The nose-to-tail length of a blue whale is about 14.3 times the height of a human. Selected basis: an example for Human; a representative value for Blue whale; approximate values.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions. Horizontal rulers compare the selected spans; vertical brackets also identify height on the artwork.
1.75 m - Height; example.
A human is a primate of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished by habitual upright walking, language and complex tool use.
A defined adult standing 1.75 m tall with a mass of 70 kg. This is a consistent comparison specimen, not a global average or health benchmark.
Defined examples — our methodology25 m - Nose-to-tail length; representative.
A blue whale is a baleen whale that feeds by filtering small animals from seawater. It is the largest living animal known.
A chosen 25 m, 100 tonne adult blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus). Population, sex and age matter: this is a representative comparison specimen, not a record animal.
NOAA Fisheries — Blue whale
There’s always another scale
PeopleHuman1.75 mA human is a primate of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished by habitual upright walking, language and complex tool use.
Living thingsBlue whale25 mA blue whale is a baleen whale that feeds by filtering small animals from seawater.
Living thingsHoneybee1.5 cmA honeybee is a social insect that lives in a colony and gathers nectar and pollen from flowers.
Living thingsAfrican elephant3.3 mAn African elephant is a large plant-eating mammal recognised by its trunk, tusks and broad ears.
Living thingsGiraffe5 mA giraffe is an African mammal distinguished by its extremely long neck and legs, feeding mainly on tree leaves.
TransportFamily car4.5 mA family car is a motor vehicle designed to carry several passengers and their belongings.
TransportDouble-decker bus11 mA double-decker bus is a passenger vehicle with two levels, used for public transport.
TransportAirbus A38072.7 mThe Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body passenger aeroplane built for long-haul flights.A closer look
Side by side
Illustrative artwork · not to scaleIllustrative artwork · not to scaleIllustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scaleGot a good eye for scale?