Do you measure animals at full length or shoulder height?
Whichever single dimension the row names. Giraffes are total height, blue whales are total length, and birds are wingspan. The Dimension and Caliber columns say which one.
How we choose every size in our library
This page lists every object in the Size Comparison Game library: the exact dimension we measure for it, the number our game uses, whether that number is a sourced fact or a library choice, and where it comes from. Each row shows both metric and imperial because players use both.
The library
Primary unit
| Object | Dimension | Caliber | Value we use | Source | Checked | Basis / notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday | ||||||
| iPhone 17 screen | screen diagonal | rectangular diagonal | 159 mm (6.27 in) | support.apple.com A · primary source | Scored figure is the 6.27-inch rectangular diagonal. The marketed 6.3 inches is not the number. | |
| A4 paper (long edge) | long edge | exact conversion of 210 × 297 mm | 297 mm (11.69 in) | papersizes.org B · reviewed compilation | ISO A4 long edge is 297 mm. The sheet is 210 mm wide, and that width is not the scored dimension. | |
| Soccer ball | diameter | library choice | 220 mm (8.66 in) | library value | In our library a soccer ball’s diameter is 0.220 m, converted from the Law 2 circumference range of 68–70 cm. The law states circumference, not diameter. | |
| Basketball | diameter | library choice | 239 mm (9.41 in) | library value | In our library a basketball’s diameter is 0.239 m, converted from the stated NBA circumference of 29.5 inches (75 cm). The source states circumference, not diameter. | |
| Doorway | height | library choice | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) | library value | In our library a doorway is 2.03 m, a common 80-inch residential door. Residential doors commonly run about 1.98–2.13 m (78–84 in). | |
| Refrigerator | height | library choice | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | library value | In our library a refrigerator is 1.8 m tall. Full-size models commonly run about 1.7–1.9 m. | |
| Three-seat sofa | width | library choice | 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) | library value | In our library a three-seat sofa is 2.1 m wide. Retail widths commonly run about 1.9–2.4 m. One sample, the IKEA EKTORP, is 218 cm. | |
| Dining table | length | library choice | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | library value | In our library a dining table is 1.8 m long. Six-seat tables commonly run about 1.6–2.0 m unextended. | |
| Basketball rim | rim height | upper edge of the ring | 3.048 m (10 ft) | official.nba.com A · primary source | The scored height is the upper edge of the ring, 10 feet above the floor. | |
| Concert grand piano | length | library choice | 2.74 m (9 ft) | library value | In our library a concert grand piano is 2.74 m long. One published sample of the Steinway Model D is 274 cm. Concert grands commonly run about 2.7–2.9 m. | |
| Grain of rice | length | library choice | 7 mm (0.28 in) | library value | In our library a grain of rice is 7 mm long. Long-grain milled kernels commonly run about 6–8 mm. | |
| Animals | ||||||
| House cat | head-and-body length | average head-to-body length | 46 cm (18 in) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | Head-to-body length, about 46 cm (18 in). The tail, about 30 cm, is not included. The inch figure keeps the 18 in the source prints. | |
| Golden retriever | shoulder height | male withers, upper end of the standard | 597 mm (23 in) | grca.org B · reviewed compilation | Male standard at the withers, the upper end of 23–24 inches. Females are 21.5–22.5 inches and are not scored. | |
| Horse | shoulder height | where larger riding horses start | 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | Where larger riding horses start: 157 cm. Light-riding horses run 142–163 cm; draft horses can reach 183 cm. | |
| Giraffe (male) | height | adult male upper end | 5.5 m (18 ft) | britannica.com B · reviewed compilation | Males may exceed 5.5 m (18 feet). Females are about 4.5 m and are not scored. Britannica prints 18 feet. An 18 ft 1 in reading is derived from 5.5 m and is not the printed figure. | |
| African elephant | shoulder height | fully grown male average | 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | Average shoulder height of a fully grown male under optimal conditions, 3.20 m. The range around it is 3.04–3.36 m. The 3.96 m Angola record is not scored. | |
