The Largest U.S. States & Territories by Area

Total land-and-water area, biggest first.

Ranked by total area, the largest U.S. states stretch from Alaska — bigger than the next three combined — down through the wide states of the West. Areas cover land and inland water.

#	Place	Area (sq mi)
1	Alaska The largest U.S. state, a sub-Arctic giant	665,384 sq mi 1,723,337 km²
2	Texas The Lone Star State, second-largest in area and population	268,596 sq mi 695,662 km²
3	California The most populous U.S. state, admitted 1850	163,695 sq mi 423,967 km²
4	Montana Big Sky Country, where the plains meet the Rockies	147,040 sq mi 380,831 km²
5	New Mexico The Land of Enchantment, high desert and southern Rockies	121,590 sq mi 314,917 km²
6	Arizona The Grand Canyon State, admitted 1912	113,990 sq mi 295,234 km²
7	Nevada The Silver State, the driest in the nation	110,572 sq mi 286,380 km²
8	Colorado The highest state, crown of the Rocky Mountains	104,093 sq mi 269,601 km²
9	Oregon The Beaver State, from rainforest coast to high desert	98,378 sq mi 254,799 km²
10	Wyoming The least populous state, high plains and the Rockies	97,813 sq mi 253,335 km²
11	Michigan The Great Lakes State, two peninsulas surrounded by fresh water	96,714 sq mi 250,487 km²
12	Minnesota The Land of 10,000 Lakes, headwaters of the Mississippi	86,936 sq mi 225,163 km²
13	Utah The Beehive State, red rock and the Great Salt Lake	84,897 sq mi 219,882 km²
14	Idaho The Gem State, a rugged northern Rockies landscape	83,569 sq mi 216,443 km²
15	Kansas The Sunflower State, geographic heart of the nation	82,278 sq mi 213,100 km²

Place

Area (sq mi)

Alaska
The largest U.S. state, a sub-Arctic giant

665,384 sq mi
1,723,337 km²

Texas
The Lone Star State, second-largest in area and population

268,596 sq mi
695,662 km²

California
The most populous U.S. state, admitted 1850

163,695 sq mi
423,967 km²

Montana
Big Sky Country, where the plains meet the Rockies

147,040 sq mi
380,831 km²

New Mexico
The Land of Enchantment, high desert and southern Rockies

121,590 sq mi
314,917 km²

Arizona
The Grand Canyon State, admitted 1912

113,990 sq mi
295,234 km²

Nevada
The Silver State, the driest in the nation

110,572 sq mi
286,380 km²

Colorado
The highest state, crown of the Rocky Mountains

104,093 sq mi
269,601 km²

Oregon
The Beaver State, from rainforest coast to high desert

98,378 sq mi
254,799 km²

Wyoming
The least populous state, high plains and the Rockies

97,813 sq mi
253,335 km²

Michigan
The Great Lakes State, two peninsulas surrounded by fresh water

96,714 sq mi
250,487 km²

Minnesota
The Land of 10,000 Lakes, headwaters of the Mississippi

86,936 sq mi
225,163 km²

Utah
The Beehive State, red rock and the Great Salt Lake

84,897 sq mi
219,882 km²

Idaho
The Gem State, a rugged northern Rockies landscape

83,569 sq mi
216,443 km²

Kansas
The Sunflower State, geographic heart of the nation

82,278 sq mi
213,100 km²

Figures are drawn from standard government and reference sources and shown in both imperial and metric units. See each entry for full details and citations. Browse all guides or open the explore map.