How many elephants is that?
Once a number passes a tonne it stops meaning anything. The elephant is the standard unit for making it mean something again.
25 × African elephant
150 t ÷ 6 t = 25 elephants.
Reference figures are measurements and are rounded; the unit conversion behind them is exact.
| Reference | Size | Yours ÷ theirs | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian elephant | 4 t | 37.5× | |
| African elephant | 6 t | 25× | |
| double-decker bus | 12 t | 12.5× | |
| loaded semi truck | 36 t | 4.17× | |
| blue whale | 150 t | 1× |
Worth knowing
- An adult African bush elephant is 4 to 7 tonnes. The largest reliably weighed was about 10.4 tonnes.
- The Eiffel Tower’s ironwork weighs 7 300 tonnes, or roughly 1 200 elephants.
Frequently asked
How much does an elephant weigh?
African bush elephants average about 6 tonnes for males and 3 tonnes for females. Asian elephants are smaller, around 4 tonnes.
What weighs as much as an elephant?
Four small cars, half a double-decker bus, or about 66 adult humans.