To help compare different orders of magnitude, the following lists describe various mass levels between 10−67 kilograms (kg) and 1052 kg. The least massive thing listed here is a graviton, and the most massive thing is the observable universe. Typically, an object having greater mass will also have greater weight (see mass versus weight), especially if the objects are subject to the same gravitational field strength.
Units of mass
The table above is based on the kilogram, the base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI). The kilogram is the only standard unit to include an SI prefix (kilo-) as part of its name. The gram (10−3 kg) is an SI derived unit of mass. However, the names of all SI mass units are based on gram, rather than on kilogram; thus 103 kg is a megagram (106 g), not a *kilokilogram.
The tonne (t) is an SI-compatible unit of mass equal to a megagram (Mg), or 103 kg. The unit is in common use for masses above about 103 kg and is often used with SI prefixes. For example, a gigagram (Gg) or 109 g is 103 tonnes, commonly called a kilotonne.
Other units Other units of mass are also in use. Historical units include the stone, the pound, the carat, and the grain.
For subatomic particles, physicists use the mass-equivalent of an electronvolt (eV). At the atomic level, chemists use the mass of one-twelfth of a carbon-12 atom (the dalton). Astronomers use the mass of the sun ().
The least massive things: below 10−24 kg
Unlike other physical quantities, mass–energy does not have an a priori expected minimal quantity, or an observed basic quantum as in the case of electric charge. Planck's law allows for the existence of photons with arbitrarily low energies. Consequently, there can only ever be an experimental upper bound on the mass of a supposedly massless particle; in the case of the photon, this confirmed upper bound is of the order of = .
Factor (kg)ValueItem10−671.07 kgGraviton, upper bound (6 eV/c2)10−404.2 kgMass equivalent of the energy of a photon at the peak of the spectrum of the cosmic microwave background radiation (0.235 meV/c2)10−361.8 kg1 eV/c2, the mass equivalent of one electronvolt3.6 kgElectron neutrino, upper limit on mass (2 eV/c2)"The most sensitive analysis on the neutrino mass [...] is compatible with a neutrino mass of zero. Considering its uncertainties this value corresponds to an upper limit on the electron neutrino mass of m<2.2 eV/c2 (95% Confidence Level)" The Mainz Neutrino Mass Experiment 10−33quectogram (qg) 10−319.11 kgElectron (511 keV/c2), the least massive elementary particle with a measured nonzero rest mass10−30rontogram (rg) 3.0–5.5 kgUp quark (as a current quark), the least massive quark (1.7–3.1 MeV/c2)10−28 1.9 kgMuon (106 MeV/c2)10−27yoctogram (yg) 1.661 kgDalton (Da), a.k.a. unified atomic mass unit (u)1.673 kgProton (938.3 MeV/c2)1.674 kgHydrogen atom, the lightest atom1.675 kgNeutron (939.6 MeV/c2)3.168 kgTau (1.78 GeV/c2), the most massive lepton10−261.2 kgLithium atom (6.941 Da)3.0 kgWater molecule (18.015 Da)8.0 kgTitanium atom (47.867 Da)10−251.1 kgCopper atom (63.546 Da)1.6 kgZ boson (91.2 GeV/c2)2.2 kgHiggs boson (125 GeV/c2)3.1 kgTop quark (173 GeV/c2), the most massive known elementary particle3.2 kgCaffeine molecule (194 Da)3.5 kgLead-208 atom4.9 kgOganesson-294 atom, the heaviest known nuclide
10−24 to 10−18 kg
