Which is bigger, American bison or hippopotamus?

Hippopotamus is 2× American bison on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

How do American bison and hippopotamuses compare on height?

American bison: 1.5–2 m. Hippopotamus: 1.3–1.65 m. American bison is somewhat greater than hippopotamus on height — about 1.2×.

How do American bison and hippopotamuses compare on length?

American bison: 2.1–3.5 m. Hippopotamus: 3.3–5 m. Hippopotamus is somewhat greater than American bison on length — about 1.2×.

American bison vs Hippopotamus

American bison vs hippopotamus

Hippopotamus is larger on weight

Hippopotamus is 2× American bison on weight.

An American bison and a hippopotamus 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	Hippopotamus
Weight	320–1,270 kg	1,300–3,200 kg
Height	1.5–2 m	1.3–1.65 m
Length	2.1–3.5 m	3.3–5 m
Top speed	56 km/h	25–30 km/h
Typical lifespan	15–25 yr	40–55 yr

What the numbers say

Hippopotamus is 2× American bison on weight.
American bison is somewhat greater than hippopotamus on height — about 1.2×.
Hippopotamus is somewhat greater than American bison on length — about 1.2×.
American bison is 1.9× hippopotamus on top speed.
Hippopotamus is 2.3× American bison on typical lifespan.

Weight compared.

Hippopotamus 1,300–3,200 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.

Hippopotamus

A semi-aquatic grazer, the third-heaviest land mammal and among the most dangerous to people.

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 hippopotamus?: Hippopotamus is 2× American bison on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do American bison and hippopotamuses compare on height?: American bison: 1.5–2 m. Hippopotamus: 1.3–1.65 m. American bison is somewhat greater than hippopotamus on height — about 1.2×.
How do American bison and hippopotamuses compare on length?: American bison: 2.1–3.5 m. Hippopotamus: 3.3–5 m. Hippopotamus is somewhat greater than American bison on length — about 1.2×.

Sources

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution

How these figures are compiled and checked