1.3 Million: The Shocking Number Of Earths That Can Fit Inside The Sun

The sheer scale of the Sun is one of the most difficult concepts to visualize in all of astronomy. While we intuitively understand that our star is massive, the true difference in volume between the Sun and our home planet, Earth, is so immense it requires specific analogies and the latest scientific data to truly grasp. As of December 2025, the most accurate scientific consensus confirms a staggering figure that redefines our understanding of cosmic proportions.

The short answer to the question "how many Earths can fit in the Sun" is approximately 1.3 million. This figure is derived from the calculated volumes of both celestial bodies, assuming a theoretical scenario where the Earths could be perfectly packed inside the Sun's sphere, or were "squishy" enough to eliminate all gaps. This incredible volume difference is the foundation of the Sun's dominance over the entire Solar System, holding 99.86% of the system's total mass.

The Precise Cosmic Math: Diameter, Volume, and Packing Density

To fully appreciate the figure of 1.3 million, it is crucial to break down the astronomical measurements that lead to this mind-bending number. The calculation is based on the fundamental geometric properties of the Sun and Earth.

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The Diameter Ratio: 109 to 1

The first point of comparison is the diameter. The Sun’s diameter measures approximately 864,000 miles (1.39 million kilometers). In comparison, the Earth’s diameter is about 7,918 miles (12,742 kilometers).

• Sun’s Diameter: ~1,391,000 km
• Earth’s Diameter: ~12,742 km
• Diameter Ratio: The Sun is roughly 109 times wider than Earth.

Imagine standing on the surface of the Earth. You would have to line up 109 Earths side-by-side to stretch across the diameter of the Sun. This simple ratio is the key to the massive volume difference.

The Volume Comparison: The Power of Cubing

Volume is calculated using the diameter (or radius) cubed (r³). Since the Sun is 109 times wider than the Earth, the ratio of their volumes is 109 multiplied by itself three times (109 x 109 x 109).

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$$109^3 \approx 1,295,029$$

This calculation shows that, geometrically, about 1.3 million Earths could fit inside the Sun. The actual number often cited is 1.3 million, which accounts for the most precise measurements of both celestial bodies' volumes.

The Reality of Spherical Packing Density

While 1.3 million is the theoretical volume comparison, the actual number of solid, non-squishy Earths that could be packed inside the Sun would be slightly less due to the physics of sphere packing—the empty space left between spheres.

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• Theoretical Volume Fit: ~1,300,000 Earths (if squishy/perfectly packed)
• Actual Sphere Packing Fit: The most efficient sphere packing density is about 74%. This means the volume of the empty space would reduce the number slightly, but the figure of 1.3 million remains the standard comparison used by NASA and astronomers to convey the scale.

This immense scale is why the Sun's gravitational influence is so profound, dictating the orbits of every planet, asteroid, and comet in the Solar System.

Mind-Bending Analogies to Grasp the Solar Scale

The number 1.3 million is abstract. To truly visualize the difference between the Earth and the Sun, astronomers use relatable analogies that help bring the cosmic scale down to a human level. These comparisons also help to build topical authority by introducing other entities in the Solar System.

The Basketball and Bead Analogy

If you were to scale the Sun down to the size of a standard basketball (about 23 cm in diameter), the Earth would be reduced to the size of a tiny bead, just over 2 millimeters wide.

In this same scale:

• The Sun: A Basketball
• The Earth: A Tiny Bead or a BB shot
• Jupiter: Would be about the size of a golf ball. Jupiter is the largest planet, yet still dwarfs in comparison to the Sun.
• The Earth-Sun Distance (1 AU): The tiny bead (Earth) would have to be placed about 86 feet away from the basketball (Sun).

Another popular comparison is the "Front Door and Nickel" analogy. If the Sun were the size of a typical front door, the Earth would be about the size of a nickel.

The Mass Comparison: The Sun's Dominance

While volume is one measure, mass is another crucial factor. The Sun is a ball of superheated plasma, primarily composed of Hydrogen (about 71% by mass) and Helium (about 27% by mass), with trace amounts of heavier elements like Oxygen and Carbon.

The mass of the Sun is approximately $1.989 \times 10^{30}$ kilograms—about 333,000 times the mass of the Earth. This immense solar mass is what generates the gravity required for nuclear fusion in its Core, giving life to our star and our planet.

Beyond Our Star: How the Sun Compares to the Universe’s Giants

The Sun is a massive star to us, but on a galactic scale, it is a relatively average star. Comparing it to the largest known stars in the Milky Way galaxy puts the Sun's size into a final, humbling perspective, further establishing the scale of the cosmos.

The Sun vs. the Red Supergiants

Even though 1.3 million Earths fit inside our Sun, the Sun itself is dwarfed by the Universe's true giants, known as Red Supergiants.

• VY Canis Majoris: This former record-holder is estimated to be about 1,420 times the radius of our Sun. If it replaced the Sun in our Solar System, its outer edge would extend past the orbit of Jupiter and perhaps even Saturn.
• UY Scuti: Currently considered the largest known star by volume, UY Scuti is estimated to be over 1,700 times the radius of the Sun. If UY Scuti replaced the Sun, its outer Photosphere would extend well past the orbit of Jupiter, engulfing Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

The difference in volume between UY Scuti and the Sun is as staggering as the difference between the Sun and Earth. UY Scuti could contain nearly 5 billion Earths inside its volume. This comparison highlights the incredible diversity in star size scale across the galaxy, from small Red Dwarfs to these colossal super-giants. The layers of the Sun, such as the Chromosphere and the Corona, also have their own massive scale, extending millions of kilometers into space, but they are insignificant compared to the radius of a star like UY Scuti.

In conclusion, the figure of 1.3 million Earths provides a powerful and concrete answer to a question driven by pure curiosity. It is a testament to the colossal power and scale of our star, the Sun, which is the gravitational anchor and energy source for our entire planetary neighborhood.