---
title: "Horse vs polar bear — size, weight and speed compared"
description: "Horse is somewhat greater than polar bear on weight — about 1.1×. Compared on 5 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/horse-vs-polar-bear/
site: "At One Place"
---

# 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.

## Related pages

- [Grizzly bear vs polar bear](https://atoneplace.net/vs/grizzly-bear-vs-polar-bear/)
- [Polar bear vs tiger](https://atoneplace.net/vs/polar-bear-vs-tiger/)
- [Lion vs polar bear](https://atoneplace.net/vs/lion-vs-polar-bear/)
- [Cow vs horse](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cow-vs-horse/)
- [Dromedary camel vs horse](https://atoneplace.net/vs/dromedary-camel-vs-horse/)
- [Polar bear vs saltwater crocodile](https://atoneplace.net/vs/polar-bear-vs-saltwater-crocodile/)
- [Horse vs plains zebra](https://atoneplace.net/vs/horse-vs-plains-zebra/)
- [Kodiak bear vs polar bear](https://atoneplace.net/vs/kodiak-bear-vs-polar-bear/)
- [Bottlenose dolphin vs polar bear](https://atoneplace.net/vs/bottlenose-dolphin-vs-polar-bear/)
- [Moose vs polar bear](https://atoneplace.net/vs/moose-vs-polar-bear/)
- [Horse vs water buffalo](https://atoneplace.net/vs/horse-vs-water-buffalo/)
- [Bactrian camel vs horse](https://atoneplace.net/vs/bactrian-camel-vs-horse/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution (https://naturalhistory.si.edu/)