Size is relative—the further away an object is, the smaller it appears. Beyond this well-known saying, we recognize that viewing a picture online or reading about an object’s height often doesn’t fully convey its actual size.
The items on this list, ranging from cacti to wombats to vintage hard drives, are all larger than one might expect. Google Images can’t adequately capture their true dimensions, so we’ve compiled a collection of comparative sizing to give you a better sense of just how wide, tall, and heavy these animals, people, and objects really are.
1. Wombats Are Huge
Found In: Australia
Est. Cost: N/A (Not Suitable As A Pet)
This adorable and cuddly marsupial is known as a wombat. Despite their cute appearance, wombats are not the size of kittens or puppies—they are quite large. These surprisingly muscular creatures can weigh up to 77 pounds.
Although generally friendly, it’s best not to get on the bad side of these creatures. Wild wombats can become quite standoffish and possess sharp teeth and claws that are best avoided. Fans of “The Irwins” on WBD may recall a 2022 episode where the animal-loving Irwins dealt with a particularly cranky wombat named Bunker, showcasing the potential aggression of these animals.
2. What the World’s Tallest Man Looks Like with a Can of Soda
Found In: Mardin, Turkey
Est. Cost: $1.99* (Per can of soda)
Sultan Kosen, a Turkish farmer born in 1982, holds the Guinness World Record as the tallest man on Earth. He stands at a height of 8 feet 2.82 inches, with notably large limbs, hands, and feet.
Here, we see Kosen holding a regular-sized can of Pepsi to illustrate the size of his hands. Kosen’s extraordinary height is due to two conditions: acromegaly and gigantism, both caused by issues with the pituitary gland. Rather than making him an NBA star, these conditions have necessitated the use of crutches for walking.
3. True Size of The Great Pyramid of Giza
Found In: Giza Necropolis, Egypt
Est. Cost: $6.47 for a ticket to visit (locals visit free)*
The Great Pyramid of Giza rightfully stands as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is the only wonder among them that has largely remained intact over the centuries. Each year, millions of visitors are drawn to marvel at this incredible achievement of human ingenuity and engineering.
Located in Egypt, the Great Pyramid was built around 25 B.C. and took twenty-seven years to complete. Standing at 455 feet tall, it is a seemingly impossible marvel. Some even claim that The History Channel’s suggestion that aliens, rather than ancient humans, were responsible for this engineering feat might be true.
4. This is How Big Some Road Signs Are
Found In: U.S.
Est. Cost: $25-$40 per square foot*
When you drive past a road sign, you likely only notice its message, not its size. Thanks to forced perspective, the sign doesn’t appear huge. It’s only when you’re up close that you can truly appreciate its size.
Some road signs are enormous, spanning dozens of feet in length and width. Instead of being ordered on Amazon, entire manufacturing plants, often employing prisoners as their labor force, are contracted to produce these road signs for federal and state governments.
5. This is the Size of a Wind Turbine
Found In: Worldwide
Est. Cost: $2-$4 million*
The average cost to purchase a typical wind turbine ranges from $2 to $4 million, with annual operational costs averaging between $42,000 and $48,000. These turbines harness the kinetic energy of the wind and convert it into electricity, with thousands of these eco-friendly machines in operation worldwide.
The height of wind turbines has grown significantly over the years. Since the 1990s, their size has increased by 60%, now standing between 260 and 300 feet tall. Manufacturers such as General Electric, Vestas, Siemens, and others have enlarged their turbines to enhance power generation and energy output.
6. The Size of the Titanic vs. a Modern-day Cruise Ship
Found In: Worldwide
Est. Cost: $200 million to build the Titanic* (Inflation-Adjusted)
The Titanic tragedy was not just a popular movie starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio; it was a real-life event. Despite being touted as unsinkable, the Titanic sank into the depths of the North Atlantic in 1912 after colliding with an iceberg.
7. The Biggest Baby in the World Compared to an Average-sized Baby
Found In: Indonesia
Est. Cost: N/A
According to BabyCenter, the average weight for a baby falls between seven and eight pounds. Nonetheless, as depicted in this image, some babies surpass these norms significantly. This bundle of joy, born in Indonesia a few years ago, was among the largest babies ever delivered.
He tips the scales at 19.2 pounds and stretches over a foot in length. To put things in perspective, this baby weighed nearly as much as a push lawn mower from Home Depot at birth. Clearly, he was delivered via C-section to spare his mother.
8. A Lion’s Mane Jellyfish
Found In: Northern Pacific, Northern Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans
Est. Cost: N/A
This stunning and peculiar sea creature is called the Lion’s Mane Jellyfish, capable of reaching lengths of up to 120 feet. These jellyfish are typically found in the cold, boreal waters of the Northern Pacific, Northern Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans.
The length of the Lion’s Mane jellyfish makes it almost as long as six Ford F-150s stacked end-to-end. Despite its intimidating appearance, its stings, while painful, are not fatal, and allergic reactions are uncommon.
