---
title: "Capybara vs cheetah — size, weight and speed compared"
description: "Capybara and cheetah are near enough identical on weight. Compared on 4 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/capybara-vs-cheetah/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Capybara vs Cheetah

**Capybara vs cheetah: Near enough equal on weight**

Capybara and cheetah are near enough identical on weight.

A capybara and a cheetah 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.*

|  | Capybara | Cheetah |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 35–66 kg | 34–72 kg |
| Height | 0.5–0.62 m | 0.7–0.9 m |
| Length | 1–1.34 m | 1.1–1.5 m |
| Typical lifespan | 6–12 yr | 8–17 yr |

## What the numbers say

- Capybara and cheetah are near enough identical on weight.
- Cheetah is somewhat greater than capybara on height — about 1.5×.
- Cheetah is somewhat greater than capybara on length — about 1.2×.
- Cheetah is somewhat greater than capybara on typical lifespan — about 1.1×.

*Weight compared.*

- Capybara: 35–66 kg
- Cheetah: 34–72 kg

## Capybara

The largest rodent alive, a semi-aquatic grazer of South American wetlands.

## Cheetah

The fastest land animal, with a lightweight frame and semi-retractable claws for traction.

> 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, capybara or cheetah?

Capybara and cheetah are near enough identical on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

### How do capybaras and cheetahs compare on height?

Capybara: 0.5–0.62 m. Cheetah: 0.7–0.9 m. Cheetah is somewhat greater than capybara on height — about 1.5×.

### How do capybaras and cheetahs compare on length?

Capybara: 1–1.34 m. Cheetah: 1.1–1.5 m. Cheetah is somewhat greater than capybara on length — about 1.2×.

## Related pages

- [Cheetah vs gray wolf](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-gray-wolf/)
- [Cheetah vs leopard](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-leopard/)
- [Cheetah vs spotted hyena](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-spotted-hyena/)
- [Cheetah vs cougar](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-cougar/)
- [Cheetah vs jaguar](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-jaguar/)
- [Cheetah vs snow leopard](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-snow-leopard/)
- [Cheetah vs chimpanzee](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-chimpanzee/)
- [Capybara vs red kangaroo](https://atoneplace.net/vs/capybara-vs-red-kangaroo/)
- [Cheetah vs red kangaroo](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-red-kangaroo/)
- [Cheetah vs warthog](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-warthog/)
- [Capybara vs white-tailed deer](https://atoneplace.net/vs/capybara-vs-white-tailed-deer/)

## Sources

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