Is a Polar Bear Bigger than a Grizzly Bear?

Grizzlies are close cousins of polar bears. Although polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are believed to have evolved from grizzly bears (Ursus arctos ssp.) they do not appear to share many physical characteristics or features. However differences exist between the two species the size comparison is worth noting. Most people often wonder is a polar bear bigger than a grizzly bear. It’s an interesting question because grizzlies and white bears are nearly of the same size and weight. Let’s see which of the bear is bigger in size; polar bear or a grizzly bear.

Which Bear is Heavier?

Male Polar Bear vs Male Grizzly Bear

Adult male polar bears weigh somewhere in between 350 and 700 kg (772 and 1,543 lb) whereas adult male grizzlies average 180–360 kg (400–790 lb).
The above comparison between the males of two species clearly indicates that polar bears are heavier. More so, white bears seem to be twice the weight of adult grizzlies. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that male polar bears are bigger than male grizzly bears.

Female Polar Bear vs Female Grizzly Bear

In grizzly bears, the adult females weigh around 130–180 kg (290–400 lb) while female polar bears average 150–250 kg (331–551 lb).
There seems to be no significant difference in the weight of grizzly female and polar bear female. However, still female polar bears are slightly bigger than grizzly females—only 100 pounds heavier approximately.
Thus in this case too, female polar bears are found bigger than female grizzly bears but the difference isn’t that big as in males.

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Which Bear is Greater in Size?

Male Polar Bear vs Male Grizzly

In polar bears, males measure about 4–3 meters (7 feet 10 inches – 9 feet 10 inches) in an overall body length.
The average body length of a grizzly male is about 198 cm (6.50 feet) probably two to three feet shorter than the Arctic bear.
The shoulder height in male polar bears is estimated at 133 cm (4 feet 4 inches). Grizzly bears have a shoulder height of 102 cm (3.35 feet).