An adult beluga whale weighs about 1,430 kg (3,150 lb) on average, says NOAA Fisheries. Most adults weigh 450 to 1,500 kg (1,000 to 3,300 lb), and the biggest reach about 1,900 kg (4,190 lb). Males are much heavier than females. Up to 40% of a beluga’s weight is blubber.
How much does a beluga whale weigh?
That depends on the beluga. Age, sex and where it lives all matter. Here are the best figures from wildlife agencies, from newborn to record.
| Measure | Metric | Imperial | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn calf | 41–59 kg | 90–130 lb | Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game |
| Typical adult range | 450–1,500 kg | 1,000–3,300 lb | Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game |
| Average adult | About 1,430 kg | 3,150 lb | NOAA Fisheries |
| Heaviest adults | Up to 1,900 kg | About 4,190 lb | COSEWIC (Canada) |
| Share of weight that is blubber | Up to 40% | Up to 40% | NOAA Fisheries |
| Blubber thickness | Up to 13 cm | Up to 5 in | Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game |
Why do the sources differ? Weighing a whale is hard. You cannot put a live beluga on bathroom scales at sea. Weights come from a fairly small number of animals, and belugas from different seas grow to different sizes. So it is best to think in ranges, not one exact number.
An average adult of 1,430 kg weighs about as much as a small car. It is still a small whale. A large blue whale can weigh over 100 times more, as our page on how big a blue whale is shows.
How much do male and female beluga whales weigh?
Males are clearly bigger. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says males grow to 3.4 to 4.6 m (11 to 15 ft) long, while females rarely grow over 3.7 m (12 ft). Canada’s COSEWIC report says adult females are about 80% as long as adult males.
That 80% sounds close, but weight grows much faster than length. A whale that is longer is also wider and deeper. Here is a rough calculation of our own: 0.8 × 0.8 × 0.8 is about 0.5. So a female that is 80% as long as a male may weigh only about half as much.
That fits the wide range in the table. The 450 kg end is mostly small females. The 1,500 kg end and the 1,900 kg record are big males. No agency we checked gives one official average for each sex, so treat the half-weight rule as an estimate.
How much does a baby beluga whale weigh?
A newborn beluga weighs 41 to 59 kg (90 to 130 lb) and is about 1.5 m (5 ft) long, says the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. That is about as heavy as a grown-up person. It is also about half its mother’s length, according to the COSEWIC report.
Calves grow fast on their mother’s rich milk. By one year old they are 60 to 65% of their mother’s length, the COSEWIC report says. A mother carries her calf for about 15 months and gives birth every 2 to 3 years, reports NOAA Fisheries. Babies are grey at birth; you can see how their looks change on our page about what beluga whales look like.
Why are beluga whales so heavy with blubber?
Belugas live in the Arctic and sub-Arctic, where the sea can be colder than a fridge. Blubber is a thick layer of fat under the skin. It keeps heat in, like a sleeping bag. It is also a store of energy for times when food is hard to find.
Up to 40% of a beluga’s weight can be blubber, says NOAA Fisheries. For a 1,430 kg adult, that could mean more than 500 kg of fat. The layer can be up to 13 cm (5 in) thick.
That fat is also why a beluga looks soft and round, not sleek. Polar bears, which sometimes hunt belugas, rely on fat too. See what polar bears eat to find out why fat is so prized in the Arctic.
How does a beluga’s weight compare with other animals?
Belugas are heavy next to us but light next to most whales. This table puts them beside two famous ocean giants.
| Animal | Weight | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn beluga | 41–59 kg (90–130 lb) | Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game |
| Adult beluga (average) | About 1,430 kg (3,150 lb) | NOAA Fisheries |
| Killer whale (largest) | Up to 11 tons (about 10,000 kg) | NOAA Fisheries |
| Blue whale (largest) | Up to 150,000 kg (330,000 lb) | NOAA Fisheries |
A big killer whale can weigh about seven times as much as an average beluga. Killer whales are also one of the beluga’s main predators. A large blue whale would outweigh about 100 average belugas.
Is a beluga whale heavier than a human?
Much heavier. Even a newborn beluga weighs about as much as an adult person. A 1,430 kg adult beluga weighs about as much as 20 adults of 70 kg. The record 1,900 kg beluga would be closer to 27.
Belugas are also longer than you might expect. An adult can be 2.6 to 4.5 m (8.5 to 15 ft) long, longer than a tall person lying down with arms stretched overhead. Most of that length is thick, round body.
Belugas carry all that weight easily, because water holds them up. They move slowly and turn well, helped by a flexible neck. They find food by sound, as our page on beluga whale echolocation explains.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a beluga whale?
Adult belugas are 2.6 to 4.5 m (8.5 to 15 ft) long, according to Canada's COSEWIC report. Males grow to 3.4 to 4.6 m (11 to 15 ft), while females rarely pass 3.7 m (12 ft), says the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
How much of a beluga is blubber?
Up to 40% of its weight, says NOAA Fisheries. The fat layer can be up to 13 cm (5 in) thick. It keeps the whale warm in icy water and stores energy for lean times.
Is a beluga heavier than a killer whale?
No. The biggest killer whales weigh up to 11 tons, about 10,000 kg, says NOAA Fisheries. That is around seven times the weight of an average adult beluga. Killer whales also hunt belugas.
How long do beluga whales live?
NOAA Fisheries says belugas can live up to 90 years, based on growth layers in their teeth. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game gives about 30 years as a typical lifespan, so few reach the record.
Sources
- NOAA Fisheries. Beluga whale species profile (average weight 3,150 lb; blubber up to 40%).
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Beluga whale species profile (weights, calf size, blubber).
- Government of Canada (COSEWIC). COSEWIC assessment and status report on the beluga whale: species description.
- NOAA Fisheries. Killer whale species profile.
- NOAA Fisheries. Blue whale species profile.
Sources checked 15 September 2026.
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