on weight

Horse is somewhat greater than polar bear on weight — about 1.1×.

A horse and a polar bear can be compared on 5 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.
	Horse	Polar bear
Weight	380–1,000 kg	150–700 kg
Height	1.42–1.83 m	1–1.6 m
Length	2.1–2.8 m	1.8–3 m
Top speed	40–70.76 km/h	40 km/h
Typical lifespan	25–35 yr	20–32 yr

What the numbers say

Horse is somewhat greater than polar bear on weight — about 1.1×.
Horse is somewhat greater than polar bear on height — about 1.2×.
Horse and polar bear are near enough identical on length.
Horse is somewhat greater than polar bear on top speed — about 1.4×.
Horse is somewhat greater than polar bear on typical lifespan — about 1.1×.

Weight compared.

Horse 380–1,000 kg

Polar bear 150–700 kg

Horse

A domesticated equid; light riding breeds and draught breeds differ by a factor of three in mass.

Polar bear

The largest living land carnivore, classified as a marine mammal because it hunts from sea ice.

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, horse or polar bear?: Horse is somewhat greater than polar bear on weight — about 1.1×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do horses and polar bears compare on height?: Horse: 1.42–1.83 m. Polar bear: 1–1.6 m. Horse is somewhat greater than polar bear on height — about 1.2×.
How do horses and polar bears compare on length?: Horse: 2.1–2.8 m. Polar bear: 1.8–3 m. Horse and polar bear are near enough identical on length.

Sources

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

How these figures are compiled and checked