Space & Astronomy

List of Planets in the Solar System by Size

A ranked list of all eight planets in our solar system ordered by their diameter from largest to smallest.

8 itemsUpdated Mar 14, 2026

Our solar system is home to eight officially recognized planets, each vastly different in size, composition, and character. Jupiter dominates as the largest, with a diameter more than 11 times that of Earth, while Mercury is the smallest, barely larger than our Moon. The four inner rocky planets — Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars — are dwarfed by the four outer gas and ice giants. Understanding planetary sizes helps scientists study formation patterns, gravitational influences, and the potential for habitability across our cosmic neighborhood.

#	Name	Type	Moons	Diameter	Day Length
1	Jupiter Gas Giant Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system with a diameter of 139,820 km. Known for its iconic Great Red Spot, it has at least 95 known moons including the four large Galilean moons.	Gas Giant	95	139,820 km	9.93 hours
2	Saturn Gas Giant Saturn is the second largest planet and is best known for its stunning ring system made of ice and rock particles. It is the least dense planet and could theoretically float on water.	Gas Giant	146	116,460 km	10.66 hours
3	Uranus Ice Giant Uranus is the third largest planet and rotates on its side with an axial tilt of 98 degrees. Its blue-green color comes from methane in the atmosphere absorbing red light.	Ice Giant	28	50,724 km	17.24 hours
4	Neptune Ice Giant Neptune is the fourth largest planet and the farthest from the Sun. It has the strongest sustained winds of any planet in the solar system, reaching speeds up to 2,100 km/h.	Ice Giant	16	49,528 km	16.11 hours
5	Earth Terrestrial Planet Earth is the fifth largest planet and the only known world to support life. Its liquid water, magnetic field, and atmosphere create the perfect conditions for a thriving biosphere.	Terrestrial	1	12,742 km	24 hours
6	Venus Terrestrial Planet Venus is the sixth largest planet and the hottest in the solar system due to a runaway greenhouse effect. Its thick atmosphere traps heat, pushing surface temperatures to 465°C.	Terrestrial	0	12,104 km	243 days (retrograde)
7	Mars Terrestrial Planet Mars is the seventh largest planet and is known as the Red Planet due to iron oxide on its surface. It is home to Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano in the solar system.	Terrestrial	2	6,779 km	24.62 hours
8	Mercury Terrestrial Planet Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system and the closest to the Sun. Despite its proximity to the Sun, it is not the hottest planet — Venus holds that title.	Terrestrial	0	4,879 km	58.65 days

This list is compiled from verified public records and reference sources. Last verified: March 14, 2026.

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