how big is a moose

A moose is enormous—much bigger than a horse and far taller than most people. An adult can easily weigh close to a small car.

Basic size at a glance

• Height at the shoulder (adult):
  • Common range: about 1.4–2.1 meters (4.6–6.9 feet).

* Many adults stand around 1.8 meters (about 6 feet) at the shoulder.

• Body length (nose to tail):
  • Roughly 2.4–3.1 meters (about 8–10 feet).

• Weight:
  • Bulls (males): about 380–700 kg (838–1,543 lb) depending on region.

* Cows (females): about 200–490 kg (441–1,080 lb).

Imagine a large moose as roughly the length of a small car and taller than most basketball players when you include the head and antlers.

Biggest moose vs “regular” moose

• Typical adults:
  • Stand around 6 feet at the shoulder and weigh a bit over 1,000 pounds in many North American populations.

• Giant Alaskan (Yukon) moose:
  • Can stand close to or over 2.1 meters (about 7 feet) at the shoulder.

* Big bulls often weigh 1,200–1,600 pounds (about 540–725 kg).

* Record individuals have reached roughly 1,800 pounds and around 7 feet 8 inches tall at the shoulder.

So in the “how big is a moose” sweepstakes, the largest subspecies are taller than many doorways and heavier than most compact cars.

Antlers and other impressive bits

• Antler span (bulls):
  • Can be up to about 1.8 meters (around 6 feet) across in the largest subspecies.

• Body build:
  • Long legs built to wade through deep snow and wetlands, with a big humped shoulder and long head.

If you picture a person standing next to a tall SUV and then imagine an even taller animal with a 6‑foot antler rack on top, you’re in the right ballpark.

TL;DR: A moose usually stands about 5–7 feet tall at the shoulder, is about 8–10 feet long, and weighs from a few hundred kilograms up to well over 700 kg (400–1,600+ lb), with Alaskan moose at the extreme upper end.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.