Sun and Jupiter Size Comparison
The Sun is about 10 times wider than Jupiter. By volume, it is roughly equivalent to 1,000 Jupiters. Earth becomes a tiny dot when all three share the same scale.
See the measurement sourcesTen times wider means much more volume
When a sphere becomes ten times wider, its volume becomes ten cubed: one thousand times as large. That is why “about ten times wider” and “about one thousand times the volume” can both describe the same comparison.
Using the volume-mean diameters in the diagram gives a width ratio of about 9.95 and a derived volume ratio of about 985. The everyday rounded description is about ten times wider and about a thousand times the volume.
Keep the measurement convention consistent
| Object | Diameter | Convention |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1,391,400 km | Volume-mean |
| Jupiter | 139,822 km | Volume-mean reference value |
| Earth | 12,742 km | Volume-mean |
Jupiter’s equatorial diameter is larger than its volume-mean diameter. Comparing that equatorial width with the Sun gives a slightly different ratio. The diagram uses volume-mean values throughout instead of silently mixing definitions.
The Jupiter and Earth size comparison shows an equatorial comparison and explains the 2026 Juno revision.
Size is not distance
These circles do not show the spacing of the solar system. At a true distance scale, a readable picture of the Sun and planets would need much more room. Here, position is chosen for clarity while diameter stays to scale.
A little more perspective
Does a thousand Jupiters mean a thousand times the mass?
No. The statement here is about volume. Mass depends on density as well as volume, so it needs its own measurement.
Why is Earth so difficult to see?
At this scale, the Sun is about 109 Earth diameters wide. The Earth dot is intentionally small; its label gives the measurement in readable text.
Does changing kilometres to miles change the diagram?
No. Converting units changes the labels, not the relative sizes. Every object remains on the same scale.
Sources and measurement notes
- NASA · Sun Fact Sheet
Volume-mean radius of 695,700 km; the diagram uses the corresponding 1,391,400 km diameter.
- NASA · Jupiter Fact Sheet
Volume-mean radii of 69,911 km for Jupiter and 6,371 km for Earth. These reference-table values are distinct from the revised equatorial measurement.
Content reviewed . Observation dates and measurement conventions are stated separately above.