The Biggest Polar Bears Ever Recorded

The biggest polar bear ever recorded weighed 2,209 pounds (1,002 kg) and was taken near Kotzebue Sound, Alaska in 1960. The Boone and Crockett Club also maintains a separate world record based on skull measurements, and visitors can see Tom Bolack’s former Boone and Crockett world-record polar bear at Tom Bolack’s Museum of Fish and Wildlife in Farmington, New Mexico.

Polar bears are the largest living land carnivores, and the biggest individuals have reached extraordinary sizes. The largest polar bear ever recorded weighed more than a ton and, when mounted, stood more than 11 feet tall. The Boone and Crockett Club also maintains a separate world record based on skull measurements, meaning the largest bear by weight and the Club’s record holder are different animals.

Plan your visit to Tom Bolack’s Museum of Fish and Wildlife, open by appointment Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mountain Time Admission is free. Call 505-325-4275 or schedule a guided tour through our contact page.

How Big Was the Largest Polar Bear Ever Recorded?

Key takeaway: The largest polar bear ever recorded weighed 2,209 pounds (1,002 kg) and, when mounted, stood 11 feet 1 inch tall on its hind legs. Guinness World Records lists a verified weight of about 1,984 pounds (900 kg) for the same 1960 Alaska bear.

The largest polar bear ever recorded was an adult male harvested near Kotzebue Sound in northwestern Alaska in 1960. Contemporary accounts reported a weight of 2,209 pounds (1,002 kg), while Guinness World Records uses a verified estimate of about 1,984 pounds (900 kg) for the same bear. Both figures refer to the same exceptionally large animal, which remains the strongest documented candidate for the heaviest wild polar bear ever recorded.

The bear’s extraordinary size attracted international attention when it was displayed at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. Guinness World Records also recognizes the animal as the largest recorded bear by weight among living bear species. See the Guinness World Records entry for the largest bear for additional details.

Weight is only one criterion for defining the “largest” polar bear. The Boone and Crockett Club maintains a separate world record based on skull measurements rather than body weight. As a result, the heaviest polar bear ever recorded and the Club’s record holder are different animals.

Scientists believe bears of this exceptional size are less common today because declining Arctic sea ice has reduced access to ringed seals, making it more difficult for polar bears to reach the body condition seen in some mid-20th-century populations.

The Boone and Crockett World Record: Measuring Polar Bears by Skull Size

Key takeaway: The Boone and Crockett Club measures world-record polar bears by skull size rather than body weight, making its record holder different from the heaviest polar bear ever recorded.

Since 1932, the Boone and Crockett Club has maintained official records for North American big game animals. For polar bears, the organization measures the skull’s length and width, combining those dimensions into a score recorded to the nearest one-sixteenth of an inch. The system provides a standardized way to compare specimens regardless of body weight, which can fluctuate with age, season, and body condition.

The current world-record polar bear was taken by Shelby Longoria near Kotzebue, Alaska in 1963. Its skull scored 29-15/16 points, the highest ever recorded. Longoria’s bear replaced the previous record held by Tom Bolack, whose polar bear was taken near Point Hope, Alaska in 1958. Bolack’s bear scored 28-12/16 points, leaving a record margin of 1-3/16 inches between the two animals. Additional information is available on the Boone and Crockett Club’s world-record polar bear page.

The records also reveal an interesting geographic pattern. Six of the top nine record-book polar bears came from the Kotzebue area, suggesting that environmental conditions there once supported exceptional growth. All of the top 50 B&C polar bears were taken before 1968. Because polar bear hunting in the United States is now limited to subsistence harvest by eligible Alaska Native hunters, new entries are highly unlikely.

Although skull measurements do not directly measure body weight, they provide a useful biological indicator. Skull size generally reflects long-term growth and is influenced by genetics, nutrition, and overall health, making it a valuable way to compare mature animals across populations.

Where to See Record Polar Bears Today

Tom Bolack’s former Boone and Crockett world-record polar bear is on permanent display at Tom Bolack’s Museum of Fish and Wildlife on the B Square Ranch in Farmington, New Mexico. Admission is free, giving visitors an opportunity to view a historically significant polar bear specimen up close. Although this is not the same animal that holds the 2,209-pound weight record, it remained the Club’s world-record polar bear until 1963.

The museum displays approximately 2,500 fish and wildlife specimens representing six continents. Animals are arranged in natural habitat settings that help illustrate the environments where each species lives, giving visitors a chance to compare wildlife from around the world in one location.

Visitors interested in the biggest polar bear and other notable wildlife records can learn more about the collection on the Museum of Fish and Wildlife page. Before your trip, review the visitor information page for hours, tours, and directions.

Another well-known mounted polar bear, “White King,” is on display at the Commercial Fun Center in Elko, Nevada. Standing 10 feet 4 inches tall and weighing about 2,200 pounds, White King illustrates just how rare exceptionally large polar bears have always been. Even among museum specimens, bears approaching world-record size are uncommon.

