African elephant
An African elephant is a large plant-eating mammal recognised by its trunk, tusks and broad ears.
How big is it?
3.3 m at the shoulder
Also 10.83 ft
Shoulder height · representative
Typical recorded range: 3.2 m to 4 m.
A little perspective
African elephant vs Human: height comparison
An African elephant is about 1.89 times as tall as a human.
An African elephant is a large plant-eating mammal recognised by its trunk, tusks and broad ears.
A human is a primate of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished by habitual upright walking, language and complex tool use.
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.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
African elephant
Shoulder height: 3.3 m; representative; range 3.2 m–4 m.
An adult male African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana). This specimen is 3.3 m at the shoulder and 5,000 kg; neither is a species average. Female elephants are generally smaller.
University of Michigan — African bush elephant
The marked shoulder height is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Human
Height: 1.75 m; example.
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 methodology
The marked height 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 3.3 m
We compare the shoulder height of an African elephant. This is a representative comparison value; individual specimens or conditions can vary. The recorded range is 3.2 m to 4 m.
An adult male African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana). This specimen is 3.3 m at the shoulder and 5,000 kg; neither is a species average. Female elephants are generally smaller.
The marked vertical 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 t | 4.5 t to 6.1 t | representative | |
| 3.3 m | 3.2 m to 4 m | representative | |
| 6 m | 5.791 m to 7.315 m | representative |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valueLiving thingsAndean condor3.1 mDefined adult wingspanThe Andean condor is a large vulture found in South America, notable for its broad wings and soaring flight.
Around the same scaleVehicles and transportFamily car4.5 mLengthA family car is a motor vehicle designed to carry several passengers and their belongings.
Nearest higher valueLiving thingsGiraffe5 mHeightA giraffe is an African mammal distinguished by its extremely long neck and legs, feeding mainly on tree leaves.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- University of Michigan — African bush elephantAdult male shoulder height 3.2–4 m and mass 4,500–6,100 kg. The selected 3.3 m and 5,000 kg are representative choices within those ranges.
- WWF — African elephantListed length 19–24 feet. A 6 m example is selected for the length view.
More ways to see it
Curated comparisons
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
PeopleHuman1.75 mA human is a primate of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished by habitual upright walking, language and complex tool use.Living thingsGiraffe5 mA giraffe is an African mammal distinguished by its extremely long neck and legs, feeding mainly on tree leaves.
Living thingsBlue whale25 mA blue whale is a baleen whale that feeds by filtering small animals from seawater.TransportFamily car4.5 mA family car is a motor vehicle designed to carry several passengers and their belongings.
TransportApollo command module3.23 mThe Apollo command module was the conical spacecraft section that housed astronauts during NASA's Apollo lunar missions and re-entered Earth's atmosphere.
SportTable tennis table2.74 mA table tennis table is a flat, rectangular surface divided by a net for playing the game of table tennis.
SpaceGaia spacecraft3.5 mGaia is a European Space Agency observatory designed to map the positions and motions of stars in the Milky Way.Living thingsAndean condor3.1 mThe Andean condor is a large vulture found in South America, notable for its broad wings and soaring flight.A closer look