Scale Explorer

Space

How big is the Sun?

Sun

Diameter
≈ 1.39 million km 865,000 mi approx.
Mean radius
695,700 km 432,300 mi
Mass
1.9884 × 10³⁰ kg 4.3837 × 10³⁰ lb
Volume
1.412 × 10¹⁸ km³ 3.388 × 10¹⁷ cu mi
Show
Human, Jupiter, Saturn, Sun drawn to the same scaleHuman: height 1.61–1.75 m (too small to see at this scale). Jupiter: equatorial diameter 142,984 km. Saturn: equatorial diameter 120,536 km. Sun: diameter ≈ 1.39 million km.Human: 1.61–1.75 m (too small to see at this scale)Jupiter: 142,984 kmSaturn: 120,536 kmSun: ≈ 1.39 million kmSun≈ 1.39 million kmJupiter142,984 kmSaturn120,536 kmHuman1.61–1.75 m · too small to see

Human is too small to see at this scale and is marked with ▲.

Everything is drawn to the same scale, standing on the same ground line. Silhouettes are simplified outlines scaled to the measured dimension. A faded outline shows the top of a size range.

Compare Sun with something else →

Zoom out from an average adult to the Sun

The Sun is too big to show next to an average adult in one picture, so here it is in 10 steps. Each step is drawn to its own scale and zooms out from the step before.

  1. Step 1 of 10 Human → Megalodon

    A megalodon is about 8.6–15 times as long as an average adult is tall.

    Human, Megalodon drawn to the same scaleHuman: height 1.61–1.75 m. Megalodon: maximum length (estimates) 15–24.3 m.Human: 1.61–1.75 mMegalodon: 15–24.3 mMegalodon15–24.3 mHuman1.61–1.75 m
    Step 1: Human and Megalodon at the same scale.

  2. Step 2 of 10 Megalodon → Great Pyramid of Giza

    The Great Pyramid of Giza is about 5.6–9.1 times as tall as a megalodon is long.

    Megalodon, Great Pyramid of Giza drawn to the same scaleMegalodon: maximum length (estimates) 15–24.3 m. Great Pyramid of Giza: current height ≈ 137 m.Megalodon: 15–24.3 mGreat Pyramid of Giza: ≈ 137 mGreat Pyramid of Giza≈ 137 mMegalodon15–24.3 m
    Step 2: Megalodon and Great Pyramid of Giza at the same scale.

  3. Step 3 of 10 Great Pyramid of Giza → Golden Gate Bridge

    The Golden Gate Bridge is about 20 times as long as the Great Pyramid of Giza is tall.

    Great Pyramid of Giza, Golden Gate Bridge drawn to the same scaleGreat Pyramid of Giza: current height ≈ 137 m. Golden Gate Bridge: total length 2,737 m.Great Pyramid of Giza: ≈ 137 mGolden Gate Bridge: 2,737 mGolden Gate Bridge2,737 mGreat Pyramid of Giza≈ 137 m
    Step 3: Great Pyramid of Giza and Golden Gate Bridge at the same scale.

  4. Step 4 of 10 Golden Gate Bridge → Mount Everest

    Mount Everest is about 3.2 times as tall as the Golden Gate Bridge is long.

    Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Everest drawn to the same scaleGolden Gate Bridge: total length 2,737 m. Mount Everest: height above sea level 8,848.86 m.Golden Gate Bridge: 2,737 mMount Everest: 8,848.86 mMount Everest8,848.86 mGolden Gate Bridge2,737 m
    Step 4: Golden Gate Bridge and Mount Everest at the same scale.

  5. Step 5 of 10 Mount Everest → Mauna Kea

    Mauna Kea is about 1.2 times as tall as Mount Everest.

    Mount Everest, Mauna Kea drawn to the same scaleMount Everest: height above sea level 8,848.86 m. Mauna Kea: height from ocean floor to summit ≈ 10,211 m.Mount Everest: 8,848.86 mMauna Kea: ≈ 10,211 mMauna Kea≈ 10,211 mMount Everest8,848.86 m
    Step 5: Mount Everest and Mauna Kea at the same scale.

  6. Step 6 of 10 Mauna Kea → Olympus Mons

    Olympus Mons is about 2.2–2.6 times as high as Mauna Kea is tall.

    Mauna Kea, Olympus Mons drawn to the same scaleMauna Kea: height from ocean floor to summit ≈ 10,211 m. Olympus Mons: height 22–27 km.Mauna Kea: ≈ 10,211 mOlympus Mons: 22–27 kmOlympus Mons22–27 kmMauna Kea≈ 10,211 m
    Step 6: Mauna Kea and Olympus Mons at the same scale.

