Everyone knows the fact that bears are very large creatures
However, not many people know how much some bear species weigh
There are many factors that determine the weight of a bear, but the average weight for most bears is between 250 and 500 pounds when the bear is fully grown are pregnant or preparing for hibernation
Some bears weigh more or less than this average, though
Some smaller species usually do not weigh more than 100 pounds, such as the Sun Bear
However, some larger species can easily exceed 1000 pounds, such as the Polar Bear
Below, we’ve highlighted 10 types of bears and how much they weigh so you can get an idea of the size of these creatures
110 Examples of Adult Bear Weight What Determines the Weight of a Bear?
10 Examples of Adult Bear Weight
Bear type
Sun Bear
Sloth Bear
Panda Bear
Asiatic Black Bear
Andean Bear
American Black Bear
Brown Bear
Grizzly Bear
Kodiak Bear
Polar bear
Although it is possible to state a range of bear weight, it is not a range that can be applied to every type of bear throughout the year
There are several different factors that play into the weight of a bear, and all of them must be considered when determining how much a bear weighs or what its potential weight is
Species – The biggest determining factor for a bear’s weight is the species of the bear
There is a great deal of variation in size between bear species, so this will have a large effect on the overall weight of the bear
Smaller species that are not necessarily big and strong usually weigh less than 300 pounds, but may weigh less than 100 pounds in some cases
Larger species that need extra size for hunting or extra skin and fat to keep warm can weigh more than 500 pounds, with some species approaching or exceeding 1000 pounds
Age – Age, of course, determines the size of a bear
Most bear cubs are born around 1 pound, but they quickly begin to grow and gain weight from there
Juvenile bears tend to still weigh less than 100 pounds, and really start to gain weight as they approach maturity
As the bears become old and can no longer hunt as successfully, they can start to lose a little bit of weight; but usually not too drastic
Time of year – Bears’ weight fluctuates throughout the year, mostly because they hibernate
In the summer, bears will eat berries rich in carbohydrates and other foods to gain weight and gain weight
Bears can put on as much as 30 pounds per week during their bulking period!
This can cause bears to weigh several hundred pounds more right before hibernation
Also, after mating season, female bears will gain several hundred pounds if they are pregnant
Female polar bears can double their weight during pregnancy!
The biggest bears ever recorded
While most bears will grow around the weight listed in the table above, there will be some that are not obvious
Over the years, several very large bears have been recorded, weighing more than the average weight of the species
Black Bear is the heaviest
In 1976, a male American black bear was hunted in New Brunswick
It weighs 902 pounds after being dressed, which means it weighs around 1,100 pounds
Its length from tail to nose is 79 feet, which is quite long for a black bear
Grizzly Bear is the heaviest
The largest grizzly bear ever hunted was in 2014 at Lone Mountain, Alaska
A larger skull was found earlier in 1976, which may have belonged to a bear weighing more than 1,600 pounds from the Lone Mountain grizzly
The Kodiak bear is the heaviest
A captive kodiak bear named Clyde who lived at the Dakota Zoo weighed 2,130 pounds when he died in 1987
The zoo director estimated that Clyde weighed about 2,400 pounds a year earlier when he was healthier
Even in death, Clyde had a 9-inch-thick layer of fat, causing him to weigh quite a lot for his size
Polar bears are the heaviest
The largest polar bear ever recorded, and the next largest bear on record, was a 2,209-pound male hunted in 1960 in Kotzebue Sound, Alaska
This weight is twice that of a polar bear, which makes this specimen insane
When standing on its hind legs, this bear can stand more than 11 feet
How much does the bear weigh?
Well, depending on the exact species and type, it can be up to 1,500 pounds
But they are not all preying on seals in the Arctic, and some cannot exceed 150 kilograms, such as the Southeast Asian sun bear
How much do Bears weigh?
Bears are huge creatures, but that doesn’t stop them from running at incredible speeds
Although many factors contribute to bear weight, most of these animals have an average body weight of between 200 and 500 pounds
However, many bear species are smaller than average, while some exceed this limit to a large extent
For example, sun bears rarely weigh more than 100 pounds, while the average male polar bear can grow to 1,100 pounds
Now, let’s look at the average bear weight of all the eight remaining bear species that can still be found in the world
Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus)
Polar bears are known to be the largest species of bear, so it’s no surprise that the heaviest bear recorded in history was a 2,209-pound male polar bear hunted in 1960 in Alaska
Amazingly, this creature can double the weight of the average bear of 1,100 kilograms that this species is known for
2 Brown Bear (Ursus Arctos)
The largest brown bear on record weighed over 1,200 pounds and was discovered by a taxidermist in 1976
A close runner-up, the captive Dakota Zoo Kodiak bear, weighed 2,130 pounds with a nine-inch-thick layer of fat when it died in 1987
It was estimated that a year earlier, the predator weighed 2,400 kilograms
3 Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus Thibetanus)
American black bears already have a 340-pound physique, but in 1972, a 902-pound male was found in New Brunswick
It is estimated to have weighed 1,100 pounds and was 79 feet long
Considering their massive physique, is it really surprising that a male grizzly is five times stronger than the average human?
4 Panda Bear (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca)
5 Brown bear (Melursus Ursinus)
6 Andean Bear (Tremarctos Ornatus)
7 North American Black Bear (Ursus Americanus)
8 Sun Bear (Ursus Malayanus)
How Heavy Is A Bear: Determining Factors
Even among members of the same species, bears can vary in weight based on a number of factors, which we explore in detail below
As shown above, the species of bear is the most important factor in determining a certain weight and body type
Smaller species—those that don’t have to be very large to survive—usually weigh less than 300 pounds
In contrast, omnivorous bear species that must hunt or require additional skin and fur to survive in cold climates will be larger
When young, before adulthood, it weighs less than 100 pounds
They are increasing in size, but some species do not grow much
Bears will not hunt as much as they age, which may lead to a certain weight loss, but it will not change drastically
How much does a bear weigh during hibernation?
Hibernation affects the size of bears throughout the year
In winter, all the bears die
In order to maintain this state of hibernation, bears must cut down on food as much as possible during the summer, especially berries that are rich in carbohydrates
This leads to a significant weight gain during this season, which can add 30 kilograms in just one week
The same thing happens when a female bear is pregnant
After the mating season, this animal can weigh 100 kilograms
Polar bears, in particular, can increase in size when carrying cubs
As you can see, the weight varies between different species, subspecies, and genders
That said, brown bears and American black bears are the most common in the US, and adult males weigh around 900 pounds and 600 pounds, respectively
How much does a grizzly bear weigh?
While size varies among subspecies, male grizzlies can grow up to 900 pounds on average, with females weighing less than 200 to 300 pounds
How much does a bear weigh at birth?
For example, male brown bear cubs weigh about one kilogram, and by the end of the first year, they grow to 200 kilograms