A LITTLE WILDLIFE PERSPECTIVE
How tall is a white rhinoceros?
Compare your height to a white rhinoceros.
A white rhinoceros stands about 1.5–1.8 m (5–6 ft) at the shoulder. Its head and horns make its outline look even bigger.
A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE
White rhinoceros
next to the average.
Average U.S. adults, side by side.
- Average man (U.S.)5 ft 8.9 in
- White rhinoceros5 ft 6.9 in
- Average woman (U.S.)5 ft 3.5 in
How do you measure up?
Enter your height to stand beside a white rhinoceros.
Side by side
- White rhinoceros5 ft 6.9 in
- Your placeAdd your height
The animal is an example adult in the pose shown. Its full outline is scaled to 170 cm. Shoulder height and body length are explained below.
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GET TO KNOW THE ANIMAL
Small facts. Big discoveries.
White rhinoceros · Ceratotherium simum
A white rhino is a grass specialist. Its broad, square-shaped mouth helps it crop short grass close to the ground, rather like a very large lawn mower.
Mud is part of a white rhino’s daily routine: wallowing helps it cool down and protects its skin from sun and insects. Beneath that heavy body, each foot has three toes arranged around a soft sole that helps spread the animal’s weight.
- White rhinos have two horns, with the front horn usually longer.
- Their sense of smell and hearing are strong, even though their eyesight is relatively poor.
How big do adults get?
- Male
- About 1,800–2,500 kg
- Female
- About 1,800–2,000 kg
Both sexes fall within an adult shoulder-height range of roughly 1.5–1.8 m. These are reference ranges, not record-breaking maximums.
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: International Rhino Foundation ↗ · Save the Rhino International · male and female sizes ↗