How fast can a kangaroo run? The red kangaroo, the largest species, peaks at about 35 mph (56 km/h), and some estimates reach 37 mph (60 km/h). However, that is only a short burst. Over longer distances, kangaroos travel far more slowly, at roughly 13 mph (21 km/h) or less, because hopping is cheapest there.
In other words, a kangaroo has two speeds that matter: a sprint for escaping danger and a relaxed bounce for getting around. For example, at 35 mph, a red kangaroo covers about 51 feet (15.6 m) every second. At a steady 13 mph, by contrast, it covers about 19 feet (5.8 m) per second and, as a result, can keep that up for a long time.
Convert Kangaroo Run Speed to km/h, m/s and Knots
First, type any speed below to convert it. The box starts at 35 mph, the most widely quoted top speed for a red kangaroo. Next, you can enter 13 to see the cruising estimate, or try another animal from the comparison table further down.
Because kangaroos are the only large animals that move by hopping, their speed works differently from a horse or a cat. National Geographic, for instance, notes that a red kangaroo can reach speeds of over 35 miles an hour and cover 25 feet (7.6 m) in a single leap. However, the old version of this page gave two different top speeds, 35 mph and 44 mph. We have corrected that: no reliable source supports 44 mph (71 km/h), so this page uses 35 mph as the standard figure and 37 mph as the high estimate.
Kangaroo Run Speed Chart: mph, km/h, m/s and ft/s
First of all, the values below come from the exact definition 1 mile = 1.609344 km and are rounded to two decimals. Also, feel free to print this chart; it fits on one page.
| Situation | mph | km/h | m/s | ft/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slow hop (efficiency starts) | 3.73 | 6.00 | 1.67 | 5.47 |
| Easy bounce | 10 | 16.09 | 4.47 | 14.67 |
| Typical cruise (estimate) | 13 | 20.92 | 5.81 | 19.07 |
| Fast travel | 20 | 32.19 | 8.94 | 29.33 |
| Hard run | 30 | 48.28 | 13.41 | 44.00 |
| Red kangaroo top speed | 35 | 56.33 | 15.65 | 51.33 |
| High estimate | 37.3 | 60.03 | 16.67 | 54.71 |
To put the top figure in context, a kangaroo at 35 mph would cross 100 m in about 6.4 seconds. By comparison, at the 13 mph cruise the same distance takes about 17 seconds, and a full mile takes about 4.6 minutes.
Top Kangaroo Run Speed vs Cruising Speed
People often mix up these two numbers, so here is how they differ. First, the top speed is a brief escape sprint, usually when a dog, a dingo or a vehicle startles the animal. The cruising speed, meanwhile, is how a mob of kangaroos moves between feeding areas and water.
| Measure | Kangaroo speed | How long it lasts | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top speed | About 35 mph (56 km/h), up to 37 mph (60 km/h) | A short burst | Field estimates reported by National Geographic and others |
| Steady hopping | About 4.5 to 13 mph (7 to 22 km/h) | Long distances | Treadmill studies of energy use |
| Slow movement | Under about 3.7 mph (6 km/h) | While grazing | Kangaroos walk using the tail as a fifth leg |
Why a Kangaroo Run Costs So Little Energy
In short, hopping works like a pogo stick. When a kangaroo lands, its long ankle tendons stretch and store elastic energy. Then, on the next push-off, those tendons recoil and return much of that energy. As a result, the muscles do less work than they would in a running animal of the same size.
In a classic 1973 study in Nature, Terence Dawson and C. Richard Taylor measured the energetic cost of locomotion in kangaroos on a treadmill. Surprisingly, their red kangaroos used almost the same amount of oxygen as their hopping speed rose from about 2 to 6 m/s (roughly 4.5 to 13 mph). So the faster they hopped in that range, the less energy each meter cost them. Most running mammals, by contrast, burn more fuel as they speed up.
There is a catch, though. Hopping is clumsy at low speeds, for example while grazing. According to Australian Geographic, long heavy feet make hopping inefficient below about 6 km/h (3.7 mph), so kangaroos switch to a slow “pentapedal” walk when they graze. In addition, a fleeing kangaroo can go faster mostly by lengthening each leap rather than by hopping more often.
How Fast Can a Kangaroo Run Compared With Other Animals?
To begin with, the red kangaroo is the largest kangaroo. Specifically, National Geographic lists adults at up to about 200 pounds (91 kg), and males can reach a body length of up to 1.4 m (4.6 ft) plus a tail of up to 1 m (39 in). Eastern gray kangaroos, on the other hand, are slightly smaller but are also strong sprinters, while wallabies and tree kangaroos are slower.
| Animal | Top speed (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Red kangaroo | 35 mph (56 km/h) | Short burst; cruises far slower |
| Jaguar | About 50 mph (80 km/h) | Short ambush charge only |
| Fastest human sprint | About 27.8 mph (44.7 km/h) | Peak speed during a 100 m world record |
| Koala | Slow on the ground | Spends most of its life in trees |
For more comparisons, see our guides on how fast a jaguar runs, how fast a lion can run and how fast a horse can run. Similarly, if you need speed in nautical units, our page on how fast a knot is explains the conversion.
