A LITTLE WILDLIFE PERSPECTIVE
How tall is a giraffe?
Compare your height to a giraffe.
An adult male giraffe can reach 5.5 m (18 ft) tall; a female can reach 4.3 m (14 ft).
A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE
Giraffe
next to the average.
Average U.S. adults, side by side.
- Average man (U.S.)5 ft 8.9 in
- Giraffe16 ft 4.9 in
- Average woman (U.S.)5 ft 3.5 in
How do you measure up?
Enter your height to stand beside a giraffe.
Side by side
- Giraffe16 ft 4.9 in
- Your placeAdd your height
The animal is an example adult in the pose shown. Its full outline is scaled to 500 cm. Shoulder height and body length are explained below.
Where do you stand?
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GET TO KNOW THE ANIMAL
Small facts. Big discoveries.
Giraffes · Giraffa
A giraffe’s long neck puts leafy branches within reach that most other animals cannot nibble. Its long legs help make it the tallest living land animal.
Reaching a thorny branch takes more than a long neck: a giraffe uses its flexible lips and tongue to work leaves free. It also chews cud, bringing swallowed leaves back to its mouth for another round of grinding before digestion continues.
- A giraffe has seven neck bones, just like a human. Each one is much longer.
- The two bony bumps on its head are called ossicones. Both males and females have them.
How big do adults get?
- Male
- Up to 5.5 m tall
- Female
- Up to 4.3 m tall
These are upper adult heights. The comparison shows a 5 m example.
Height, length, or weight?
Standing height runs from the ground to the top of the animal. Shoulder height stops at the top of the shoulders. Length runs along the body; it is not how tall an animal stands. Weight tells us how heavy it is.
Explore the science: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance ↗