Texas vs California: True Size & Area Comparison

Texas is 64.1% larger than California (1.64 times the size). Areas below are total areas from national statistics; the Mercator factor shows how much a standard web map inflates each one.

Geographic Result

Texas is larger by 104,900 sq mi (271,692 km²).

Launch Interactive Overlay

🇺🇸Texas (62.1%)

California (37.9%)🇺🇸

268,596 sq mi

163,696 sq mi

Share of the two areas combined (true area, not map area)

Side-by-Side Demographic & Spatial Data

Metric	🇺🇸 Texas	🇺🇸 California	Ratio / Difference
Total Area (Sq Miles)	268,596 sq mi	163,696 sq mi	1.64x
Total Area (Sq Kilometers)	695,662 km²	423,970 km²	1.64x
Population	29,145,505	39,538,223	1.4x less
Population Density	109 people / sq mi	242 people / sq mi	California 2.2x denser
Capital or Seat	Austin	Sacramento	-
Largest Metropolitan Area	Houston	Los Angeles	-
Latitude Center	31.0°	37.0°	6.0° lat diff
Mercator Area Inflation Factor	1.36x	1.57x	0.87x visual distortion

The Mercator Projection Illusion

Because both states are within the mid-latitudes of the contiguous United States, their relative distortion on standard maps is modest.

Mercator projection formulas stretch surface area proportionally to sec²(φ) = 1 / cos²(φ), magnifying landmasses drastically near the north and south poles.

Geographic Analysis: Texas and California

Texas and California are the two most populous states in the US. In terms of land area, Texas is decisively larger, covering 268,596 sq mi compared to California's 163,696 sq mi. California, however, maintains a larger population with over 39.5 million residents.

About Texas

Texas has 254 counties, more than any other US state.

About California

California contains both the highest point (Mount Whitney, 14,505 ft) and lowest point (Badwater Basin, -282 ft) in the contiguous United States.

Texas vs California by the Numbers

Area: Texas covers 695,662 km² (268,596 sq mi), which is about 1.64 times the 423,970 km² of California, a difference of 271,692 km² (104,900 sq mi).
Population: California has 1.4 times as many people (39,538,223 vs 29,145,505). That works out to about 109 people per sq mi in Texas and 242 in California.
On a Web Mercator map: Texas (centered near 31.0°) is drawn about 1.36× its true area and California (near 37.0°) about 1.57×. So on Google-style maps Texas appears roughly 1.42 times the size of California, versus 1.64 times in reality.

Mercator factors use the center latitude only (area scale = 1 / cos² of latitude), so they are approximations for places that span many degrees of latitude.

How to Accurately Compare Geographic Sizes

STEP 01

Consult Geodesic Area

Use published areas from national statistics offices or census gazetteers rather than judging by pixels on a flat web map.

STEP 02

Account for Latitude

Remember that Web Mercator tiles distort areas by 1/cos²(latitude). High-latitude regions appear vastly larger than equatorial states.

STEP 03

Interactive Map Overlay

Drag one outline over the other in the true size tool; the shape is re-projected as it moves, so it keeps its real size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Texas bigger than California?▼

Yes, Texas is 64% larger than California by area. Only Alaska is larger than Texas among US states.

Which state has a larger population, Texas or California?▼

California has the larger population with approximately 39.5 million people, compared to Texas's 29.1 million (2020 Census).

How many times does California fit into Texas?▼

By area, California (423,970 km²) fits into Texas (695,662 km²) about 1.64 times. Shapes differ, so this is an area ratio, not a literal tiling.

Explore Texas and California Further

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