Tools for Watching and Timing Wildlife Speed
Fortunately, you do not need a lab to estimate how fast an animal moves. First, a pocket radar gun reads speed directly when the animal moves toward or away from you. Next, a laser rangefinder measures the distance it covers. Finally, a good pair of binoculars lets you watch from a safe, respectful distance without disturbing it.
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These picks are based on manufacturer specs and buyer reports. Also, keep in mind that sports radar guns are built for balls and runners, so readings on a bounding animal at an angle will run low.
How to Time a Kangaroo Run Yourself
- Pick two landmarks. Choose two fixed points along the animal’s path, such as a fence post and a tree.
- Measure the distance. Next, use a laser rangefinder or pace it out later, and write it down in feet or meters.
- Time the crossing. Then start a stopwatch as the animal passes the first point and stop it at the second.
- Divide distance by time. For example, 150 ft in 4 seconds is 37.5 ft/s.
- Convert the result. Enter it in the converter above; 37.5 ft/s is about 25.6 mph (41.1 km/h).
- Repeat and average. Finally, several runs give a more honest figure than one lucky reading.
Do and Don’t When Reading Kangaroo Speed Claims
Do
- Check which species a figure refers to.
- Separate a burst sprint from steady travel.
- Look for the original source of a number.
- Convert units with exact factors.
- Treat every wild speed as a range.
Don’t
- Assume a joey moves like an adult male.
- Trust round numbers repeated without a source.
- Compare a sprint with another animal’s cruise.
- Expect a sports radar gun to read a bounding animal perfectly.
- Disturb wildlife to get a reading.
Honest Limits of Kangaroo Run Speed Figures
Every kangaroo run speed you read online, including ours, is an estimate. For one thing, nobody has clocked large numbers of wild red kangaroos at full sprint with GPS collars. Instead, top speeds come from observers pacing animals in vehicles, which can easily be off by a few miles per hour. In addition, terrain, heat, age and body size all change what one animal can do on a given day.
By contrast, the cruising figures rest on firmer ground, because treadmill studies measured them directly. Even so, those were only a handful of captive animals, so the numbers describe the pattern better than any single wild kangaroo. In short, use 35 mph as a fair top speed and about 13 mph as a fair cruise, and expect real animals to vary on either side.
How Fast Can a Kangaroo Run? FAQs
How fast can a kangaroo run at top speed?
The red kangaroo can reach about 35 mph (56 km/h) in a short burst. However, some estimates go up to about 37 mph (60 km/h).
How fast can a kangaroo run in km/h?
About 56 km/h at top speed for a red kangaroo, and roughly 21 km/h or less when it travels steadily.
What is a kangaroo’s cruising speed?
Kangaroos usually travel at roughly 13 mph (21 km/h) or less. In fact, treadmill studies found that hopping between about 4.5 and 13 mph costs them almost no extra energy.
Can a kangaroo run 44 mph?
No reliable source supports 44 mph (71 km/h). Instead, the figure usually quoted for the red kangaroo is about 35 mph, with a high estimate near 37 mph.
How long can a kangaroo keep up its top speed?
Only for a short burst. After that, over long distances, kangaroos drop to an easier hopping pace that uses far less energy.
Why is hopping so efficient?
The ankle tendons stretch on landing and recoil on take-off, like a spring. As a result, the muscles do less work, and faster hopping costs little extra energy.
How far can a kangaroo jump in one leap?
National Geographic says a red kangaroo can cover about 25 feet (7.6 m) in a single leap and jump about 6 feet (1.8 m) high.
Which kangaroo is the fastest?
The red kangaroo is the one most often credited with the top speed of about 35 mph. Eastern gray kangaroos are also fast, whereas wallabies are generally slower.
How does a kangaroo run compare with a human sprint?
A red kangaroo at 35 mph is faster than the fastest recorded human sprint, which peaked at about 27.8 mph (44.7 km/h).
Can kangaroos walk?
Yes. At low speeds, below about 3.7 mph (6 km/h), they move slowly on all four legs and use the tail as an extra support.
The Bottom Line: How Fast Can a Kangaroo Run?
To sum up, a red kangaroo can sprint at about 35 mph (56 km/h), and perhaps 37 mph (60 km/h), but only briefly. For everyday travel, however, it hops far more slowly, at roughly 13 mph (21 km/h) or less, where its spring-like tendons make each meter cheap.
Finally, if you want any of these figures in another unit, use the converter at the top of this page. In addition, it handles mph, km/h, meters per second, feet per second and knots.
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