Animal Height Comparison

See how animals measure up — compare their heights side by side and against a person, all drawn to scale. From a gray wolf to a 5.5-metre giraffe.

Add a reference

Scroll sideways if figures run off the edge. The ruler fits the tallest figure.

How the comparison works

Every animal is drawn at the same scale — a fixed number of pixels per metre — so the chart is a true side-by-side comparison. The ruler automatically fits the tallest figure, so adding the giraffe rescales everything below it. Add yourself as a person to feel just how big these animals really are.

Where the heights come from

Heights are nominal, widely-cited figures for a typical adult animal — measured at the shoulder or withers for four-legged animals, and full standing height for others (a rearing polar bear, a standing gorilla). Individuals vary, so treat them as good round reference points rather than records.

Compare something else

Switch to people & everyday objects, the tree & plant comparison, or the building & landmark comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the height comparison chart stay to scale?
The ruler axis automatically fits the tallest figure on the chart, and every figure is drawn at the same pixels-per-metre scale. So when you add something very tall, everyone else shrinks to match — the proportions between figures always stay true. Very short figures keep a small minimum size so they never disappear entirely.
What can I compare on this page?
This page lets you compare a gray wolf (0.85 m), emperor penguin, lion, red kangaroo, horse, gorilla, moose, ostrich, polar bear, African elephant, T. rex and a 5.5 m giraffe — plus people for scale. Add your own people by name and height too.
Can I switch between centimetres and feet and inches?
Yes. The unit toggle flips the whole chart, the ruler and every label between metric (cm / m) and imperial (feet and inches). When adding a height you can type it either way — for example 178 cm, 1.78 m, or 5'10 — and it is converted automatically.
Where do the silhouettes come from?
The people, animal and plant silhouettes are real vector artwork released into the public domain or under Creative Commons — from PhyloPic and Wikimedia Commons contributors, credited at the bottom of the page. Buildings use the tool's own drawn shapes.
Is my data saved or uploaded anywhere?
Nothing is uploaded. The figures you add are stored only in your own browser using localStorage, so they are still there when you come back on the same device, and clearing them removes them completely.