---
title: "German shepherd vs pit bull — size, weight and speed compared"
description: "German shepherd is somewhat greater than pit bull on weight — about 1.4×. Compared on 4 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/german-shepherd-vs-pit-bull/
site: "At One Place"
---

# German shepherd vs Pit bull

**German shepherd vs pit bull: German shepherd is larger on weight**

German shepherd is somewhat greater than pit bull on weight — about 1.4×.

A German shepherd and a pit bull 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.*

|  | German shepherd | Pit bull |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 22–40 kg | 14–32 kg |
| Height | 0.55–0.65 m | 0.43–0.53 m |
| Typical lifespan | 9–13 yr | 12–16 yr |
| Bite force | 238 psi | 235 psi |

## What the numbers say

- German shepherd is somewhat greater than pit bull on weight — about 1.4×.
- German shepherd is somewhat greater than pit bull on height — about 1.3×.
- Pit bull is somewhat greater than German shepherd on typical lifespan — about 1.2×.
- German shepherd and pit bull are near enough identical on bite force.

*Weight compared.*

- German shepherd: 22–40 kg
- Pit bull: 14–32 kg

## German shepherd

A large herding breed, now the standard police and military working dog.

## Pit bull

A group of bull-and-terrier type dogs, medium in size and heavily muscled.

> 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, German shepherd or pit bull?

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

### How do German shepherds and pit bulls compare on height?

German shepherd: 0.55–0.65 m. Pit bull: 0.43–0.53 m. German shepherd is somewhat greater than pit bull on height — about 1.3×.

### How do German shepherds and pit bulls compare on typical lifespan?

German shepherd: 9–13 yr. Pit bull: 12–16 yr. Pit bull is somewhat greater than German shepherd on typical lifespan — about 1.2×.

## Related pages

- [German shepherd vs rottweiler](https://atoneplace.net/vs/german-shepherd-vs-rottweiler/)
- [Pit bull vs rottweiler](https://atoneplace.net/vs/pit-bull-vs-rottweiler/)
- [German shepherd vs Labrador retriever](https://atoneplace.net/vs/german-shepherd-vs-labrador-retriever/)
- [Labrador retriever vs pit bull](https://atoneplace.net/vs/labrador-retriever-vs-pit-bull/)
- [German shepherd vs golden retriever](https://atoneplace.net/vs/german-shepherd-vs-golden-retriever/)
- [Golden retriever vs pit bull](https://atoneplace.net/vs/golden-retriever-vs-pit-bull/)
- [Doberman pinscher vs German shepherd](https://atoneplace.net/vs/doberman-pinscher-vs-german-shepherd/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)