The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest of the world’s cat species, yet there is no single answer to the question of how much an adult weighs. Tiger mass varies dramatically, encompassing a spectrum of sizes that reflect their vast geographic distribution across Asia. An individual’s weight can fall anywhere from approximately 75 kilograms (165 pounds) to over 300 kilograms (660 pounds). These differences are primarily driven by the distinct adaptations and evolutionary history of the various tiger subspecies.
The Weight Difference by Subspecies
The geographical location of a tiger strongly dictates its size, separating the subspecies into distinct weight classes. At the heavier end of the spectrum is the Siberian tiger (P. t. altaica), which thrives in the cold northern latitudes of the Russian Far East. Male Siberian tigers typically weigh between 180 and 300 kilograms (397 and 660 pounds), with some large individuals recorded even heavier, making them the largest living felids. The Bengal tiger (P. t. tigris), the most numerous of the subspecies, also represents a massive form, though slightly smaller on average than its Siberian cousin. Adult males in this group generally range from 200 to 260 kilograms (440 to 570 pounds) across their habitats in India and surrounding countries. In contrast, the Sumatran tiger (P. t. sumatrae) is the smallest living subspecies, an adaptation to life on the Indonesian island of Sumatra where a smaller body size is advantageous in dense tropical rainforests. A large male Sumatran tiger weighs just 100 to 140 kilograms (220 to 310 pounds).
Factors Affecting a Tiger’s Size
Beyond the subspecies distinctions, an individual tiger’s mass is heavily influenced by its sex and its environment. The most pronounced factor is sexual dimorphism, the difference in size between males and females, where males are substantially heavier. Female tigers across all subspecies are considerably smaller, often weighing 30 to 40 percent less than their male counterparts. A female Siberian tiger, for instance, typically weighs only 100 to 180 kilograms (220 to 397 pounds), which is closer in weight to a male of the smaller Sumatran subspecies. Age is another significant factor; newborns are completely dependent and weigh only 780 to 1,600 grams (1.7 to 3.5 pounds) at birth. Cubs remain with their mother for up to three years before reaching full independence and adult size. Habitat quality and the density of prey animals also have a direct impact on an individual’s ultimate mass. Tigers are capable of consuming 18 to 40 kilograms (40 to 88 pounds) of meat in a single sitting, and a sustained, high-quality diet of large ungulates allows them to achieve their maximum potential size.
Comparing Tiger Weight to Other Big Cats
The sheer mass of the tiger becomes apparent when comparing it to its relatives within the genus Panthera. The tiger is widely recognized as the heaviest of the big cats, outweighing its closest competitors. The African lion (Panthera leo), often considered the second largest, has males that typically weigh between 150 and 225 kilograms (330 and 500 pounds). This means that while the largest lions are similar to an average Bengal tiger, the biggest Siberian tigers significantly surpass any lion in mass. Moving down the scale, the jaguar (Panthera onca), the largest cat in the Americas, is substantially smaller, with males generally peaking around 159 kilograms (350 pounds). The common leopard (Panthera pardus) is smaller still, with males averaging around 59 kilograms (130 pounds).