---
title: "Cheetah vs leopard — size, weight and speed compared"
description: "Leopard is somewhat greater than cheetah on weight — about 1.1×. Compared on 5 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-leopard/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Cheetah vs Leopard

**Cheetah vs leopard: Leopard is larger on weight**

Leopard is somewhat greater than cheetah on weight — about 1.1×.

A cheetah and a leopard 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 | Leopard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 34–72 kg | 28–90 kg |
| Height | 0.7–0.9 m | 0.55–0.8 m |
| Length | 1.1–1.5 m | 0.9–1.9 m |
| Top speed | 93–104 km/h | 58 km/h |
| Typical lifespan | 8–17 yr | 10–21 yr |

## What the numbers say

- Leopard is somewhat greater than cheetah on weight — about 1.1×.
- Cheetah is somewhat greater than leopard on height — about 1.1×.
- Cheetah and leopard are near enough identical on length.
- Cheetah is 1.7× leopard on top speed.
- Leopard is somewhat greater than cheetah on typical lifespan — about 1.2×.

*Weight compared.*

- Leopard: 28–90 kg
- Cheetah: 34–72 kg

## Cheetah

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

## Leopard

The most widespread big cat, and the one that routinely hauls kills heavier than itself into trees.

> 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 leopard?

Leopard is somewhat greater than cheetah on weight — about 1.1×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

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

Cheetah: 0.7–0.9 m. Leopard: 0.55–0.8 m. Cheetah is somewhat greater than leopard on height — about 1.1×.

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

Cheetah: 1.1–1.5 m. Leopard: 0.9–1.9 m. Cheetah and leopard are near enough identical on length.

## Related pages

- [Cheetah vs gray wolf](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-gray-wolf/)
- [Gray wolf vs leopard](https://atoneplace.net/vs/gray-wolf-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/)
- [Leopard vs spotted hyena](https://atoneplace.net/vs/leopard-vs-spotted-hyena/)
- [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/)
- [Jaguar vs leopard](https://atoneplace.net/vs/jaguar-vs-leopard/)
- [Leopard vs snow leopard](https://atoneplace.net/vs/leopard-vs-snow-leopard/)
- [Cheetah vs red kangaroo](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-red-kangaroo/)

## Sources

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