At One Place

American bison vs Giraffe

American bison vs giraffe
Giraffe is larger on weight
Giraffe is 1.6× American bison on weight.

An American bison and a giraffe can be compared on 4 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 Giraffe
Weight 320–1,270 kg 700–1,930 kg
Height 1.5–2 m 4.3–5.9 m
Top speed 56 km/h 60 km/h
Typical lifespan 15–25 yr 20–28 yr

What the numbers say

  • Giraffe is 1.6× American bison on weight.
  • Giraffe is 2.8× American bison on height.
  • American bison and giraffe are near enough identical on top speed.
  • Giraffe is somewhat greater than American bison on typical lifespan — about 1.3×.

Weight compared.

Giraffe 700–1,930 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.

Giraffe

The tallest living animal; its neck holds the same seven vertebrae as a human neck.

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 giraffe?
Giraffe is 1.6× American bison on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do American bison and giraffes compare on height?
American bison: 1.5–2 m. Giraffe: 4.3–5.9 m. Giraffe is 2.8× American bison on height.
How do American bison and giraffes compare on top speed?
American bison: 56 km/h. Giraffe: 60 km/h. American bison and giraffe are near enough identical on top speed.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution

How these figures are compiled and checked