What is the Biggest State? Largest US State by Area

If someone asked you to name the biggest state in the US, you’d probably say Alaska — and you’d be right. But the numbers behind that answer are more staggering than most people realize. With a total area of 665,384 square miles, Alaska is more than double the size of Texas, the second largest state. Here’s a data‑driven look at how Alaska dominates the map and answers to common questions about state size.

Largest state by area: Alaska — 665,384 sq mi · Second largest: Texas — 268,596 sq mi · Smallest state: Rhode Island — 1,545 sq mi · Alaska vs Texas size ratio: 2.5x larger · Alaska’s share of total US area: ~16%

The table confirms a hierarchy where Alaska stands apart from the rest of the states by a vast margin.

What is the biggest state?

The biggest state in the United States is Alaska. Its total area of 665,384 square miles (1,723,337 square kilometers) makes it the undisputed largest by a wide margin. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica (authoritative encyclopedia), Alaska alone accounts for about 16% of the entire land area of the United States. To put that in perspective, you could fit the entire state of Texas into Alaska more than twice — and still have room left over.

When people ask “what is the biggest state,” they almost always mean by total area. By that measure, Alaska is the clear winner. The US Census Bureau (federal statistical agency) provides the official area figures that underpin these rankings.

What this means: Alaska’s sheer scale forces travelers and policymakers to plan for conditions that are more extreme than anywhere else in the US.

Is Alaska or Texas bigger?

Alaska is bigger than Texas by about 396,788 square miles — a difference larger than the entire state of California. Texas, with a total area of 268,596 square miles (695,662 square kilometers), is the second largest state. The ratio is roughly 2.5 to 1 in favor of Alaska. Encyclopaedia Britannica (authoritative encyclopedia) notes that Alaska is more than double the size of Texas.

One memorable comparison: Texas fits into Alaska two times, according to Alaska.org (tourism guide). Another shorthand says Alaska is about 3.1 times wider east to west than Texas and 1.9 times taller north to south.

Before the comparison table, one pattern stands out: the gap between Alaska and Texas is larger than the area of Texas itself.

The implication: the sheer scale of Alaska is not just a numerical gap — it redefines what “big” means in a US context. No other state comes close.

What are the top 10 biggest states?

Here are the ten largest US states by total area, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica (authoritative encyclopedia):

1. Alaska – 665,384 sq mi
2. Texas – 268,596 sq mi
3. California – 163,696 sq mi
4. Montana – 147,040 sq mi
5. New Mexico – 121,590 sq mi
6. Arizona – 113,990 sq mi
7. Nevada – 110,572 sq mi
8. Colorado – 104,094 sq mi
9. Oregon – 98,379 sq mi
10. Wyoming – 97,813 sq mi

The fifth spot belongs to New Mexico, while California takes third despite having the largest population. Notably, only five states exceed 100,000 square miles in total area. The data comes from the US Census Bureau (federal statistical agency) and is compiled by States Symbols USA (state symbols repository).

The pattern: there’s a steep drop after Alaska, then a more gradual descent among the rest.

What is the smallest state in the U.S. by area?

The smallest state by area is Rhode Island, with just 1,545 square miles. For comparison, you could fit Rhode Island into Alaska more than 430 times. Other small states include Delaware (2,489 sq mi), Connecticut (5,543 sq mi), New Jersey (8,723 sq mi), New Hampshire (9,349 sq mi), Vermont (9,616 sq mi), Massachusetts (10,554 sq mi), Hawaii (10,931 sq mi), Maryland (12,407 sq mi), and West Virginia (24,230 sq mi). Encyclopaedia Britannica (authoritative encyclopedia) provides these rankings based on US Census Bureau data.

The contrast between Alaska and Rhode Island is one of the most extreme geographic divides in the world: the largest state is more than 430 times bigger than the smallest.

Can you fit Texas and California in Alaska?

Yes. The combined area of Texas (268,596 sq mi) and California (163,696 sq mi) is 432,292 square miles — well below Alaska’s 665,384 square miles. That leaves more than 233,000 square miles of Alaska still unaccounted for. This mental math helps illustrate Alaska’s enormous scale. Alaska.org (tourism guide) notes that Texas fits into Alaska two times, and adding California still leaves room.

The trade‑off: Alaska’s vastness comes with extreme climate, low population density, and high transportation costs. For a traveler, crossing Alaska is a far bigger challenge than crossing Texas or California.

The implication: Alaska’s size is not just a geographic fact — it creates logistical and environmental challenges that define life there.

“Alaska is by far the biggest state — more than double the size of Texas.”

Encyclopaedia Britannica (authoritative encyclopedia)

“Alaska is the largest state by total area, land area, and water area.”

Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

For a traveler or policymaker, the key takeaway is that Alaska’s dominance is absolute by total area. If you need land‑only data, double‑check the source.

For those planning to drive across the US, the choice between Alaska and any other state is clear: Alaska’s scale demands extra time and preparation, or you stick to the lower 48 where even Texas feels manageable by comparison.