| Grizzly bear | standing height | standing upright | 2.4 m (8 ft) | nps.gov A · primary source | Standing upright. Shoulder height, about 3 to 4 feet, is a different dimension. | |
| Red kangaroo | standing height | average standing height | 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | Average standing height to the top of the head. Large males can exceed 1.8 m; the largest confirmed was about 2.1 m. | |
| Ostrich | height | large male, upper figure | 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | A large male, the upper figure. This is not an average ostrich. | |
| Emperor penguin | standing height | commonly cited standing height | 1.2 m (47 in) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | The standing height some papers cite, 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in). A measured maximum on the same page is 1.08 m. Bill-to-tail length of 110–120 cm is not height. Derived inches round to 47 in, the same 3 ft 11 in the page prints. | |
| Bald eagle | wingspan | wingspan | 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) | allaboutbirds.org B · reviewed compilation | Wingspan 204 cm. Body length is a different dimension. | |
| Wandering albatross | wingspan | 1965 measured record | 3.63 m (11 ft 11 in) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | The 1965 measured record, 3.63 m. Another article lists a maximum of 3.65 m. | |
| Saltwater crocodile | body length | typical adult male, upper end | 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | Typical adult male, the upper end of 3.9–5.5 m. A confirmed record of 6.32 m is not the scored figure. | |
| Reticulated python | body length | wild sample, upper end | 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | Upper end of a wild sample from southern Sumatra, 1.5 to 6.5 m. A measured 6.95 m specimen is not the scored figure. | |
| Great white shark | body length | NOAA Quick Facts upper figure | about 6.4 m (21 ft) | fisheries.noaa.gov A · primary source | NOAA Quick Facts upper figure, 21 feet. The same page also says up to about 20 feet. Pages here derive the metre figure from 21 feet, which rounds to about 6.4 m. | |
| Giant squid | mantle length | longest recorded mantle | 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) | ocean.si.edu A · primary source | Mantle length only. A total-length record of 13 m, tentacles included, is not scored. | |
| Blue whale | body length | NOAA upper figure, Antarctic included | 33.5 m (110 ft) | fisheries.noaa.gov A · primary source | The 110-foot upper figure NOAA prints. Northern animals are listed up to about 90 feet. Pages here derive 33.5 m from that 110 feet. | |
| Monarch butterfly | wingspan | stated range, upper end | 102 mm (4 in) | si.edu A · primary source | Upper end of the stated 3 to 4 inches. The 3-inch end is not scored. | |
| Vehicles | ||||||
| Toyota Corolla | length | 2025 brochure overall length | about 4.6 m (182.5 in) | toyota.com A · primary source | 2025 Corolla brochure overall length, 182.5 in. Other grades on the same row are 182.3 in. Pages here derive the metre figure from 182.5 in, which rounds to about 4.6 m. | |
| Semi-trailer | trailer length | common North American dry van | 16.15 m (53 ft) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | A common North American dry van, 53 ft. The tractor is not included. Other listed lengths run from 28 ft to 57 ft. | |
| New Routemaster | height | unladen maximum | 4.42 m (14 ft 6 in) | foi.tfl.gov.uk A · primary source | Transport for London unladen maximum height, 4420 mm. The English Wikipedia infobox lists 4.39 m. | |
| Amtrak Superliner | car length | one car over the couplers | 25.91 m (85 ft) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | One Superliner car over the couplers. Not a whole train. | |
| Hot-air balloon | envelope height | Cameron A-140 envelope | 21.34 m (70 ft) | cameronballoons.com A · primary source | Cameron A-140 envelope height, 70 ft. The same table runs from 57 ft (A-77) to 99 ft (A-400). | |
| Aircraft | ||||||
| Cessna 172 | wingspan | wingspan | 11 m (36 ft 1 in) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | Wingspan 11.00 m. This is the span, not the fuselage length. | |
| Boeing 737-800 | wingspan | 737-800 wingspan | 35.8 m (117 ft 5 in) | boeing.com A · primary source | 737-800 wingspan, 35.8 m. | |
