Which is bigger, American bison or black rhinoceros?

Black rhinoceros is somewhat greater than American bison on weight — about 1.2×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

How do American bison and black rhinoceroses compare on height?

American bison: 1.5–2 m. Black rhinoceros: 1.4–1.8 m. American bison is somewhat greater than black rhinoceros on height — about 1.1×.

How do American bison and black rhinoceroses compare on length?

American bison: 2.1–3.5 m. Black rhinoceros: 3–3.8 m. Black rhinoceros is somewhat greater than American bison on length — about 1.1×.

American bison vs Black rhinoceros

American bison vs black rhinoceros

Black rhinoceros is larger on weight

Black rhinoceros is somewhat greater than American bison on weight — about 1.2×.

An American bison and a black 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.
	American bison	Black rhinoceros
Weight	320–1,270 kg	800–1,400 kg
Height	1.5–2 m	1.4–1.8 m
Length	2.1–3.5 m	3–3.8 m
Top speed	56 km/h	55 km/h
Typical lifespan	15–25 yr	35–45 yr

What the numbers say

Black rhinoceros is somewhat greater than American bison on weight — about 1.2×.
American bison is somewhat greater than black rhinoceros on height — about 1.1×.
Black rhinoceros is somewhat greater than American bison on length — about 1.1×.
American bison and black rhinoceros are near enough identical on top speed.
Black rhinoceros is 2× American bison on typical lifespan.

Weight compared.

Black rhinoceros 800–1,400 kg

American bison 320–1,270 kg

American bison

The heaviest land animal in the Americas; commonly called a buffalo, though true buffalo live in Africa and Asia.

Black rhinoceros

A browser with a pointed prehensile lip, smaller and more aggressive than the white rhino.

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, American bison or black rhinoceros?: Black rhinoceros is somewhat greater than American bison on weight — about 1.2×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do American bison and black rhinoceroses compare on height?: American bison: 1.5–2 m. Black rhinoceros: 1.4–1.8 m. American bison is somewhat greater than black rhinoceros on height — about 1.1×.
How do American bison and black rhinoceroses compare on length?: American bison: 2.1–3.5 m. Black rhinoceros: 3–3.8 m. Black rhinoceros is somewhat greater than American bison on length — about 1.1×.

Sources

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution

How these figures are compiled and checked