How do navy beans generally compare in size to Great Northern and Cannellini beans?

Navy beans are generally the smallest of the white beans.

While navy beans, Great Northern beans, and cannellini beans are all types of white beans and often used interchangeably in recipes, they have distinct physical differences, primarily related to size. Navy beans are characterized by being the smallest variety among these three common white beans. Great Northern beans fall in a middle category in terms of size, positioned between the small navy beans and the larger cannellini beans. Cannellini beans are often cited as the most popular variety and are typically the largest of the three, making the navy bean the delicate, small choice perfect for absorbing strong flavors like those found in traditional baked beans.