Factor (kg)ValueItem10−24zeptogram (zg)1.2 kgBuckyball molecule (720 Da)10−231.4 kgUbiquitin, a small ubiquitous protein (8.6 kDa)5.5 kgA typical protein (median size of roughly 300 amino acids ≈ 33 kDa)10−221.1 kgHaemoglobin A molecule in blood (64.5 kDa)10−21attogram (ag)1.65 kgDouble-stranded DNA molecule consisting of 1,578 base pairs (995 kDa)From attograms to Daltons: Cornell NEMS device detects the mass of a single DNA molecule . Retrieved 2010-10-144.3 kgProkaryotic ribosome (2.6 MDa)7.1 kgEukaryotic ribosome (4.3 MDa)7.6 kgBrome mosaic virus, a small virus (4.6 MDa)10−203 kgSynaptic vesicle in rats (16.1 ± 3.8 MDa)6.8 kgTobacco mosaic virus (41 MDa)10−191.1 kgNuclear pore complex in yeast (66 MDa)2.5 kgHuman adenovirus (150 MDa)
10−18 to 10−12 kg
Factor (kg)ValueItem10−18femtogram (fg)1 kgHIV-1 virusCalculated : volume = 4/3 × π × (126e−9 m / 2)3 = 1.05e−21 m3. Assume density = 1 g/cm3 => mass = 1.05e−21 m3 × 1e3 kg/m3 = 1.05e−18 kg4.7 kgDNA sequence of length 4.6 Mbp, the weight of the E. coli genome10−17~1 kgVaccinia virus, a large virus1.1 kgMass equivalent of 1 joule10−163 kgProchlorococcus cyanobacteria, the smallest (and possibly most plentiful) photosynthetic organism on Earth10−15picogram (pg)1 kgE. coli bacterium (wet weight)6 kgDNA in a typical diploid human cell (approximate)10−142.2 kgHuman sperm cellM. R. Curry, J. D. Millar, S. M. Tamuli & P. F. Watson, "Surface Area & Volume Measurements for Ram & Human Spermatozoa," Biology of Reproduction, 55, 6 (1996‑12‑01): 1325–32.6 kgYeast cell (quite variable)10−131.5 kgDunaliella salina, a green alga (dry weight)
10−12 to 10−6 kg
Factor (kg)ValueItem10−12nanogram (ng)1 kgAverage human cell (1 nanogram)2–3 kgHeLa human cell8 kgGrain of birch pollen "the total pollen grain mass of approximately 7.85 ng"10−11 10−102.5 kgGrain of maize pollen "The dry weight of individual pollen grains has been estimated at 250 ng"3.5 kgVery fine grain of sand (0.063 mm diameter, 350 nanograms)10−9microgram (μg)3.6 kgHuman ovumMass calculated from volume assuming density of 1 g/mL2.4 kgUS RDA for vitamin B12 for adults10−8Speculated approximate lower limit of the mass of a primordial black holeUS RDA for vitamin D for adults~2 kgUncertainty in the mass of the International Prototype of the Kilogram (IPK) (±~20μg)Report to the CGPM, 14th meeting of the Consultative Committee for Units (CCU), April 2001, 2. (ii); General Conference on Weights and Measures, 22nd Meeting, October 2003, which stated "The kilogram is in need of a new definition because the mass of the prototype is known to vary by several parts in 108 over periods of time of the order of a month ..." (3.2MB ZIP file, here).2.2 kgPlanck mass, can be expressed as the mass of a 2 Planck Length radius black hole~7 kgOne eyelash hair (approximate)10−71.5 kgUS RDA for iodine for adults2–3 kgFruit fly (dry weight)
10−6 to 1 kg
Factor (kg)ValueItem10−6milligram (mg)2.5 kgMosquitoes, common smaller species (about 2.5 milligrams), grain of salt or sand, medicines are typically expressed in milligrams10−5centigram (cg)1.1 kgSmall granule of quartz (2 mm diameter, 11 milligrams)Quartz has a density of 2.65. Mass = Volume × Density = (4/3 × π × (1e−3 m)3) × (2.65 × 1e3 kg/m3) = 1.1e−5 kg.2 kgAdult housefly (Musca domestica, 21.4 milligrams)10−4decigram (dg)0.27–2.0 kgRange of amounts of caffeine in one cup of coffee (27–200 milligrams)1.5 kgA frame of 35mm motion picture film (157 milligrams)2 kgMetric carat (200 milligrams)10−3gram (g)1 kgOne cubic centimeter of water (1 gram)1 kgUS dollar bill (1 gram)~1 kgTwo raisins (approximately 1 gram)~8 kgCoins of one euro (7.5 grams), one US dollar (8.1 grams) and one Canadian loonie (7 grams [pre-2012], 6.27 grams [2012-]) 10−2decagram (dag)1.2 kgMass of one mole (6.02214 atoms) of carbon-12 (12 grams)1.37 kgAmount of ethanol defined as one standard drink in the US (13.7 grams)2–4 kgAdult mouse (Mus musculus, 20–40 grams)2.8 kgOunce (avoirdupois) (28.3495 grams)4.7 kgMass equivalent of the energy that is 1 megaton of TNT equivalentCalculated: 1e6 tons of TNT-equivalent × 4.184e9 J/ton of TNT-equivalent × 1.1e−17 kg of mass-equivalent/J = 4.7e−2 kg of mass-equivalent10−1hectogram (hg)0.1-0.2 kgAn orange (100–200 grams)0.142-0.149 kgA baseball used in the major league.Christina Lee, "Mass of a Baseball", The Physics Factbook, 1999. Retrieved 2018-07-040.454 kgPound (avoirdupois) (453.6 grams)0.9 kgMicroraptor, a small, four-winged dinosaur
