---
title: "American bison vs black rhinoceros — size, weight and speed co"
description: "Black rhinoceros is somewhat greater than American bison on weight — about 1.2×. Compared on 5 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/american-bison-vs-black-rhinoceros/
site: "At One Place"
---

# 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×.

## Related pages

- [American bison vs giraffe](https://atoneplace.net/vs/american-bison-vs-giraffe/)
- [Black rhinoceros vs giraffe](https://atoneplace.net/vs/black-rhinoceros-vs-giraffe/)
- [American bison vs cow](https://atoneplace.net/vs/american-bison-vs-cow/)
- [American bison vs hippopotamus](https://atoneplace.net/vs/american-bison-vs-hippopotamus/)
- [American bison vs moose](https://atoneplace.net/vs/american-bison-vs-moose/)
- [American bison vs Cape buffalo](https://atoneplace.net/vs/american-bison-vs-cape-buffalo/)
- [Black rhinoceros vs hippopotamus](https://atoneplace.net/vs/black-rhinoceros-vs-hippopotamus/)
- [American bison vs dromedary camel](https://atoneplace.net/vs/american-bison-vs-dromedary-camel/)
- [American bison vs water buffalo](https://atoneplace.net/vs/american-bison-vs-water-buffalo/)

## Sources

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