| Boeing 747-8 | wingspan | 747-8 wingspan | 68.4 m (224 ft 5 in) | lufthansagroup.com A · primary source | 747-8 wingspan, 68.40 m. A 747-400 is 64.44 m and is not this row. | |
| Airbus A380 | wingspan | airport-planning wingspan | 79.75 m (261 ft 8 in) | aircraft.airbus.com A · primary source | Airport planning manual wingspan, 79.75 m. The product page rounds this to 79.8 m. | |
| Vessels | ||||||
| Nimitz-class carrier | length | overall length | 332.8 m (1,092 ft) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | Infobox overall length, 332.8 m. Waterline length, 317.0 m, is not scored. | |
| Structures | ||||||
| Utility pole | pole length | standard US pole length | about 10 m (about 35 ft) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | The article’s standard US pole is about 10 m tall, with about 2 m of that buried. Exposed height is not a separate number on the page. | |
| American football field | length | including both end zones | 109.73 m (360 ft) | static.www.nfl.com A · primary source | The NFL rulebook prints 360 feet for the whole field, goal line to end line included. Each goal line sits 10 yards in from the end line. | |
| Buildings | ||||||
| Burj Khalifa | architectural height | architectural | 828 m (2,717 ft) | skyscrapercenter.com A · primary source | Architectural height, 828 m. The tip height, 829.8 m, is not scored. | |
| Landmarks | ||||||
| Eiffel Tower | height | current height, antenna included | 330 m (1,083 ft) | toureiffel.paris A · primary source | Current height including the antenna, 330 m (1,083 ft). Without antennas the same page gives 1,024 feet. | |
| Statue of Liberty | total height | ground to torch tip, pedestal included | 92.99 m (305 ft 1 in) | nps.gov A · primary source | Ground to the tip of the torch, including the pedestal, 92.99 m. The figure alone is 46.05 m. | |
| Great Pyramid of Giza | current height | current height | 138.5 m (454 ft) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | Current height, 138.5 m (454 ft). The original height, with the casing, was 146.6 m. | |
| Sun | diameter | NASA rounded figure | about 1.4 million km (865,000 mi) | science.nasa.gov A · primary source | NASA prints a diameter of about 865,000 miles (1.4 million kilometers). The metre figure we score against converts that mileage, which rounds to about 1.39 million km. That metre value is derived. NASA prints about 1.4 million kilometers. This object is shown only in Bigger or Smaller. It sits past the 100 km slider, so it is not on the homepage or in Guess the Size. | |
| Bridges | ||||||
| Golden Gate Bridge | main span | main span between the towers | 1,280 m (4,199 ft) | goldengate.org A · primary source | Main span between the towers, 1,280 m. Tower height is a different dimension. | |
| Geography | ||||||
| Mount Everest | elevation | 2020 snow-surface survey | 8,848.86 m (29,032 ft) | mfa.gov.cn A · primary source | 2020 China–Nepal snow-surface elevation, 8,848.86 m. The old 8,848 m figure was superseded by the 2020 joint survey. Wikipedia prints 29,031.7 ft for this same elevation. The foot figure on this page is derived from 8,848.86 m and rounds to 29,032 ft. | |
| Central Park | length | north to south | 4.0 km (2.5 mi) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | North to south, the 4.0 km the article prints. | |
| Manhattan Island | length | north to south | 21.6 km (13.4 mi) | en.wikipedia.org B · reviewed compilation | North–south length, 21.6 km. | |
How a number gets its source
A number is quotable if the person who wrote it would be accountable for it being wrong, and does not sell anything because it is big.
Why our number may differ from somewhere else you read
1. There is more than one true measurement
Burj Khalifa is 828 m to its architectural top, 829.8 m to the very tip and 739.4 m to the roof. Our library uses 828 m (architectural) and says so in the Caliber column. A Boeing 747-8 has a 68.40 m wingspan; a 747-400 is 64.44 m.
2. Some objects have no official size at all
A three-seat sofa has no standard. Rows marked library value are a design decision, chosen from a published range, and described in the Notes column. The wording is “in our library”.
3. Sources change
Everest was published as 8,848 m until the 2020 joint survey made it 8,848.86 m. Every fact row carries the date we verified it. 22 objects also have their own page, where the other published figures sit side by side.
