---
title: "African elephant vs white rhinoceros — size, weight and speed "
description: "African elephant is 3× white rhinoceros on weight. Compared on 5 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-white-rhinoceros/
site: "At One Place"
---

# African elephant vs White rhinoceros

**African elephant vs white rhinoceros: African elephant is larger on weight**

African elephant is 3× white rhinoceros on weight.

An African elephant and a white rhinoceros can be compared on 5 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.

## Side by side

*Larger value in bold. Ranges reflect genuine variation, not uncertainty.*

|  | African elephant | White rhinoceros |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 2,200–10,400 kg | 1,400–3,600 kg |
| Height | 2.2–4 m | 1.5–1.9 m |
| Length | 5.5–7.5 m | 3.4–4.2 m |
| Top speed | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Typical lifespan | 50–70 yr | 35–50 yr |

## What the numbers say

- African elephant is 3× white rhinoceros on weight.
- African elephant is 1.8× white rhinoceros on height.
- African elephant is 1.7× white rhinoceros on length.
- White rhinoceros is somewhat greater than African elephant on top speed — about 1.3×.
- African elephant is somewhat greater than white rhinoceros on typical lifespan — about 1.3×.

*Weight compared.*

- African elephant: 2,200–10,400 kg
- White rhinoceros: 1,400–3,600 kg

## African elephant

The largest living land animal, distinguished from the Asian elephant by larger ears and a dipped back.

## White rhinoceros

The largest rhino and the second-largest land mammal, a grazer with a wide square lip.

> This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.

## Common questions

### Which is bigger, African elephant or white rhinoceros?

African elephant is 3× white rhinoceros on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

### How do African elephants and white rhinoceroses compare on height?

African elephant: 2.2–4 m. White rhinoceros: 1.5–1.9 m. African elephant is 1.8× white rhinoceros on height.

### How do African elephants and white rhinoceroses compare on length?

African elephant: 5.5–7.5 m. White rhinoceros: 3.4–4.2 m. African elephant is 1.7× white rhinoceros on length.

## Related pages

- [African elephant vs Asian elephant](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-asian-elephant/)
- [Hippopotamus vs white rhinoceros](https://atoneplace.net/vs/hippopotamus-vs-white-rhinoceros/)
- [Giraffe vs white rhinoceros](https://atoneplace.net/vs/giraffe-vs-white-rhinoceros/)
- [African elephant vs orca](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-orca/)
- [Asian elephant vs white rhinoceros](https://atoneplace.net/vs/asian-elephant-vs-white-rhinoceros/)
- [African elephant vs hippopotamus](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-hippopotamus/)
- [African elephant vs giraffe](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-giraffe/)
- [African elephant vs blue whale](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-blue-whale/)

## Sources

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