How Big Are Polar Bears on Average?

Key takeaway: Adult male polar bears typically weigh between 775 and 1,500 pounds and can stand 8 to 10 feet tall on their hind legs, making them the largest living land carnivores.

Average polar bear size varies by age, sex, and location, but adult males are among the largest bears in the world. Most adult males weigh between 775 and 1,500 pounds (352 to 680 kg) and stand 8 to 10 feet tall on their hind legs. Adult females are roughly half that size. Shoulder height typically ranges from 4 to 5.3 feet, while adult males measure about 7 feet 10 inches to 8 feet 6 inches from nose to tail.

Polar bears and Kodiak bears compete for the title of the world’s largest living land carnivore. Scientists continue to debate which species is larger on average because body size varies across populations and individuals.

Modern polar bears are generally smaller than many recorded during the mid-20th century. Researchers attribute this trend to declining Arctic sea ice, which reduces access to ringed seals, their primary prey. As food becomes less available, bears have fewer opportunities to build the fat reserves needed for exceptional growth. According to Polar Bears International, continued habitat loss may further affect polar bear size and body condition, making the 2,209-pound record increasingly unlikely to be surpassed.

Polar Bears vs. Other Large Bears

Polar bears are the largest bears alive today, but Kodiak bears and grizzly bears can also reach impressive sizes. This bear size comparison shows how the three species measure up by typical adult male weight, maximum recorded weight, and height on hind legs.

Kodiak bears come closest to matching polar bears in size. The two species overlap in average weight, although Kodiak bears generally have a stockier build, while polar bears are longer and more streamlined. 

Grizzly bears are noticeably smaller than either polar bears or Kodiak bears. The difference is reflected in the Boone and Crockett Club record books, where the largest grizzly bear skull scores 27-6/16 points, compared with the polar bear record of 29-15/16 points.

An extinct relative, the tyrant polar bear (Ursus maritimus tyrannus), exceeded all modern bears in size. Living during the Pleistocene Epoch, it is estimated to have stood about 6 feet at the shoulder and measured approximately 12 feet 2 inches in length. Guinness World Records recognizes this prehistoric bear as the largest bear known to have existed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is the biggest polar bear ever recorded?

The biggest polar bear ever recorded stood 11 feet 1 inch tall on its hind legs when mounted. The bear was an adult male taken near Kotzebue Sound in northwestern Alaska in 1960 and remains the largest polar bear documented by height and weight. By comparison, most adult male polar bears stand between 8 and 10 feet tall on their hind legs. Although exceptionally large bears still exist, individuals approaching the size of the 1960 record bear are extremely rare today.

How much did the biggest polar bear weigh?

The largest polar bear ever recorded weighed 2,209 pounds (1,002 kg). Taken near Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, in 1960, the bear weighed roughly 11 times as much as an average adult man. Its extraordinary size earned international attention when it was displayed at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. More than six decades later, no verified polar bear has surpassed its recorded weight. Scientists consider the record exceptional, and changing Arctic conditions make another polar bear of comparable size increasingly unlikely.

Are polar bears bigger than grizzly bears?

Yes. On average, polar bears are larger than grizzly bears in both weight and overall size. Adult male polar bears commonly weigh between 775 and 1,500 pounds, while most male grizzly bears weigh between 400 and 790 pounds. Kodiak bears are the closest living competitors in size and can weigh up to 1,500 pounds, but the largest individual bear ever recorded by weight was still a polar bear. Polar bears also hold the Boone and Crockett Club record for the largest bear skull.

Where can you see a world-record polar bear?

Tom Bolack’s former Boone and Crockett world-record polar bear is on permanent display at Tom Bolack’s Museum of Fish and Wildlife, located on the B Square Ranch at 3901 Bloomfield Highway in Farmington, New Mexico. Admission is free, and the museum is open by appointment Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can also explore approximately 2,500 fish and wildlife specimens from six continents, displayed in natural habitat settings. To schedule a guided tour, call 505-325-4275 or review the visitor information page before your visit. 

Are polar bears getting smaller?

Research indicates that many polar bear populations are smaller today than they were during the mid-20th century. Scientists attribute much of this change to declining Arctic sea ice, which reduces access to ringed seals, the bears’ primary prey. Less time on the sea ice means fewer hunting opportunities and reduced body condition for many bears. As these environmental changes continue, the 2,209-pound record set in 1960 may never be surpassed. Researchers continue to monitor populations across the Arctic for long-term changes.

What is the Boone and Crockett record for a polar bear?

The current Boone and Crockett Club world record for polar bear is a skull score of 29-15/16 points. The record was set by a bear taken by Shelby Longoria near Kotzebue, Alaska, in 1963. The previous record holder was Tom Bolack, whose 1958 polar bear from Point Hope scored 28-12/16 points. Unlike weight records, the Boone and Crockett Club measures polar bears by combining skull length and width, creating a standardized way to compare mature animals across North America.