---
title: "great white shark vs sperm whale — size, speed and bite force"
description: "great white shark and sperm whale compared on mass, length, speed, bite force and lifespan — every measure side by side, with why the numbers cannot settle an encoun"
url: https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/great-white-shark-vs-sperm-whale/
site: "At One Place"
---

# great white shark vs sperm whale

**great white shark vs sperm whale: sperm whale leads on 2 of 3 measures**

Measured comparison — not a prediction

The largest predatory fish, and the species responsible for most unprovoked shark bites on humans. The largest toothed predator, diving to 2,000 m for squid and producing the loudest sound of any animal. On the measurements below, sperm whale leads on more of them — but they do not all point the same way, and the ones that disagree are the interesting part.

## The measurements

|  | great white shark | sperm whale |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mass | 520–2,000 kg | 15–57 t |
| Length | 3.4–6.1 m | 11–20.5 m |
| Top speed | 25–40 km/h | — |
| Bite force | 4,000 psi | — |
| Lifespan | 50–73 yr | 60–70 yr |

## Where each one leads

- Mass: sperm whale is 40× heavier.
- Length: sperm whale is 3.5× longer.
- Lifespan: great white shark is 1.2× a longer life.

## What this does and does not tell you

These are measured averages with real ranges behind them, and every figure links to its own page. What they cannot do is settle an encounter. Outcomes between animals turn on circumstance — who initiates, whether either is hungry, defending young, injured or cornered, and what the terrain favours. Size and bite force are not decisive on their own, and most of these pairs never meet in the wild in any case, because their ranges do not overlap.

> Every figure here is an average with a substantial spread. Individual animals vary enormously — a large individual of the smaller species routinely exceeds a small individual of the larger one.

## Common questions

### Is a great white shark bigger than a sperm whale?

sperm whale is heavier — 15–57 t against 520–2,000 kg.

### Who would win, a great white shark or a sperm whale?

That is not something measurements can settle. The comparison above shows which animal leads on each measure, but an actual encounter depends on circumstance, motivation, health and terrain — and most pairs like this never meet in the wild.

## Related pages

- [How much does a great white shark weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/great-white-shark/)
- [How much does a sperm whale weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/sperm-whale/)
- [lion vs sperm whale](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/lion-vs-sperm-whale/)
- [leopard vs sperm whale](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/leopard-vs-sperm-whale/)
- [jaguar vs sperm whale](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/jaguar-vs-sperm-whale/)
- [cheetah vs sperm whale](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/cheetah-vs-sperm-whale/)
- [cheetah vs great white shark](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/cheetah-vs-great-white-shark/)
- [cougar vs sperm whale](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/cougar-vs-sperm-whale/)
- [cougar vs great white shark](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/cougar-vs-great-white-shark/)
- [snow leopard vs sperm whale](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/snow-leopard-vs-sperm-whale/)
- [domestic cat vs sperm whale](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/domestic-cat-vs-sperm-whale/)
- [domestic cat vs great white shark](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/domestic-cat-vs-great-white-shark/)
- [grizzly bear vs sperm whale](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/grizzly-bear-vs-sperm-whale/)
- [polar bear vs sperm whale](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/polar-bear-vs-sperm-whale/)

## Sources

- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — NOAA (https://www.noaa.gov/) [Public domain (US Government)]
- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)