A4 paper size
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 297 mm (11.69 in) | exact conversion of 210 × 297 mm. This is the figure the game scores. | papersizes.org | B |
| 8.3 × 11.7 in | rounded to one decimal place | papersizes.org | B |
| 8.25 × 11.75 in | coarsest fraction, about 1.5 mm longer on the long edge | Neenah Paper | A |
Horse shoulder height
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) | where larger riding horses start. This is the figure the game scores. | en.wikipedia.org | B |
| 142 to 163 cm | light riding horses, 14 to 16 hands | Wikipedia | B |
| 183 cm | draft horses, the upper end of 18 hands | Wikipedia | B |
Giraffe height
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 m (18 ft) | adult male upper end. This is the figure the game scores. | britannica.com | B |
| 4.5 m (14.8 ft) | the tallest females are about this | Britannica | B |
| 6 m (20 ft) | feeding reach with the tongue, not standing height | Britannica | B |
| 2 m (6 ft) | newborn calf | Britannica | B |
African elephant shoulder height
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) | fully grown male average. This is the figure the game scores. | en.wikipedia.org | B |
| 3.04–3.36 m (10.0–11.0 ft) | 90% of fully grown males under optimal conditions | Wikipedia | B |
| 2.60 m (8 ft 6 in) | average fully grown female at the shoulder | Wikipedia | B |
| 3.96 m (13.0 ft) | largest well-measured bull, Angola, 1974 | Wikipedia | B |
Red kangaroo standing height
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) | average standing height. This is the figure the game scores. | en.wikipedia.org | B |
| more than 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) | large mature males standing | Wikipedia | B |
| around 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) | largest confirmed standing height | Wikipedia | B |
Emperor penguin standing height
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 m (47 in) | commonly cited standing height. This is the figure the game scores. | en.wikipedia.org | B |
| 110–120 cm (43–47 in) | bill-to-tail length, often confused with standing height | Wikipedia | B |
| 1.08 m (3 ft 7 in) | Prévost 1961 measured maximum standing height | Wikipedia | B |
Wandering albatross wingspan
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.63 m (11 ft 11 in) | 1965 measured record. This is the figure the game scores. | en.wikipedia.org | B |
| 3.65 m (12.0 ft) | maximum wingspan listed for the species | Wikipedia | B |
| up to 11 feet | wingspan cited by Woods Hole | WHOI | A |
Saltwater crocodile body length
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in) | typical adult male, upper end. This is the figure the game scores. | en.wikipedia.org | B |
| 4.0 to 4.5 m (13 ft 1 in – 14 ft 9 in) | average adult male length | Wikipedia | B |
| 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) | Guinness-accepted Papua New Guinea specimen, 1966 | Wikipedia | B |
Blue whale length
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33.5 m (110 ft) | NOAA upper figure, Antarctic included. This is the figure the game scores. | fisheries.noaa.gov | A |
| 29.9–30.5 m (98–100 ft) | maximum confirmed length | Wikipedia | B |
| 33.6 m (110 ft) | a reported record; the same page questions lengths past 30.5 m | Wikipedia | B |
| 24 m (79 ft) | average length of mature females, central and western North Pacific | Wikipedia | B |
Semi-trailer trailer length
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16.15 m (53 ft) | common North American dry van. This is the figure the game scores. | en.wikipedia.org | B |
| 28 ft | shortest trailer length the article lists | Wikipedia | B |
| 57 ft | longest trailer length the article lists | Wikipedia | B |
Hot-air balloon envelope height
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21.34 m (70 ft) | Cameron A-140 envelope. This is the figure the game scores. | cameronballoons.com | A |
| 57 ft | Cameron A-77 envelope height, the short end of the same table | Cameron Balloons | A |
| 99 ft | Cameron A-400 envelope height, the tall end of the same table | Cameron Balloons | A |
Boeing 747 wingspan
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68.4 m (224 ft 5 in) | 747-8 wingspan. This is the figure the game scores. | lufthansagroup.com | A |
| 64.44 m (211 ft 5 in) | 747-400 wingspan | Boeing | A |
| 70.66 m (231 ft 10 in) | 747-400 overall length, not the wingspan | Boeing | A |
Eiffel Tower height
