How fast are elephants? The fastest elephant ever timed in a study, an Asian elephant in Thailand, reached 6.8 m/s, about 24.5 km/h (15.2 mph). African elephants in the same research topped out at 5.9 m/s (21.2 km/h, 13.2 mph). Higher figures such as 40 km/h (25 mph) are popular estimates, not measurements.
How Fast Are Elephants in mph, km/h and m/s?
Scientists report speed in meters per second, while most readers think in miles or kilometers per hour. So enter any elephant speed below, for example the 24.5 km/h record, and the converter shows it in mph, m/s, feet per second and knots.
At first, an elephant at full speed looks almost calm. For one thing, its legs swing like pillars, its body barely rises and falls, and yet it covers ground quickly. That contrast is also why so many different numbers float around online. For instance, some websites say 15 mph, others say 25 mph, and a few go even higher.
In fact, the most reliable answer comes from biomechanics research. In 2003, a team led by John Hutchinson filmed 42 Asian elephants moving along a 100-foot course in Thailand. According to the ScienceDaily summary of the study, the average walking pace was about 4.5 mph, and three animals went faster than 15 mph. After that, a follow-up paper measured both Asian and African elephants.
In practice, 24.5 km/h means an elephant covers 100 meters in about 14.7 seconds. In other words, that is slower than a fit human sprinter, but much faster than most people can keep up across rough ground.
How Fast Are Elephants by Species?
Above all, the best data set is a 2006 paper in the Journal of Experimental Biology. In it, the researchers measured 48 Asian and 14 African elephants at many speeds. Also, you can read the abstract of The locomotor kinematics of Asian and African elephants for the details.
| Species | Fastest measured | Same speed in other units | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian elephant | 6.8 m/s | 24.5 km/h, 15.2 mph | Fastest reliable record (Hutchinson et al.) |
| African elephant | 5.9 m/s | 21.2 km/h, 13.2 mph | Fastest seen in a smaller sample of 14 animals |
| Any elephant, normal walk | about 1.1 to 2 m/s | 4 to 7 km/h, 2.5 to 4.5 mph | Everyday travel pace |
Notice that the African record is lower only because fewer African elephants were tested. In other words, nobody has shown that African elephants are slower. Moreover, wild African bush elephants are larger and may well reach similar speeds, but they have not been timed on a measured course.
Recommended Tools for Clocking Animal Speed
Of course, you should never try to time a wild elephant on foot. Instead, the same tools that guides and researchers carry work well from a vehicle or on safer subjects. First, binoculars help you watch from a respectful distance. Next, a laser rangefinder measures the distance between two landmarks. Finally, a radar speed gun reads speed directly on balls, bikes and cars, which makes it a good practice tool.
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How Fast Are Elephants Compared With Other Animals?
For example, against famous sprinters, elephants sit near the bottom of the table. Even so, they are faster than many people expect, and they beat most humans on anything but a short dash.
| Runner | Top speed | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Cheetah (wild) | 93 km/h (58 mph) | GPS collars, Wilson et al. 2013 |
| Thoroughbred racehorse | 70.76 km/h (43.97 mph) | Guinness record, 2008 |
| Rhino (charge) | 40 to 50 km/h (25 to 31 mph) | Field estimates |
| Usain Bolt (peak) | about 44.7 km/h (27.8 mph) | 2009 world record race |
| Asian elephant | 24.5 km/h (15.2 mph) | Timed study, 2003 to 2006 |
| Average adult walking | about 5 km/h (3 mph) | Typical pace |
For a closer look at another heavy animal, see our guide to rhino speed, which explains why rhinos can gallop while elephants cannot. Similarly, how fast a hippo can run covers the third giant of the African savanna. If you want to compare yourself, how fast humans can run breaks down sprint and jogging speeds.
Do Elephants Really Run?
This, however, is the surprising part. In general, most four-legged animals switch gaits as they speed up, from a walk to a trot to a gallop. An elephant, by contrast, keeps the same footfall order at every speed. As a result, it never has all four feet off the ground at once.
Still, the researchers found that a fast elephant’s body bounces like a runner’s. In fact, its front legs and back legs can each leave the ground briefly, just not at the same moment. Because of that, scientists describe fast elephant movement as a kind of running, even though it looks like a very quick walk. In addition, the 2003 team called it “Groucho running” after the bent-knee walk of comedian Groucho Marx.
| People often confuse | What it really means for elephants | Typical speed |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | A slow, even pace with the center of mass vaulting over stiff legs | 4 to 7 km/h (2.5 to 4.5 mph) |
| Running (“Groucho running”) | Same footfall order, but the body bounces like a runner’s | from about 8 km/h (5 mph) upward |
| Galloping | All four feet airborne at once; elephants never do this | not reached |
A later study at the Royal Veterinary College, reported by Nature News, added another twist. Specifically, it found that elephants start using a running motion at only about 8 km/h (5 mph), slower than a gentle human jog.
