The 10 Largest Whales in the World
Discover the 10 longest and heaviest whales – the ocean giants compared in size!
Whales are among the largest creatures on Earth. The blue whale tops our list, easily reaching lengths of over 30 meters. That’s longer than three buses. However, other species like the fin whale and the sperm whale also boast impressive lengths.
What makes whales so large? Their bodies help them retain as little heat as possible in the cold depths of the oceans. The large lung allows for extended dives. Despite their size and weight, they move surprisingly gracefully through the water and perform spectacular leaps.
From Arctic waters to tropical seas, these gentle giants are on the move – some travel tens of thousands of kilometers each year. Their size is hard for us to comprehend. That’s why we’ve provided a visual comparison for each whale.
1. Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
- Length: 98-108 feet (30-33 meters)
- Weight: 190-200 tons
The blue whale is the largest known animal to have ever lived, reaching lengths of up to 108 feet (33 meters) and weighing as much as 200 tons. It inhabits all the world's oceans and primarily feeds on krill. Despite its massive size, it is a fast swimmer, capable of reaching speeds over 18 mph (30 km/h) for short bursts.
2. Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
- Length: 68-88 feet (21-27 meters)
- Weight: 40-80 tons
The fin whale can grow up to 88 feet (27 meters) long and is the second fastest baleen whale after the Sei Whale. It resides in temperate to polar seas and feeds on fish, krill, and other small creatures. Its slender body allows it to glide gracefully through the water. Due to extensive hunting, it is now considered endangered.
3. Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
- Length: 33-66 feet (10-20 meters)
- Weight: 15-50 tons
Reaching lengths of up to 66 feet (20 meters), the sperm whale is the largest toothed whale. It is renowned for its ability to dive to extreme depths of over 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) in search of giant squids. Its massive head houses the spermaceti organ, which likely aids in diving and echolocation.
4. Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis)
- Length: 50-60 feet (15-18 meters)
- Weight: 80 tons
The southern right whale can grow up to 60 feet (18 meters) long and is easily identified by the callosities on its head. It inhabits the Southern Hemisphere, often close to the coast. Known for its acrobatic leaps despite its hefty size, it was heavily hunted in the past. Today, its population is gradually recovering.
5. Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus)
- Length: 46-59 feet (14-18 meters)
- Weight: 75-100 tons
The bowhead whale resides solely in cold Arctic waters and can reach lengths of up to 59 feet (18 meters). It has the thickest blubber layer of all whales, which allows it to survive in icy waters despite its size. Its massive baleen plates enable it to filter tiny plankton from the water. Remarkably, it can live for over 200 years, making it the longest-lived known mammal.
6. Northern Right Whale (Eubalaena japonica)
- Length: 42-59 feet (13-18 meters)
- Weight: 40-90 tons
The northern right whale is extremely rare. It can grow up to 59 feet (18 meters) long and is found only in the North Pacific. It swims slowly and often stays near the surface. Due to centuries of hunting, only a few individuals remain. Notable features include the large callosities on its head.
7. Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
- Length: 39-59 feet (12-18 meters)
- Weight: 25-30 tons
The humpback whale is particularly famous for its spectacular leaps out of the water. It can reach lengths of 39-59 feet (12-18 meters), with some exceptionally large individuals growing even longer. Despite its size, its robust body and long pectoral fins give it an unexpectedly agile appearance.
8. Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)
- Length: 39-52 feet (12-16 meters)
- Weight: 20-30 tons
The Sei whale can grow up to 53 feet (16 meters) in length. It is one of the fastest whales, capable of speeds exceeding 31 mph (50 km/h). This species inhabits temperate and tropical seas. Its slender body and crescent-shaped fin make it easy to distinguish from other whales. There is relatively little known about its lifestyle.
9. Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus)
- Length: 42-49 feet (13-15 meters)
- Weight: 25-45 tons
The gray whale can grow up to 49 feet (15 meters) long. It undertakes some of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom, traveling up to 12.400 miles (20,000 km) each year. This whale inhabits the Pacific coasts and feeds by searching for small creatures on the ocean floor. Its gray body is often marked with scars and parasites. This species is very curious about boats.
10. Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni/brydei)
- Length: 39-45 feet (12-14 meters)
- Weight: 12-25 tons
The Bryde's whale can reach lengths of up to 45 feet (14 meters) and primarily resides in warm, tropical waters. It is often difficult to distinguish from smaller Fin Whales. Notably, it has three parallel ridges on its head. It preys on small schooling fish, squid, and crustaceans.
The Top 10 Largest Whales – Ranked by Length
Here are the top 10 longest whales! To help you visualize their lengths better, we have compared them to buses, airplanes, and other everyday objects.
| Species | Length | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Blue whale | 98-108 feet (30-33 meters) | 3 buses |
| Fin whale | 68-88 feet (21-27 meters) | 1 small passenger airplane |
| Sperm whale | 33-66 feet (10-20 meters) | 1 tennis court |
| Southern right whale | 50-60 feet (15-18 meters) | 7 parking spaces |
| Bowhead whale | 46-59 feet (14-18 meters) | 6 stand-up paddleboards |
| Northern right whale | 42-59 feet (13-18 meters) | 3 shipping containers |
| Humpback whale | 39-59 feet (12-18 meters) | 1 large truck |
| Sei whale | 39-52 feet (12-16 meters) | 1 large coach |
| Gray whale | 42-49 feet (13-15 meters) | 2 soccer goals |
| Bryde's whale | 39-45 feet (12-14 meters) | 2 motorhomes |
Top 10 Largest Whales – Ranked by Weight
This is fascinating. The fin whale is the second longest, but it is not the second heaviest. This list shows a completely different ranking:
| Species | Weight | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Blue whale | 190-200 tons | 1 Boeing 747 |
| Bowhead whale | 75-100 tons | 70 mid-size cars |
| Northern right whale | 40-90 tons | 5 articulated buses (fully loaded) |
| Southern right whale | 80 tons | 13-14 elephants |
| Fin whale | 40-80 tons | 8 city buses |
| Sperm whale | 15-50 tons | 9 Tyrannosaurus Rex |
| Gray whale | 25-45 tons | 2 fully loaded tour buses |
| Sei whale | 20-30 tons | 10 Jeeps |
| Bryde's whale | 12-25 Tons | 8 empty motorhomes |
| Humpback whale | 25-30 Tons | 4-5 elephants |
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