Honeybee
A honeybee is a social insect that lives in a colony and gathers nectar and pollen from flowers.
Also known as: honey bee, worker bee
How big is it?
1.5 cm long
Also 0.5906 in
Body length · representative
Typical recorded range: 1 cm to 1.5 cm.
A little perspective
US quarter is about 1.62 times larger on this measurement.
US quarter: A US quarter is a coin worth twenty-five cents, commonly used in United States currency.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Honeybee
A 15 mm worker honeybee (Apis mellifera), at the upper end of the cited 10–15 mm worker range. Body length excludes antennae, legs and wings. The 100 mg mass is a separate illustrative assumption.
University of Michigan — Apis mellifera
The marked body length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
US quarter
A US quarter: 24.26 mm nominal diameter and 5.67 g mass. The illustrated relief is representative; the circular rim is the measured span.
US Mint — circulating coin specifications
The marked diameter is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 1.5 cm
For comparison, this page uses body length. This is labelled representative; the central value is useful for comparison, while real values or measurement solutions can vary. The recorded range is 1 cm to 1.5 cm.
A 15 mm worker honeybee (Apis mellifera), at the upper end of the cited 10–15 mm worker range. Body length excludes antennae, legs and wings. The 100 mg mass is a separate illustrative assumption.
The marked horizontal span follows the named feature; transparent margins and unmeasured details do not alter it. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Honeybee dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 cm | 1 cm to 1.5 cm | representative | |
| 100 mg | Not recorded | example |
Around this scale
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These links use compatible length records, ordered around the selected value.
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Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- University of Michigan — Apis melliferaWorker body length 10–15 mm. The atlas uses a 15 mm worker; antennae and wings do not count toward body length.
- Defined examples — our methodology
More ways to see it
Curated comparisons
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
Everyday thingsUS quarter2.426 cmA US quarter is a coin worth twenty-five cents, commonly used in United States currency.
Living thingsSmall ant5 mmAn ant is a social insect that lives in an organised colony, usually with workers, a queen and specialised roles.
PeopleHuman1.75 mA human is a primate of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished by habitual upright walking, language and complex tool use.
Microscopic10 µm cell10 µmA cell is the basic structural unit of living organisms.
Everyday thingsUS dime1.791 cmA US dime is a ten-cent coin, the smallest denomination in US currency above the penny and nickel.PeopleFingernail1.5 cmA fingernail is the hard, protective covering at the tip of a human finger, composed of keratin.
Living thingsSea angel2 cmA sea angel is a small, transparent swimming sea slug with wing-like appendages, found in cold ocean waters.
Everyday thingsUK 5p coin1.8 cmA UK 5p coin is the five-pence denomination of the decimal pound sterling circulation coinage.