What are the differences between rats and mice – and how do you tell them apart?

Rats and mice are both rodents, but there are some key differences between the two – from their size and weight to the shape of their snouts and number of their droppings.

Of the 18 species of rodents found in Britain, only two are rat and four are mice – including the wood mouse and harvest mouse. There are also two species of dormouse, seven species of vole, two species of squirrel and one species of beaver.

• Edible dormouse guide: how to identify, when they were introduced to the UK, and what protections they have

But rats and mice are the ones you're more likely to spot around towns, farms – and even in your home. Here's a simple guide to help you identify the two types of rodent species.

• Which is the world’s most numerous mammal?
• What's the biggest rat in the world?

Similarities between rats and mice

• Both mice and rats are nocturnal
• They have similar colourings, found in white, brown or grey – but rats can sometimes be black 

• Meet the world's deadliest rat, which can kill an elephant with one bite
• 6 weirdest rats in the world

Differences between rats and mice

• A mouse is smaller than a rat, only about 12-20cm in length, but a rat can grow to as long as 40cm or more
• A rat can weigh twice more than a mouse
• Both have long tails, but a rat’s tail is usually hairless and scaly, while a mouse’s tail is thin and hairy
• A mouse has a triangular snout with long whiskers, whereas a rat will have a blunter snout
• A mouse produces a lot more droppings than a rat, usually between 40 and 100, while a rat will only produce between 20 and 50

• The weirdest rodents in the world
• How to get rid of mice and rats in your house
• They can't vomit, one is poisonous and another is as heavy as a newborn baby - 11 amazing rat facts you (probably) don't know