---
title: "Polar bear vs tiger — size, weight and speed compared"
description: "Polar bear is 2× tiger on weight. Compared on 6 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/polar-bear-vs-tiger/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Polar bear vs Tiger

**Polar bear vs tiger: Polar bear is larger on weight**

Polar bear is 2× tiger on weight.

A polar bear and a tiger can be compared on 6 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.*

|  | Polar bear | Tiger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 150–700 kg | 100–310 kg |
| Height | 1–1.6 m | 0.8–1.1 m |
| Length | 1.8–3 m | 1.7–2.3 m |
| Top speed | 40 km/h | 50–65 km/h |
| Typical lifespan | 20–32 yr | 8–26 yr |
| Bite force | 1,200 psi | 1,050 psi |

## What the numbers say

- Polar bear is 2× tiger on weight.
- Polar bear is somewhat greater than tiger on height — about 1.3×.
- Polar bear is somewhat greater than tiger on length — about 1.2×.
- Tiger is 1.6× polar bear on top speed.
- Polar bear is 2.3× tiger on typical lifespan.
- Polar bear is somewhat greater than tiger on bite force — about 1.1×.

*Weight compared.*

- Polar bear: 150–700 kg
- Tiger: 100–310 kg

## Polar bear

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

## Tiger

The largest living cat, with Amur and Bengal tigers the heaviest subspecies.

> 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, polar bear or tiger?

Polar bear is 2× tiger on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

### How do polar bears and tigers compare on height?

Polar bear: 1–1.6 m. Tiger: 0.8–1.1 m. Polar bear is somewhat greater than tiger on height — about 1.3×.

### How do polar bears and tigers compare on length?

Polar bear: 1.8–3 m. Tiger: 1.7–2.3 m. Polar bear is somewhat greater than tiger on length — about 1.2×.

## Related pages

- [Lion vs tiger](https://atoneplace.net/vs/lion-vs-tiger/)
- [Grizzly bear vs tiger](https://atoneplace.net/vs/grizzly-bear-vs-tiger/)
- [Grizzly bear vs polar bear](https://atoneplace.net/vs/grizzly-bear-vs-polar-bear/)
- [Lion vs polar bear](https://atoneplace.net/vs/lion-vs-polar-bear/)
- [Gorilla vs tiger](https://atoneplace.net/vs/gorilla-vs-tiger/)
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## Sources

- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution (https://naturalhistory.si.edu/)
- Wikidata — Wikimedia Foundation (https://www.wikidata.org/) [CC0 1.0]
- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)