How much does a mouse weigh? - briefly
A typical adult house mouse weighs between 20 g and 30 g, roughly 0.7 oz to 1.1 oz.
How much does a mouse weigh? - in detail
A typical house mouse (Mus musculus) weighs between 12 g and 30 g, with the most common range of 18 g to 25 g for adult individuals. Laboratory strains, such as C57BL/6, usually fall within 20 g to 28 g, reflecting controlled breeding and diet. Wild mouse species display broader variation: the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) averages 15 g to 35 g, while the larger African pygmy mouse (Mus minutoides) can be as light as 5 g to 10 g.
Factors that affect mass include age, sex, nutritional status, and seasonal changes. Juvenile mice gain weight rapidly during the first four weeks, reaching adult size by eight weeks. Males generally exceed females by 2 g to 4 g, attributable to larger body size and muscle mass. Seasonal food availability can cause fluctuations of up to 10 % in wild populations.
Weight measurement methods:
- Precision analytical balance (0.1 mg resolution) for laboratory research.
- Pocket scale (1 g resolution) for field sampling, calibrated before each use.
- Digital video analysis combined with calibrated reference objects for non‑invasive estimates.
Conversion to other units:
- 1 g ≈ 0.035 oz (avoirdupois).
- 1 oz ≈ 28.35 g.
For comparative purposes, a mouse’s mass is roughly equivalent to a single teaspoon of granulated sugar or a standard AA battery.