---
title: "Blue whale vs fin whale — size, weight and speed compared"
description: "Blue whale is 1.9× fin whale on weight. Compared on 4 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/blue-whale-vs-fin-whale/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Blue whale vs Fin whale

**Blue whale vs fin whale: Blue whale is larger on weight**

Blue whale is 1.9× fin whale on weight.

A blue whale and a fin whale 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.*

|  | Blue whale | Fin whale |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 50–190 t | 40–80 t |
| Length | 21–33.6 m | 18–27 m |
| Top speed | 20–37 km/h | 37 km/h |
| Typical lifespan | 70–90 yr | 80–114 yr |

## What the numbers say

- Blue whale is 1.9× fin whale on weight.
- Blue whale is somewhat greater than fin whale on length — about 1.3×.
- Blue whale and fin whale are near enough identical on top speed.
- Fin whale is somewhat greater than blue whale on typical lifespan — about 1.1×.

*Weight compared.*

- Blue whale: 50–190 t
- Fin whale: 40–80 t

## Blue whale

The largest animal known to have lived, heavier than any dinosaur and audible to other whales hundreds of kilometres away.

## Fin whale

The second-largest animal on Earth, and among the fastest of the great whales.

> 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, blue whale or fin whale?

Blue whale is 1.9× fin whale on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

### How do blue whales and fin whales compare on length?

Blue whale: 21–33.6 m. Fin whale: 18–27 m. Blue whale is somewhat greater than fin whale on length — about 1.3×.

### How do blue whales and fin whales compare on top speed?

Blue whale: 20–37 km/h. Fin whale: 37 km/h. Blue whale and fin whale are near enough identical on top speed.

## Related pages

- [Blue whale vs sperm whale](https://atoneplace.net/vs/blue-whale-vs-sperm-whale/)
- [Fin whale vs sperm whale](https://atoneplace.net/vs/fin-whale-vs-sperm-whale/)
- [Blue whale vs humpback whale](https://atoneplace.net/vs/blue-whale-vs-humpback-whale/)
- [African elephant vs blue whale](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-blue-whale/)
- [Fin whale vs humpback whale](https://atoneplace.net/vs/fin-whale-vs-humpback-whale/)

## Sources

- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — NOAA (https://www.noaa.gov/) [Public domain (US Government)]