---
title: "How long does a leatherback sea turtle last?"
description: "A leatherback sea turtle lasts 30–50 yr. How that compares to other things, and where the number comes from."
url: https://atoneplace.net/how-long/leatherback-sea-turtle/
site: "At One Place"
---

# How long does a leatherback sea turtle last?

**Typical lifespan: 30–50 yr**

The largest turtle and the deepest-diving reptile, reaching 1,280 m below the surface.

## How that compares

*Leatherback sea turtle against things of a similar time.*

- Orca: 30–90 yr
- American alligator: 35–70 yr
- Humpback whale: 45–100 yr
- Piano: 30–100 yr
- Leatherback sea turtle: 30–50 yr
- Hippopotamus: 40–55 yr
- White rhinoceros: 35–50 yr
- Giant manta ray: 40–50 yr

## What that means over time

*Assuming the typical lifespan above and immediate replacement.*

| Period | How many you would buy |
| --- | --- |
| Per year | 0.0222 replacements |
| Over 10 years | 1 of them |
| Over a 30-year mortgage | 1 of them |

> Lifespans are medians under ordinary use, not guarantees. Maintenance, how hard it is used, and build quality move individual examples a long way in both directions — which is why the range above is as wide as it is.

## More about a leatherback sea turtle

- [How much does a leatherback sea turtle weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/leatherback-sea-turtle/) — 250–916 kg

## Common questions

### How long does a leatherback sea turtle last?

A leatherback sea turtle lasts 30–50 yr.

## Related pages

- [How much does a leatherback sea turtle weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/leatherback-sea-turtle/)
- [How long does a blue whale last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/blue-whale/)
- [How long does a great white shark last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/great-white-shark/)
- [How long does a orca last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/orca/)
- [How long does a saltwater crocodile last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/saltwater-crocodile/)
- [How long does a bottlenose dolphin last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/bottlenose-dolphin/)
- [How long does a American alligator last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/american-alligator/)
- [How long does a humpback whale last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/humpback-whale/)
- [How long does a whale shark last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/whale-shark/)
- [How long does a Komodo dragon last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/komodo-dragon/)
- [How long does a green anaconda last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/green-anaconda/)

## Sources

- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — NOAA (https://www.noaa.gov/) [Public domain (US Government)]