  7. Step 7 of 10 Olympus Mons → Mars

    Mars is about 250–310 times as wide as Olympus Mons is high.

    Olympus Mons, Mars drawn to the same scaleOlympus Mons: height 22–27 km. Mars: equatorial diameter 6,792 km.Olympus Mons: 22–27 kmMars: 6,792 kmMars6,792 kmOlympus Mons22–27 km
    Step 7: Olympus Mons and Mars at the same scale.

  8. Step 8 of 10 Mars → Uranus

    Uranus is about 7.5 times as wide as Mars.

    Mars, Uranus drawn to the same scaleMars: equatorial diameter 6,792 km. Uranus: equatorial diameter 51,118 km.Mars: 6,792 kmUranus: 51,118 kmUranus51,118 kmMars6,792 km
    Step 8: Mars and Uranus at the same scale.

  9. Step 9 of 10 Uranus → Saturn

    Saturn is about 2.4 times as wide as Uranus.

    Uranus, Saturn drawn to the same scaleUranus: equatorial diameter 51,118 km. Saturn: equatorial diameter 120,536 km.Uranus: 51,118 kmSaturn: 120,536 kmSaturn120,536 kmUranus51,118 km
    Step 9: Uranus and Saturn at the same scale.

  10. Step 10 of 10 Saturn → Sun

    The Sun is about 12 times as wide as Saturn.

    Saturn, Sun drawn to the same scaleSaturn: equatorial diameter 120,536 km. Sun: diameter ≈ 1.39 million km.Saturn: 120,536 kmSun: ≈ 1.39 million kmSun≈ 1.39 million kmSaturn120,536 km
    Step 10: Saturn and Sun at the same scale.

Dimensions

MeasurementMetricImperialNotesSource
Diameter ≈ 1.39 million km ≈ 865,000 mi NASA's rounded figure, also given as 1.4 million km. Approximate [2]
Mean radius 695,700 km 432,300 mi Volumetric mean radius; the IAU nominal solar radius is exactly 6.957 x 10^8 m, the same value [1] [3]
Mass 1.9884 × 10³⁰ kg 4.3837 × 10³⁰ lb Source states 1,988,400 x 10^24 kg [1]
Volume 1.412 × 10¹⁸ km³ 3.388 × 10¹⁷ cu mi Source states 1,412,000 x 10^12 km3 [1]

About the Sun

The Sun is the star at the centre of our solar system and holds about 99.8% of its mass. NASA puts its diameter at about 1.4 million km (865,000 miles); its volumetric mean radius is 695,700 km, about 109 times Earth's. It is a ball of hot plasma with no solid surface, powered by nuclear fusion in its core.

  • The Sun's mass is about 332,900 times Earth's, and its volume about 1,304,000 times Earth's. [1]
  • NASA gives the Sun a radius of about 700,000 km (435,000 miles) and says it would take 1.3 million Earths to fill it. [2]
  • The Sun accounts for 99.8% of the solar system's mass. [2]
  • In 2015 the IAU defined the nominal solar radius as exactly 6.957 x 10^8 m, a conversion constant for astronomers rather than a claim about the Sun's true edge. [3]
  • The Sun's core is about 15 million degrees Celsius (27 million degrees Fahrenheit). [2]

How many fit?

  • ≈ 830 million × Human · height lined up end to end match the Sun · diameter
  • ≈ 2.4 × 10²⁸ × Human · body mass on the scales weigh as much as Sun · mass
  • ≈ 400 × Moon · diameter lined up end to end match the Sun · diameter
  • ≈ 27 million × Moon · mass on the scales weigh as much as Sun · mass
  • ≈ 64 million × Moon · volume packed inside, by volume fill Sun · volume

Counts divide one sourced figure by another. "End to end" uses each object's main measurement; weight and volume rows appear only when both figures are sourced.

How it compares

Factors compare the diameter of the Sun with each object’s own main measurement (height for a human). Where a size varies, the factor is given as a range.

Notes on these figures

  • The Sun has no solid surface; its radius is measured to the visible photosphere.
  • NASA's diameter is rounded (about 865,000 miles / 1.4 million km); twice the 695,700 km mean radius is the more exact figure.

Sources

  1. NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive, Sun Fact Sheet. Accessed 25 September 2026.
  2. NASA Science, Sun: Facts. Accessed 25 September 2026.
  3. International Astronomical Union, IAU 2015 Resolution B3 on recommended nominal conversion constants for selected solar and planetary properties (arXiv:1510.07674). Accessed 25 September 2026.

Related objects