---
title: "American black bear vs lion — size, weight and speed compared"
description: "Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on weight — about 1.5×. Compared on 5 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/american-black-bear-vs-lion/
site: "At One Place"
---

# American black bear vs Lion

**American black bear vs lion: Lion is larger on weight**

Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on weight — about 1.5×.

An American black bear and a lion 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 black bear | Lion |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 40–280 kg | 120–250 kg |
| Height | 0.7–1 m | 0.9–1.2 m |
| Length | 1.2–2 m | 1.6–2.5 m |
| Top speed | 48 km/h | 60–80 km/h |
| Typical lifespan | 18–30 yr | 10–20 yr |

## What the numbers say

- Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on weight — about 1.5×.
- Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on height — about 1.2×.
- Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on length — about 1.3×.
- Lion is 1.7× American black bear on top speed.
- American black bear is somewhat greater than lion on typical lifespan — about 1.4×.

*Weight compared.*

- Lion: 120–250 kg
- American black bear: 40–280 kg

## American black bear

North America's most common bear, and the one most people actually encounter.

## Lion

The second-largest living cat and the only one that lives in permanent social groups.

> 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 black bear or lion?

Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on weight — about 1.5×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

### How do American black bears and lions compare on height?

American black bear: 0.7–1 m. Lion: 0.9–1.2 m. Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on height — about 1.2×.

### How do American black bears and lions compare on length?

American black bear: 1.2–2 m. Lion: 1.6–2.5 m. Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on length — about 1.3×.

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## Sources

- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution (https://naturalhistory.si.edu/)
- Wikidata — Wikimedia Foundation (https://www.wikidata.org/) [CC0 1.0]