---
title: "Cougar vs jaguar — size, weight and speed compared"
description: "Jaguar is somewhat greater than cougar on weight — about 1.3×. Compared on 5 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/cougar-vs-jaguar/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Cougar vs Jaguar

**Cougar vs jaguar: Jaguar is larger on weight**

Jaguar is somewhat greater than cougar on weight — about 1.3×.

A cougar and a jaguar 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.*

|  | Cougar | Jaguar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 29–100 kg | 45–120 kg |
| Height | 0.6–0.8 m | 0.63–0.8 m |
| Length | 1–1.8 m | 1.1–1.9 m |
| Top speed | 80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Typical lifespan | 8–20 yr | 11–22 yr |

## What the numbers say

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

*Weight compared.*

- Jaguar: 45–120 kg
- Cougar: 29–100 kg

## Cougar

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

## Jaguar

The largest cat in the Americas, built stocky and known for killing by biting through the skull.

> 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, cougar or jaguar?

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

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

Cougar: 0.6–0.8 m. Jaguar: 0.63–0.8 m. Cougar and jaguar are near enough identical on height.

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

Cougar: 1–1.8 m. Jaguar: 1.1–1.9 m. Jaguar is somewhat greater than cougar on length — about 1.1×.

## Related pages

- [Cheetah vs cougar](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-cougar/)
- [Cheetah vs jaguar](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cheetah-vs-jaguar/)
- [Jaguar vs lion](https://atoneplace.net/vs/jaguar-vs-lion/)
- [Cougar vs leopard](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cougar-vs-leopard/)
- [Jaguar vs leopard](https://atoneplace.net/vs/jaguar-vs-leopard/)
- [Cougar vs gray wolf](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cougar-vs-gray-wolf/)
- [Cougar vs spotted hyena](https://atoneplace.net/vs/cougar-vs-spotted-hyena/)
- [Jaguar vs spotted hyena](https://atoneplace.net/vs/jaguar-vs-spotted-hyena/)
- [Jaguar vs tiger](https://atoneplace.net/vs/jaguar-vs-tiger/)
- [Gray wolf vs jaguar](https://atoneplace.net/vs/gray-wolf-vs-jaguar/)
- [Giant panda vs jaguar](https://atoneplace.net/vs/giant-panda-vs-jaguar/)

## Sources

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