---
title: "king cobra vs Komodo dragon — size, speed and bite force"
description: "king cobra and Komodo dragon compared on mass, length, speed, bite force and lifespan — every measure side by side, with why the numbers cannot settle an encounter."
url: https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/king-cobra-vs-komodo-dragon/
site: "At One Place"
---

# king cobra vs Komodo dragon

**king cobra vs Komodo dragon: Komodo dragon leads on 2 of 3 measures**

Measured comparison — not a prediction

The longest venomous snake, delivering enough neurotoxin in one bite to kill an elephant. The largest living lizard, which kills large prey with venom and shock rather than jaw power. On the measurements below, Komodo dragon 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

|  | king cobra | Komodo dragon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mass | 4–12.7 kg | 40–166 kg |
| Length | 3–5.85 m | 2–3.13 m |
| Bite force | — | 39 psi |
| Lifespan | 17–22 yr | 25–35 yr |

## Where each one leads

- Mass: Komodo dragon is 12× heavier.
- Length: king cobra is 1.5× longer.
- Lifespan: Komodo dragon is 1.5× 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 king cobra bigger than a Komodo dragon?

Komodo dragon is heavier — 40–166 kg against 4–12.7 kg.

### Who would win, a king cobra or a Komodo dragon?

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 king cobra weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/king-cobra/)
- [How much does a Komodo dragon weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/komodo-dragon/)
- [jaguar vs Komodo dragon](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/jaguar-vs-komodo-dragon/)
- [cheetah vs Komodo dragon](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/cheetah-vs-komodo-dragon/)
- [cougar vs Komodo dragon](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/cougar-vs-komodo-dragon/)
- [domestic cat vs Komodo dragon](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/domestic-cat-vs-komodo-dragon/)
- [domestic cat vs king cobra](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/domestic-cat-vs-king-cobra/)
- [grizzly bear vs Komodo dragon](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/grizzly-bear-vs-komodo-dragon/)
- [giant panda vs Komodo dragon](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/giant-panda-vs-komodo-dragon/)
- [giant panda vs king cobra](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/giant-panda-vs-king-cobra/)
- [gray wolf vs Komodo dragon](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/gray-wolf-vs-komodo-dragon/)
- [coyote vs Komodo dragon](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/coyote-vs-komodo-dragon/)
- [honey badger vs Komodo dragon](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/honey-badger-vs-komodo-dragon/)
- [African elephant vs Komodo dragon](https://atoneplace.net/animal-vs/african-elephant-vs-komodo-dragon/)

## Sources

- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution (https://naturalhistory.si.edu/)
- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)