---
title: "Cheetah vs spotted hyena — size, weight and speed compared"
description: "Spotted hyena is somewhat greater than cheetah on weight — about 1.2×. Compared on 5 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-spotted-hyena/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Cheetah vs Spotted hyena

**Cheetah vs spotted hyena: Spotted hyena is larger on weight**

Spotted hyena is somewhat greater than cheetah on weight — about 1.2×.

A cheetah and a spotted hyena 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 | Spotted hyena |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 34–72 kg | 40–86 kg |
| Height | 0.7–0.9 m | 0.7–0.92 m |
| Length | 1.1–1.5 m | 0.95–1.6 m |
| Top speed | 93–104 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Typical lifespan | 8–17 yr | 12–25 yr |

## What the numbers say

- Spotted hyena is somewhat greater than cheetah on weight — about 1.2×.
- Cheetah and spotted hyena are near enough identical on height.
- Cheetah and spotted hyena are near enough identical on length.
- Cheetah is 1.7× spotted hyena on top speed.
- Spotted hyena is 2× cheetah on typical lifespan.

*Weight compared.*

- Spotted hyena: 40–86 kg
- Cheetah: 34–72 kg

## Cheetah

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

## Spotted hyena

A social carnivore whose jaws crack bone; females are larger than males and lead the clan.

> 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 spotted hyena?

Spotted hyena is somewhat greater than cheetah on weight — about 1.2×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

### How do cheetahs and spotted hyenas compare on height?

Cheetah: 0.7–0.9 m. Spotted hyena: 0.7–0.92 m. Cheetah and spotted hyena are near enough identical on height.

### How do cheetahs and spotted hyenas compare on length?

Cheetah: 1.1–1.5 m. Spotted hyena: 0.95–1.6 m. Cheetah and spotted hyena are near enough identical on length.

## 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 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/)
- [Gray wolf vs spotted hyena](https://atoneplace.net/vs/gray-wolf-vs-spotted-hyena/)
- [Cheetah vs snow leopard](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-snow-leopard/)
- [Cheetah vs chimpanzee](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-chimpanzee/)
- [Cougar vs spotted hyena](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cougar-vs-spotted-hyena/)
- [Jaguar vs spotted hyena](https://atoneplace.net/vs/jaguar-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/)