A wild adult male Siberian tiger usually weighs about 165 to 180 kg (365 to 395 lb), says Russia’s Amur Tiger Centre. Big males measure about 3 m (10 ft) from nose to tail tip and can weigh up to 300 kg (660 lb), according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Females are much smaller.
How big is a Siberian tiger next to a person?
Picture a big male standing beside you. His shoulder would be about 1.2 m (4 ft) off the ground, the Amur Tiger Centre says, which is roughly chest height on a grown-up. His body alone, not counting the tail, can be up to 2.5 m (8 ft) long. That is longer than a single bed. Then add a thick tail of about 1 m (3 ft) that always ends in a black tip.
A typical wild male, at 170 kg or so, weighs as much as two or three grown men. The heaviest males are nearly twice that. Tigresses are lighter and shorter: the Toronto Zoo gives females a range of 100 to 167 kg (220 to 368 lb), against 180 to 306 kg (397 to 675 lb) for males.
| Measurement | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average weight, wild adult males | 165 to 180 kg (365 to 395 lb) | Amur Tiger Centre |
| Weight range, males | 180 to 306 kg (397 to 675 lb) | Toronto Zoo |
| Weight range, females | 100 to 167 kg (220 to 368 lb) | Toronto Zoo |
| Big males, top weight | Up to 300 kg (660 lb) | Smithsonian’s National Zoo |
| Head and body length | 1.8 to 2.8 m (6 to 9 ft) | Toronto Zoo |
| Tail length | About 0.9 to 1 m (3 ft) | Toronto Zoo, Amur Tiger Centre |
| Nose to tail tip, big males | About 3 m (10 ft) | Smithsonian’s National Zoo |
| Shoulder height, males | About 1.2 m (4 ft) | Amur Tiger Centre |
| Newborn cub | 780 to 1,600 g (1.7 to 3.5 lb) | Toronto Zoo |
| Heaviest figure given | 423 kg (933 lb) | San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance |
Why do Siberian tiger sizes disagree so much?
Different sources measure different things. Some give an average for wild adults, some give the full range, and some quote the single biggest animal ever weighed. A range of 180 to 306 kg and an average of 170 kg can both be right, because the average sits near the bottom of what males can reach.
A wild tiger’s weight also swings through the year. The Toronto Zoo says an Amur tiger needs at least 9 to 10 kg (20 to 22 lb) of meat a day, can eat up to 45 kg (99 lb) in one meal, and succeeds in only about 1 hunt in 10. So a tiger weighed just after a big meal can be far heavier than the same tiger a week later.
Length is tricky too. “Head and body” leaves out the tail, while “total length” includes it, which adds about a metre. When you see a Siberian tiger described as 3 m or 3.7 m long, check whether the tail is included.
Are Siberian tigers the biggest tigers?
They are among the biggest. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance calls the Amur tiger the largest tiger, giving it a length of up to 3.7 m (12 ft) and a weight of up to 423 kg (933 lb). Those are extreme figures. The Amur Tiger Centre says wild males over 260 kg (573 lb) are rare today.
The size gap is clearest against island tigers. Sumatran tiger males weigh at most 140 kg (310 lb) and are about 2.4 m (8 ft) long, the Smithsonian says. Against big Bengal tigers from India, the difference is small, and heavy Bengal males reach similar weights. For all tigers, San Diego Zoo gives a range of 75 to 325 kg (165 to 716 lb). Our page on how much a tiger weighs compares every group.
How big is a Siberian tiger compared with a lion?
Close, with the biggest tigers ahead. Male lions weigh 150 to 260 kg (330 to 570 lb) and lionesses 122 to 180 kg (270 to 400 lb), according to San Diego Zoo. A typical wild male Siberian tiger, at 165 to 180 kg, sits inside the lion’s range. The heaviest Siberian males, near 300 kg, are heavier than any figure San Diego Zoo gives for lions.
Wild lions and Siberian tigers never meet, because they live on different continents. If you want the full side-by-side, read tiger vs lion.
How big are Siberian tiger cubs?
Tiny, at first. A newborn cub weighs 780 to 1,600 g (1.7 to 3.5 lb), about as much as a bag of sugar, the Toronto Zoo says. Litters usually hold 2 to 4 cubs. They stop drinking milk at 5 to 6 months and start hunting at about 1 year old.
Cubs grow fast, but they stay with their mother for a long time. They become independent at around 22 to 24 months, when the mother drives them off to find their own land, according to the Amur Tiger Centre.
Why is the Siberian tiger so big?
Size helps in two ways. Big bodies lose heat more slowly than small ones, which matters in the snowy forests of the Russian Far East, and the Amur Tiger Centre notes that these tigers also grow a thick, two-layer coat. Size also lets a tiger tackle large prey such as deer and wild boar. See what Siberian tigers eat for the full menu.
The same body needs a lot of land. A Siberian tiger’s territory is usually 400 to 500 km² (155 to 195 sq mi), and it can travel up to 80 km (50 mi) in a day, the Toronto Zoo says. That need for space is part of why Siberian tigers are endangered. About 750 live in Russia, the Russian government said in 2023, Interfax reported.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a female Siberian tiger weigh?
A female Siberian tiger weighs about 100 to 167 kg (220 to 368 lb), according to the Toronto Zoo. That makes her roughly half to two-thirds the weight of a big male. Females are also shorter, which helps them move quietly and raise cubs in smaller territories than males.
Is the Siberian tiger the biggest cat in the world?
On average, tigers are the biggest wild cats, and the Siberian or Amur tiger is often named as the largest tiger. Big Bengal tigers from India reach similar weights, though, so the title is shared. Lions come close, with males weighing 150 to 260 kg.
How tall is a Siberian tiger?
A big male stands about 1.2 m (4 ft) at the shoulder, according to Russia's Amur Tiger Centre. On all four feet that is about chest height on an adult person. Females are shorter. Nobody measures tigers standing on their back legs, so be wary of claims about that.
How long do Siberian tigers live?
Wild tigers usually live 10 to 15 years, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo. A few reach 20, mostly in zoos. About half of wild cubs die before they are 2, so many tigers never reach adult size at all.
Sources
- Amur Tiger Centre. Who is the Amur tiger?.
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Tiger.
- Toronto Zoo. Amur tiger.
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Tiger.
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Lion.
- Interfax (2023). Population of Amur tigers, Far Eastern leopards growing in Russia – natural resources minister.
Sources checked 15 September 2026.
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