Why does your weight change from planet to planet?
Your weight is the force with which a planet pulls you towards its surface. That force depends on surface gravity, which varies with the planet’s mass and size. On a small, light planet like Mars, the pull is weaker: you weigh less. On a giant like Jupiter, it’s the opposite.
The formula is simple: weight on the planet = weight on Earth × (planet’s gravity ÷ Earth’s gravity).
Gravity on each planet
| Body | Gravity (m/s²) | Compared to Earth |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury | 3.7 | × 0.377 |
| Venus | 8.87 | × 0.904 |
| Earth | 9.81 | × 1 |
| Moon | 1.62 | × 0.165 |
| Mars | 3.71 | × 0.378 |
| Jupiter | 24.79 | × 2.527 |
| Saturn | 10.44 | × 1.064 |
| Uranus | 8.87 | × 0.904 |
| Neptune | 11.15 | × 1.137 |
| Pluto | 0.62 | × 0.063 |
| Sun | 274 | × 27.931 |
Mass or weight: what’s the difference?
In everyday life we say “I weigh 70 kilos”. Strictly speaking, the kilogram measures mass: the amount of matter you’re made of, which never changes. Weight is a force that depends on gravity. On Mars, your mass would still be 70 kg, but your scale would show about 26.5 kg. That “on the scale” number is what we display.
And how high could you jump?
With less gravity, you would jump higher… and stay in the air longer. Lopy jumps here with the real height and real flight time: on the Moon, the jump lasts almost 4 seconds, versus just over half a second on Earth. On Pluto, it would stay airborne for about ten seconds!
Frequently asked questions
How much would I weigh on Mars?
Gravity on Mars is 38% of Earth’s. To find your weight on Mars, multiply your Earth weight by 0.38: a 150 lb person would weigh about 57 lb there.
How much would I weigh on the Moon?
On the Moon, gravity is about six times weaker than on Earth (16.5%). A 150 lb person would weigh barely 25 lb, and could jump six times higher.
Does my mass change from planet to planet?
No. Your mass (the amount of matter you’re made of) is the same everywhere. What changes is your weight: the force with which the planet pulls on you. A scale measures that force, hence the different numbers.
Why is gravity different on each planet?
Surface gravity depends on a planet’s mass and size. Jupiter is huge and very massive: you would weigh 2.5 times more there. Mars is smaller and lighter than Earth: you weigh much less.
Can you stand on Jupiter?
No: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are gas giants with no solid surface. The values shown are the gravity at the cloud tops.
How is the jump height calculated?
We start from a 50 cm (20 in) jump on Earth. Height is inversely proportional to gravity: about 3 m (10 ft) on the Moon, nearly 8 m (26 ft) on Pluto, and less than 2 cm on the Sun.
Is my weight stored?
No. The calculation happens entirely in your browser. Your weight is only kept on your device for your next visit, and is never sent to our server.
You’ll also like
How old are you on Mars? Your age on every planet →