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 tall
Also 10.83 ft
Shoulder height · representative
Typical recorded range: 3.2 m to 4 m.
A little perspective
About 1.89 times the height of Human.
Human: A human is a primate of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished by habitual upright walking, language and complex tool use.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
African elephant
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
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.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 3.3 m
For comparison, this page uses shoulder height. This is labelled representative; the central value is useful for comparison, while real values or measurement solutions 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 named feature; transparent margins and unmeasured details do not alter it. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
African elephant 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
Go smaller. Go bigger.
These links use compatible length records, ordered around the selected value.
Nearest lower value · Living thingsAndean condor3.1 mThe Andean condor is a large vulture found in South America, notable for its broad wings and soaring flight.
Around the same scale · TransportFamily car4.5 mA family car is a motor vehicle designed to carry several passengers and their belongings.
Nearest higher value · Living thingsGiraffe5 mA 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.