---
title: "Cheetah vs cougar — size, weight and speed compared"
description: "Cougar is somewhat greater than cheetah on weight — about 1.4×. Compared on 5 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-cougar/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Cheetah vs Cougar

**Cheetah vs cougar: Cougar is larger on weight**

Cougar is somewhat greater than cheetah on weight — about 1.4×.

A cheetah and a cougar 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.*

|  | Cheetah | Cougar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 34–72 kg | 29–100 kg |
| Height | 0.7–0.9 m | 0.6–0.8 m |
| Length | 1.1–1.5 m | 1–1.8 m |
| Top speed | 93–104 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Typical lifespan | 8–17 yr | 8–20 yr |

## What the numbers say

- Cougar is somewhat greater than cheetah on weight — about 1.4×.
- Cheetah is somewhat greater than cougar on height — about 1.1×.
- Cougar is somewhat greater than cheetah on length — about 1.2×.
- Cheetah is somewhat greater than cougar on top speed — about 1.3×.
- Cheetah and cougar are near enough identical on typical lifespan.

*Weight compared.*

- Cougar: 29–100 kg
- Cheetah: 34–72 kg

## Cheetah

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

## Cougar

The widest-ranging land mammal in the Americas; despite the size it is more closely related to the domestic cat than to lions.

> 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, cheetah or cougar?

Cougar is somewhat greater than cheetah on weight — about 1.4×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

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

Cheetah: 0.7–0.9 m. Cougar: 0.6–0.8 m. Cheetah is somewhat greater than cougar on height — about 1.1×.

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

Cheetah: 1.1–1.5 m. Cougar: 1–1.8 m. Cougar is somewhat greater than cheetah 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 jaguar](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-jaguar/)
- [Cheetah vs snow leopard](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-snow-leopard/)
- [Cougar vs leopard](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cougar-vs-leopard/)
- [Cheetah vs chimpanzee](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-chimpanzee/)
- [Cougar vs jaguar](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cougar-vs-jaguar/)
- [Cougar vs gray wolf](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cougar-vs-gray-wolf/)
- [Cougar vs spotted hyena](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cougar-vs-spotted-hyena/)
- [Cheetah vs red kangaroo](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-red-kangaroo/)
- [Cheetah vs warthog](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-warthog/)

## Sources

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