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 330 m (1,083 ft) | current height, antenna included. This is the figure the game scores. | toureiffel.paris | A |
| 1024 feet | original height without the antennas | Eiffel Tower key figures | A |
| 906 feet | third floor | Eiffel Tower key figures | A |
Burj Khalifa height
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 828 m (2,717 ft) | architectural. This is the figure the game scores. | skyscrapercenter.com | A |
| 829.8 m (2,722 ft) | tip, including the antenna | Wikipedia infobox | B |
| 739.4 m (2,426 ft) | roof | Wikipedia infobox | B |
| 585.4 m (1,921 ft) | highest occupied floor | Wikipedia infobox | B |
| 555.7 m (1,823 ft) | observatory | Wikipedia infobox | B |
| 242.5 m (796 ft) | height of the antenna spire itself, not the building | Wikipedia infobox | B |
Statue of Liberty height
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92.99 m (305 ft 1 in) | ground to torch tip, pedestal included. This is the figure the game scores. | nps.gov | A |
| 46.05m | top of the base to the torch, the copper figure | NPS statue statistics | A |
| 33.86m | heel to top of head | NPS statue statistics | A |
Great Pyramid height
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 138.5 m (454 ft) | current height. This is the figure the game scores. | en.wikipedia.org | B |
| 146.6 m (481 ft) | original height, with the casing | Wikipedia | B |
| 280 cubits (146.7 m) | design height in royal cubits | Wikipedia | B |
Football field length
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 109.73 m (360 ft) | including both end zones. This is the figure the game scores. | static.www.nfl.com | A |
| 105 m × 68 m | FIFA recommended association-football pitch | FIFA stadium guidelines | A |
| 100–110 m | touchline length allowed for international matches | IFAB Law 1 | A |
Golden Gate Bridge main span
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,280 m (4,199 ft) | main span between the towers. This is the figure the game scores. | goldengate.org | A |
| 746 ft (227 m) | height of a tower above water | Golden Gate Bridge | A |
| 1.7 miles (8,981 ft or 2,737 m) | total length including approaches, abutment to abutment | Golden Gate Bridge | A |
Mount Everest elevation
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8,848.86 m (29,032 ft) | 2020 snow-surface survey. This is the figure the game scores. | mfa.gov.cn | A |
| 8,848 m | 1954 Survey of India, including snow cap | BBC / Guardian | B |
| 8,844.43 m | rock height only, 2005 Chinese survey | Reuters | B |
| 8,840 m | first announced height of Peak XV, 1856 | Wikipedia Surveys | B |
Central Park length
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 km (2.5 mi) | north to south. This is the figure the game scores. | en.wikipedia.org | B |
| 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | west to east | Wikipedia | B |
| 843 acres (341 ha) | area of the park, not its length | Wikipedia | B |
Manhattan Island length
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21.6 km (13.4 mi) | north to south. This is the figure the game scores. | en.wikipedia.org | B |
| 13 mi (21 km) | infobox length, a rounder figure on the same page | Wikipedia | B |
| 2.3 mi (3.7 km) | width at its widest, near 14th Street | Wikipedia | B |
How big the Sun is
| Published figure | What it actually counts | Where you will see it | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| about 1.4 million km (865,000 mi) | NASA rounded figure. This is the figure the game scores. | science.nasa.gov | A |
| 1,392,684 km | printed diameter | ESA | A |
| about 1,391,400 km (864,600 mi) | mean diameter | Wikipedia | B |
| about 435,000 miles (700,000 kilometers) | radius, half a diameter | NASA Science | A |
Change log
- — 49 objects; 22 split into answer pages.
Questions people ask us
Why do you show two units?
Because players search for both. A4 is 297 mm and 11.69 in, and both are in the page so either one can be checked.
Are the library-choice objects made up?
No. They are chosen inside a range of models actually on sale, and that range is printed in the Notes column. We use a library choice for everyday objects only, and the sentence says “in our library”.
Can I cite this page?
Yes. Link to a row anchor, for example /reference/#o-giraffe-height. That anchor stays even if the object later has its own page.
Size Comparison Game is a daily game where you judge how big something is — drag an object until it matches a reference, or give its size directly. Every object in it is listed above with its number and source.