Which is bigger, Cape buffalo or moose?

Cape buffalo is somewhat greater than moose on weight — about 1.3×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

How do Cape buffalos and moose compare on height?

Cape buffalo: 1.3–1.7 m. Moose: 1.4–2.1 m. Moose is somewhat greater than Cape buffalo on height — about 1.3×.

How do Cape buffalos and moose compare on length?

Cape buffalo: 2.1–3.4 m. Moose: 2.4–3.1 m. Cape buffalo and moose are near enough identical on length.

Cape buffalo vs Moose

Cape buffalo vs moose

Cape buffalo is larger on weight

Cape buffalo is somewhat greater than moose on weight — about 1.3×.

A Cape buffalo and a moose can be compared on 6 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.
	Cape buffalo	Moose
Weight	350–900 kg	200–720 kg
Height	1.3–1.7 m	1.4–2.1 m
Length	2.1–3.4 m	2.4–3.1 m
Width	0.9–1.2 m	1.2–1.8 m
Top speed	57 km/h	56 km/h
Typical lifespan	18–29 yr	15–25 yr

What the numbers say

Cape buffalo is somewhat greater than moose on weight — about 1.3×.
Moose is somewhat greater than Cape buffalo on height — about 1.3×.
Cape buffalo and moose are near enough identical on length.
Moose is 1.5× Cape buffalo on width.
Cape buffalo and moose are near enough identical on top speed.
Cape buffalo is somewhat greater than moose on typical lifespan — about 1.2×.

Weight compared.

Cape buffalo 350–900 kg

Moose 200–720 kg

Cape buffalo

A large, unpredictable African bovid whose fused horn bosses form a helmet across the skull.

Moose

The largest deer; called elk in Europe, which is a different animal in North America.

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, Cape buffalo or moose?: Cape buffalo is somewhat greater than moose on weight — about 1.3×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do Cape buffalos and moose compare on height?: Cape buffalo: 1.3–1.7 m. Moose: 1.4–2.1 m. Moose is somewhat greater than Cape buffalo on height — about 1.3×.
How do Cape buffalos and moose compare on length?: Cape buffalo: 2.1–3.4 m. Moose: 2.4–3.1 m. Cape buffalo and moose are near enough identical on length.

Sources

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution

How these figures are compiled and checked