Uranus
A world turned on its side.
How big is Uranus? Uranus is 51,118 km (31,763 miles) across at its equator — 4.01 times wider than Earth — and about 63 Earths could fit inside it. Gravity at the 1-bar level in its atmosphere is 8.7 m/s², 0.89 times Earth’s.
Uranus rolls around the Sun with an extreme axial tilt. Methane in its atmosphere absorbs red light, contributing to the planet’s pale blue-green appearance.
Image: NASA / JPL-Caltech. Processed mission imagery; apparent color varies with filters and processing.
Uranus quick facts
| Planet type | Ice giant |
|---|---|
| Equatorial diameter | 51,118 km (31,763 mi) |
| Mean radius | 25,362 km (15,759 mi) |
| Size compared with Earth | 4.01× as wide · 63.1× the volume |
| Equatorial circumference | 160,592 km (99,787 mi) |
| Surface area | 8.08 × 10⁹ km² |
| Volume | 6.83 × 10¹³ km³ |
| Mass | 8.68 × 10²⁵ kg (14.5 Earth masses) |
| Mean density | 1,270 kg/m³ (1.27 g/cm³) |
| Surface gravity | 8.7 m/s² (0.89× Earth) at 1 bar |
| Escape velocity | 21.3 km/s |
| Length of day (solar) | 17.2 hours |
| Rotation period (sidereal) | 17.2 hours, retrograde |
| Orbital period (year) | 30,589 Earth days (83.75 Earth years) |
| Mean distance from the Sun | 2,867 million km (1,781.5 million mi) · 19.16 AU |
| Closest and farthest from the Sun | 2,732.7 – 3,001.4 million km |
| Distance from Earth | 2,580.6 – 3,153.5 million km |
| Sunlight travel time | 2 h 39 min |
| Mean orbital speed | 6.8 km/s |
| Axial tilt | 97.8° |
| Mean temperature | -195 °C at 1 bar |
| Known moons | 29 |
| Ring system | Yes |
Reference: NASA Planetary Fact Sheet. Rounded values; diameters are equatorial, area and volume use the mean radius. Moon counts include discoveries announced through 2025 (such as Uranus’s S/2025 U1) and keep growing as new moons are confirmed.
How big is Uranus compared to Earth?
Uranus’s equatorial diameter of 51,118 km makes it 4.01 times wider than Earth. By volume, about 63 Earths could fit inside it. Its mass is 14.5 times Earth’s, so its average density is similar: 1,270 kg/m³ (1.27 g/cm³).
Earth’s equatorial diameter is 12,756 km (7,926 miles). See every planet to scale ↗
What is the gravity on Uranus?
Gravity on Uranus is about 8.7 m/s² at the 1-bar level in its atmosphere: 0.89 times Earth’s 9.8 m/s². Someone who weighs 100 lb on Earth would weigh about 89 lb on Uranus. To escape its pull, a rocket needs 21.3 km/s.
Calculate your weight on Uranus ↗How far is Uranus from the Sun and Earth?
Uranus orbits an average 2,867 million km (1,781.5 million miles, 19.16 AU) from the Sun, ranging from 2,732.7 to 3,001.4 million km. Sunlight takes 2 h 39 min to get there. Its distance from Earth varies from about 2,580.6 to 3,153.5 million km.
Time sunlight’s journey ↗How long is a day and a year on Uranus?
A solar day on Uranus lasts 17.2 hours, and one spin relative to the stars takes 17.2 hours, retrograde. A year — one trip around the Sun at 6.8 km/s — lasts 30,589 Earth days (83.75 Earth years). Its axis is tilted 97.8°.
Watch the orbit ↗Is Uranus a gas giant or an ice giant?
Uranus is usually called an ice giant rather than a gas giant. Like Jupiter and Saturn it has no solid surface, but more of its mass is made of “ices” — water, ammonia and methane — beneath a hydrogen–helium atmosphere. Uranus and Neptune are the two ice giants.
Meet all eight planets ↗Uranus questions, answered
How big is Uranus compared to Earth?
Uranus is 51,118 km (31,763 miles) wide at its equator, 4.01 times wider than Earth. By volume, about 63 Earths could fit inside it, and its mass is 14.5 times Earth’s.
What is the gravity on Uranus?
Gravity on Uranus is about 8.7 m/s² at the 1-bar level in its atmosphere, or 0.89 times Earth’s. Someone who weighs 100 lb on Earth would weigh about 89 lb there; escape velocity is 21.3 km/s.
What is the mass of Uranus?
Uranus has a mass of about 8.68 × 10²⁵ kg, or 14.5 Earth masses. Its mean density is 1,270 kg/m³ (1.27 g/cm³).
How far is Uranus from Earth?
The distance changes as both planets orbit the Sun. Uranus comes within about 2,580.6 million km of Earth and can be as far as 3,153.5 million km away. It orbits 19.16 AU from the Sun on average.
How long is a year on Uranus?
One orbit takes about 30,589 Earth days (83.75 Earth years). A solar day on Uranus lasts 17.2 hours.
Is Uranus a gas giant or an ice giant?
Uranus is usually called an ice giant rather than a gas giant. Like Jupiter and Saturn it has no solid surface, but more of its mass is made of “ices” — water, ammonia and methane — beneath a hydrogen–helium atmosphere. Uranus and Neptune are the two ice giants.
What is the density of Uranus?
Uranus’s mean density is 1,270 kg/m³ (1.27 g/cm³). Earth’s is 5,514 kg/m³.