1 kg to 105 kg
Factor (kg)ValueItem1 kgkilogram (kg)1 kgOne litre (0.001 m3) of water1–3 kgSmallest breed of dog (Chihuahua)1–3 kgTypical laptop computer, 20101–3 kgAdult domestic tortoise2.5–4 kgNewborn human baby4.0 kg Women's shot4–5 kgHousecat7.26 kgMen's shot1019–27 kgMedium-sized dog31.5 kgAverage weight of a CRT television from 200750 kgLarge dog breed (Great Dane)70 kgAdult human102130–180 kgMature lion, female (130 kg) and male (180 kg)200–250 kgGiant tortoise240–450 kgGrand pianoCalculated: 540 lbs × 0.4536 kg/lb = 240 kg. 990 lb × 0.4536 kg/lb = 450 kg.400–900 kgDairy cow500–500,000 kgA teaspoon (5 ml) of white dwarf material (0.5–500 tonnes)Using the quoted density of 1e5 to 1e8 kg/m3 for white dwarf material, 1 teaspoon = 5mL = 5e−3 m3 has a calculated mass of: Low end: 5e−3 m3 × 1e5 kg/m3 = 5e2 kg High end: 5e−3 m3 × 1e8 kg/m3 = 5e5 kg635 kgHeaviest human in recorded history (Jon Brower Minnoch)907.2 kg1 short ton (2,000 pounds - US)103megagram (Mg)1000 kg1 tonne (US spelling: metric ton)1000 kg1 cubic metre of water1016.05 kgTon (British) / 1 long ton (2,240 pounds - US)1300–1600 kgTypical passenger cars2700–6000 kgAdult elephant1041.1 kgHubble Space Telescope (11 tonnes)1.2 kgLargest elephant on record (12 tonnes)1.4 kgBig Ben (bell) (14 tonnes)2.7 kgENIAC computer, 1946 (30 tonnes)4 kgMaximum gross mass (truck + load combined) of a semi-trailer truck in the EU (40–44 tonnes)5–6 kgTank; Bulldozer (50–60 tonnes)6.0 kgLargest single-piece meteorite, Hoba West Meteorite (60 tonnes)7.3 kgLargest dinosaur, Argentinosaurus (73 tonnes)1051.74-1.83 kgOperational empty weight of a Boeing 747-3001.8 kgLargest animal ever, a blue whale (180 tonnes)4.2 kgInternational Space Station (417 tonnes)6 kgWorld's heaviest aircraft: Antonov An-225 (maximum take-off mass: 600 tonnes, payload: 250 tonnes)
106 to 1011 kg
Factor (kg)ValueItem106gigagram (Gg)1 kgTrunk of the giant sequoia tree named General Sherman, largest living tree by trunk volume (1,121 tonnes)2.0 kgLaunch mass of the Space Shuttle (2,041 tonnes)6 kgLargest clonal colony, the quaking aspen named Pando (largest living organism) (6,000 tonnes)7.8 kgVirginia-class nuclear submarine (submerged weight) 1071 kgAnnual production of Darjeeling tea5.2 kgRMS Titanic when fully loaded (52,000 tonnes)9.97 kgHeaviest train ever: Australia's BHP Iron Ore, 2001 record (99,700 tonnes)1086.6 kgLargest ship and largest mobile man-made object, Seawise Giant, when fully loaded (660,000 tonnes)7 kgHeaviest (non-pyramid) building, Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, Romania109teragram (Tg)4.3 kgAmount of matter converted into energy by the Sun each second6 kgGreat Pyramid of Giza10106 kgAmount of concrete in the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest concrete structure1011~1 kgThe mass of a primordial black hole with an evaporation time equal to the age of the universe2 kgAmount of water stored in London storage reservoirs (0.2 km3)6 kgTotal mass of the world's human population5 kgTotal biomass of Antarctic krill, one of the most plentiful animal species on the planet in terms of biomass
1012 to 1017 kg