Myths the Old Speed Figures Got Wrong
Older articles about elephant speed, including the earlier version of this page, repeated several claims that do not hold up. Here are the main corrections:
- “Young elephants run up to 25 mph.” No study has measured this. In reality, calves keep pace with the herd, but they are not faster than healthy adults.
- “Elephants gallop like other animals.” They do not. Their feet follow the same order at every speed.
- “Asian elephants reach 24 mph.” The measured top is 24 km/h, which is only about 15 mph. Mixing up km/h and mph is the most common error.
- “Elephant knees lock in place.” Their legs are held fairly straight, which saves effort, but they still bend at the joints when the animal moves fast.
- “A horsefly flies at 90 mph.” This old claim has no reliable measurement behind it. The peregrine falcon, however, has been clocked in a dive at about 389 km/h (242 mph).
How to Measure an Animal’s Speed
However, researchers did not use radar guns on elephants. Instead, they filmed each animal over a marked distance and worked out speed from distance and time. Similarly, you can use the same method on a dog, a horse or a bicycle.
- Mark a known distance. Pick two fixed points, such as posts or trees, and measure the gap with a tape or laser rangefinder.
- Film from the side. Set a camera or phone so both marks are in view, and keep it still.
- Find the crossing times. Step through the video frame by frame and note when the animal passes each mark.
- Divide distance by time. This gives meters per second. Multiply by 3.6 to get km/h.
- Convert the result. Enter the km/h value in the converter above to see mph, ft/s and knots.
For example, if an animal crosses 30 meters in 5 seconds, its speed is 6 m/s. That works out to 21.6 km/h, or about 13.4 mph.
Do and Don’t Around Moving Elephants
Do
- Stay inside the vehicle unless a guide tells you otherwise.
- Keep the distance your guide or park sets.
- Watch for raised ears, head shaking or mock charges.
- Give mothers and calves extra room.
Don’t
- Assume a heavy animal is too slow to catch you.
- Block a herd’s path to water or between family members.
- Approach on foot for a closer photo.
- Use a speed figure as a safety margin.
Honest Limits of Elephant Speed Data
Every elephant speed figure has limits, because no field study is perfect. First, the timed studies used captive or working elephants, which may not push as hard as a wild animal that feels threatened. Second, the African sample was small, so its lower top speed may simply reflect the animals that were tested. Third, short courses capture a burst, not how long an elephant can keep going. Finally, rounding between units adds noise, because 6.8 m/s becomes 24 km/h in one source and 25 km/h in another. So treat 24 to 25 km/h (about 15 mph) as the best measured figure, and treat anything above it as an estimate.
When Accuracy Really Matters
For a school project, “about 15 mph or 24 km/h” is accurate and easy to cite. For travel planning, however, the exact number matters less than the fact that a calm-looking elephant can close a gap in seconds. Likewise, if you compare animals, always check that every figure uses the same unit and was measured rather than guessed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast are elephants in mph?
The fastest measured elephant reached about 15.2 mph. Most elephants walk at about 2.5 to 4.5 mph.
How fast are elephants in km/h?
The record from a timed study is 6.8 m/s, which is about 24.5 km/h. African elephants in the same research reached about 21.2 km/h.
How fast are elephants in meters per second?
The top measured speed is 6.8 m/s for an Asian elephant and 5.9 m/s for an African elephant.
Can a human outrun an elephant?
Over a short sprint, a fast athlete can. Over rough ground and longer distances, most people cannot, so never rely on running away.
How fast are elephants when they charge?
Many safari sources say about 40 km/h (25 mph). However, no timed study has confirmed that figure; the measured top is about 24.5 km/h.
Are African elephants faster than Asian elephants?
Not proven. The Asian record is higher, but far fewer African elephants have been timed, so the two may be similar.
Can elephants jump?
No. An adult elephant never gets all four feet off the ground at once, so it cannot jump or gallop.
How fast are elephants compared with rhinos?
Rhinos are faster. They can gallop at about 40 to 50 km/h in a charge, while the fastest measured elephant reached about 24.5 km/h.
How fast does an elephant walk?
A normal walk is about 4 to 7 km/h (2.5 to 4.5 mph), which is close to a brisk human walking pace.
Why do some sites say elephants run 25 mph?
The figure likely comes from field impressions or from a mix-up between km/h and mph. Measured speeds top out near 15 mph.
How Fast Are Elephants: The Bottom Line
To sum up, the best measured answer is about 24.5 km/h (15.2 mph) for an Asian elephant, and about 21.2 km/h (13.2 mph) for the African elephants that have been timed. By contrast, higher figures you see online are estimates. Moreover, elephants reach these speeds without ever galloping, using a bouncy, fast walk that scientists still count as running.
Finally, use the converter at the top of the page to turn any speed into mph, m/s or knots. Also, if you meet elephants in the wild, keep your distance, because even 15 mph is faster than you think.
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