Blue whale
A blue whale is a baleen whale that feeds by filtering small animals from seawater. It is the largest living animal known.
Also known as: whale
How big is it?
25 m long
Also 82.02 ft
Nose-to-tail length · representative
A little perspective
Blue whale vs Double-decker bus: length comparison
A blue whale is about 2.27 times as long as a double-decker bus.
A blue whale is a baleen whale that feeds by filtering small animals from seawater.
A double-decker bus is a passenger vehicle with two levels, used for public transport.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Blue whale
Nose-to-tail length: 25 m; representative.
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.
The marked nose-to-tail length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Double-decker bus
Length: 11 m; example.
An 11 m long, 12 tonne example. Model and passenger load vary.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Use the visual comparison to explore its scale, then check the measurements and sources.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 25 m
We compare the nose-to-tail length of a blue whale. This is a representative comparison value; individual specimens or conditions can vary.
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.
The marked horizontal span follows the measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 t | Not recorded | representative | |
| 25 m | Not recorded | representative |
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Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- NOAA Fisheries — Blue whaleLengths and masses vary strongly with population and sex. The 25 m, 100 tonne example is not a maximum.
More ways to see it
Curated comparisons
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
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