---
title: "How long does a red fox last?"
description: "A red fox lasts 2–15 yr. How that compares to other things, and where the number comes from."
url: https://atoneplace.net/how-long/red-fox/
site: "At One Place"
---

# How long does a red fox last?

**Typical lifespan: 2–15 yr**

The most widely distributed wild carnivore on Earth, at home from tundra to city centre.

> Most wild foxes die before three; captives reach 15.

## How that compares

*Red fox against things of a similar time.*

- Laptop: 3–8 yr
- Coffee machine: 3–8 yr
- Printer: 3–10 yr
- Tablet: 3–8 yr
- Red fox: 2–15 yr
- Car battery: 3–7 yr
- Giant Pacific octopus: 3–5 yr
- Wild turkey: 3–13 yr

## What that means over time

*Assuming the typical lifespan above and immediate replacement.*

| Period | How many you would buy |
| --- | --- |
| Per year | 0.25 replacements |
| Over 10 years | 2.5 of them |
| Over a 30-year mortgage | 7.5 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 red fox

- [How much does a red fox weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/red-fox/) — 2.2–14 kg
- [Red fox vs Domestic cat](https://atoneplace.net/vs/domestic-cat-vs-red-fox/) — Side by side
- [Red fox vs Tasmanian devil](https://atoneplace.net/vs/red-fox-vs-tasmanian-devil/) — Side by side
- [Red fox vs Honey badger](https://atoneplace.net/vs/honey-badger-vs-red-fox/) — Side by side
- [Red fox vs Bald eagle](https://atoneplace.net/vs/bald-eagle-vs-red-fox/) — Side by side

## Common questions

### How long does a red fox last?

A red fox lasts 2–15 yr. Most wild foxes die before three; captives reach 15.

## Related pages

- [How much does a red fox weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/red-fox/)
- [How long does a lion last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/lion/)
- [How long does a tiger last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/tiger/)
- [How long does a domestic cat last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/domestic-cat/)
- [How long does a African elephant last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/african-elephant/)
- [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 cheetah last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/cheetah/)
- [How long does a polar bear last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/polar-bear/)
- [How long does a giraffe last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/giraffe/)
- [How long does a gorilla last?](https://atoneplace.net/how-long/gorilla/)
- [Red fox vs Domestic cat](https://atoneplace.net/vs/domestic-cat-vs-red-fox/)
- [Red fox vs Tasmanian devil](https://atoneplace.net/vs/red-fox-vs-tasmanian-devil/)
- [Red fox vs Honey badger](https://atoneplace.net/vs/honey-badger-vs-red-fox/)
- [Red fox vs Bald eagle](https://atoneplace.net/vs/bald-eagle-vs-red-fox/)

## Sources

- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution (https://naturalhistory.si.edu/)