9. A Blue Whale and a Big Ship
Found In: All Oceans (Minus the Arctic)
Est. Cost: N/A
Blue Whales hold the title of Earth’s largest creatures, with females stretching up to seventy-nine feet (while males are typically around ten feet shorter). When compared to these marine mammals, boats seem minuscule. Additionally, Blue Whales have an impressive lifespan, living up to ninety years in the wild.
Blue Whales would be a lackluster addition to WBD Shark Week, given their gentle nature, preferring krill over humans as their meal of choice. Due to their immense size, these whales are only preyed upon by Killer Whales. Hunting a Blue Whale requires Killer Whales to cooperate in packs, akin to wolves, as an individual stands no chance against such a colossal creature.
10. A 10MB Hard Drive from the 1960s
Found In: Worldwide
Est. Cost: $3,000-$4,000*
Commercial use of hard disk drives began in the late 1950s, and they were quite different in appearance compared to modern drives. During the 1960s, hard drives were enormous because technology had not yet been miniaturized.
Unlike our sleek Mac laptops, computers in the 1960s weighed 1,000 pounds and were as large as two desks put together. While this was an improvement over older computers that filled entire rooms, the technology of the 1960s was far from sleek and portable.
11. Bear Claw vs. Human Hand
Found In: Western U.S., Western Canada
Est. Cost: $290 for a grizzly claw at Glacier Wear*
When considering the potential dangers of hiking or camping, one might immediately think of the frightening possibility of encountering a grizzly bear. These bears are enormous, as illustrated in this photo.
Their claws measure between two and four inches long, which they use for digging roots, excavating dens, and defending against threats. According to the National Park Service, if you encounter a grizzly bear, move away slowly and sideways. If the bear continues to approach, stand your ground and do not run.
12. Large Traffic Light or Very Small Lady?
Found In: Worldwide
Est. Cost: $200,000-$500,000 to install*
Even when the traffic light is this large, some people still won’t notice it until you honk your horn. As shown in this image, traffic lights are approximately the height of a small child and three times as wide.
These lights not only exceed your size expectations but also come with a hefty price tag. Installation of a traffic signal, as per the Wyoming Department of Transportation, can range from $200,000 to half a million dollars. This cost includes utility adjustments, repairs, access ramps, and other necessary intersection features.
13. The Mona Lisa is Smaller Than the Average TV Set
Found In: The Louvre, Paris, France
Est. Cost: Over $1 billion*
Created by Leonardo Da Vinci and inspired by a wealthy socialite, The Mona Lisa stands as a masterpiece from the Italian Renaissance. This portrait holds a significant place in the art world, being the most visited and well-known work of art on Earth.
Despite its reputation, “The Mona Lisa” is actually a relatively small half-length portrait, smaller than the average television set. According to Britannica, the portrait’s speculative price could exceed $1 billion, largely due to its immense cultural value.
14. A Full Sized Snapping Turtle
Found In: Southern U.S.A.
Est. Cost: N/A (Not Suitable For A Pet)
This grouchy-looking, sturdy reptile is a snapping turtle, and encountering one while swimming is not something you’d want. Certain species of snapping turtles can reach lengths of up to 29 inches and weights of 249 pounds.
The Alligator Snapping Turtle, depicted here, is a freshwater species known for being one of the heaviest breeds globally. These turtles can exert a biting force of up to 1,000 pounds, easily capable of snapping through bone. Despite their fearsome appearance, Alligator Snapping Turtles are generally docile. When encountering humans, they are more inclined to retreat rather than attack.
15. This is What a T. Rex’s Tooth Looks Like
Found In: Western U.S.
Est. Cost: $9,500*
Sixty-five million years ago, the Tyrannosaurus rex became extinct, marking the end of a true monster in the world’s history. The T. rex was known for its incredible fearsomeness and aggression, boasting a bite force of 35,000 newtons, far surpassing the 300 newtons of a human bite.
Tyrannosaurus rex, or T. rex, had teeth ranging from six to twelve inches long. As strict carnivores, they were apex predators, easily capable of hunting down and consuming large dinosaurs such as Triceratops, Anatosaurus, and Edmontosaurus.
16. The True Size Of The Sun = One Million Earths
Found In: The Sun
Est. Cost: N/A
This image, shared by @mikewhitmore on Twitter, illustrates the immense size of the sun. It has the capacity to contain one million Earths within it without any strain. The sun is a nearly perfectly spherical mass of hot plasma situated at the heart of our Solar System.
It’s heated to incandescence by nuclear reactions in its core. This 4.603-billion-year-old star is nearly 93 million miles away from Earth, yet it still warms us and provides the energy all life on the planet needs to survive.
17. One Really Big Cactus
Found In: Southern U.S., Mexico
Est. Cost: $80-$120 per foot*
People living in or visiting the Southwestern U.S. and Mexico are frequently amazed by the massive and stunning saguaro cacti that punctuate the barren desert scenery in those areas. While these saguaros thrive in their natural habitat, some gardening enthusiasts attempt to cultivate them domestically, although they can be quite costly, priced up to $120 per square foot for a fully-grown specimen.
