---
title: "Koala vs three-toed sloth — size, weight and speed compared"
description: "Koala is 2.3× three-toed sloth on weight. Compared on 3 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/koala-vs-three-toed-sloth/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Koala vs Three-toed sloth

**Koala vs three-toed sloth: Koala is larger on weight**

Koala is 2.3× three-toed sloth on weight.

A koala and a three-toed sloth can be compared on 3 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.*

|  | Koala | Three-toed sloth |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 4–15 kg | 2.2–6.3 kg |
| Length | 0.6–0.85 m | 0.42–0.8 m |
| Typical lifespan | 10–20 yr | 20–40 yr |

## What the numbers say

- Koala is 2.3× three-toed sloth on weight.
- Koala is somewhat greater than three-toed sloth on length — about 1.3×.
- Three-toed sloth is 2× koala on typical lifespan.

*Weight compared.*

- Koala: 4–15 kg
- Three-toed sloth: 2.2–6.3 kg

## Koala

A eucalyptus specialist that sleeps up to 20 hours a day because the diet yields so little energy.

## Three-toed sloth

One of the slowest mammals, moving about 0.24 km/h and descending from its tree only to defecate.

> 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, koala or three-toed sloth?

Koala is 2.3× three-toed sloth on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

### How do koalas and three-toed sloths compare on length?

Koala: 0.6–0.85 m. Three-toed sloth: 0.42–0.8 m. Koala is somewhat greater than three-toed sloth on length — about 1.3×.

### How do koalas and three-toed sloths compare on typical lifespan?

Koala: 10–20 yr. Three-toed sloth: 20–40 yr. Three-toed sloth is 2× koala on typical lifespan.

## Related pages

- [Domestic cat vs three-toed sloth](https://atoneplace.net/vs/domestic-cat-vs-three-toed-sloth/)
- [Domestic cat vs koala](https://atoneplace.net/vs/domestic-cat-vs-koala/)
- [Bald eagle vs three-toed sloth](https://atoneplace.net/vs/bald-eagle-vs-three-toed-sloth/)
- [Koala vs North American beaver](https://atoneplace.net/vs/koala-vs-north-american-beaver/)

## Sources

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