How fast can a lion run? GPS collars on wild lions in Botswana recorded a peak of 20.6 m/s, or about 74 km/h (46 mph), in short bursts. However, most fast runs were much slower: 98% stayed under 13.9 m/s (50 km/h, 31 mph). The popular 80 km/h (50 mph) figure, by contrast, is an estimate.
How Fast Can a Lion Run in mph, km/h and m/s?
Research papers usually give speed in meters per second, while safari guides quote km/h or mph. So type any figure below, for example the 74.16 km/h collar record, and the converter turns it into the other units at once.
Ask how fast a lion can run and you will usually hear “about 50 mph”. Yet that number has been repeated for decades, even though hardly anyone measured it. Instead, it came from rough field estimates of charging cats.
Then, in 2018, things changed. Specifically, a team led by Alan Wilson at the Royal Veterinary College fitted nine wild lions in northern Botswana with collars that logged GPS position five times per second. In total, the collars captured 2,726 lion runs. Later, the results appeared in Nature, and the accepted manuscript of the study lists the top lion speed as 20.6 m/s. In other words, a lion at full sprint covers 100 meters in about 4.9 seconds.
Below, you will therefore find the measured numbers, how they compare with zebra, impala and cheetah, why lions tire so fast, and how they hunt around that weakness.
Lion Run Speeds in Every Unit
This chart converts the key lion run figures, along with the common online claim, into four units. In addition, all conversions use exact definitions: 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h, and 1 mile = 1.609344 km.
| Lion figure | m/s | km/h | mph | Time for 100 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top measured speed (collar study) | 20.6 | 74.16 | 46.08 | 4.85 s |
| 98th percentile of fast runs | 13.9 | 50.04 | 31.09 | 7.19 s |
| Zoo fact sheet range, low end | 12.5 | 45 | 27.96 | 8.00 s |
| Zoo fact sheet range, high end | 16.67 | 60 | 37.28 | 6.00 s |
| Popular claim (not measured) | 22.22 | 80 | 49.71 | 4.50 s |
For a human comparison, meanwhile, the 100 m world record of 9.58 seconds averages about 10.4 m/s, or 37.6 km/h (23.3 mph). As a result, even a lion jogging at its everyday fast pace would outrun the fastest sprinter ever timed.
Lion Run Speeds: Measured Data vs Popular Claims
Three kinds of numbers circulate, and, as a result, they are easy to mix up. First, the collar maximum of 20.6 m/s is the best run the study recorded, so it is a true ceiling for those animals. Second, the 98th percentile shows that lions rarely use that ceiling: almost all of their fast runs stayed at or below about two thirds of it. Third, the 80 km/h claim is simply older and rounder.
| Source type | Figure | What it really tells you |
|---|---|---|
| GPS collar study (2018) | 74 km/h (46 mph) max | Highest run recorded across nine wild lions |
| Zoo fact sheet | 45-60 km/h (28-37 mph) | Typical burst speed, usually for 100-200 m |
| Popular websites | 80 km/h (50 mph) | Rounded estimate, never published as a measurement |
For comparison, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance lion fact sheet gives 45 to 60 km/h for short bursts. Therefore, the honest summary is this: a lion usually sprints at 45-60 km/h, and a few runs reach the low 70s.
Can a Lion Run Faster Than a Zebra or Wildebeest?
The same 2018 study also collared zebra, impala and cheetah, which makes a fair comparison possible. Here, then, are the maximum speeds it recorded.
| Animal | Top speed (m/s) | km/h | mph | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheetah | 23.8 | 85.68 | 53.24 | Collar study |
| Lion | 20.6 | 74.16 | 46.08 | Collar study |
| Impala | 17.7 | 63.72 | 39.59 | Collar study |
| Plains zebra | 13.8 | 49.68 | 30.87 | Collar study |
| Blue wildebeest | about 22 | about 80 | about 50 | Popular estimate |
On paper, then, a lion is about 49% faster than a zebra at top speed. Even so, zebras escape often. For example, the study explains why: predators were about 38% faster than their prey on average, but prey usually ran at only about half their maximum during hunts. Because it is going slower, a zebra can turn sharply, while a lion moving flat out cannot follow the turn. Consequently, agility, not top speed, often decides the chase.
Wildebeest, however, are a different story. For example, wildlife magazines credit them with bursts of about 80 km/h (50 mph). Still, no collar study comparable to the zebra data has published a wildebeest maximum, so treat that number as a rough guide. For other big animals, compare how fast elephants run and the measured rhino speed figures.
How Far Can a Lion Run at Full Speed?
In general, a lion is built to sprint, not to chase. For instance, its heavy, muscular body produces great power, but it also burns energy quickly. According to the San Diego Zoo fact sheet, lions hold top speed for usually no more than 100 to 200 meters. After that, they slow down or give up.
In other words, at 20.6 m/s, 200 meters takes under 10 seconds. In comparison, a zebra or wildebeest can keep running at a moderate pace for much longer. So if a lion fails to close the gap in the first few seconds, the hunt is almost always over.
How Lions Hunt Around Their Limits
Because their sprint is short, lions rely on surprise instead of endurance. First, a lion stalks with its body low, ears flat and eyes fixed on the target, often for half an hour or longer. Next, it waits until the prey is within striking range. Only then does it finally charge.
In addition, group hunting adds a second advantage. For example, in a pride hunt, some lionesses fan out to block escape routes while others drive the prey toward them. Similarly, windy nights and low moonlight help, because prey cannot hear or see the lions coming.
| Area | Reported hunting success |
|---|---|
| Kalahari | 38% |
| Serengeti | 23% |
| Etosha National Park | 15% |
Again, these rates come from the San Diego Zoo fact sheet. In short, most charges fail, and lions hunting alone succeed less often than lions hunting together.
How to Estimate an Animal’s Speed Yourself
- Pick two fixed markers. First, choose objects such as a tree and a rock that the animal will pass.
- Measure the distance between them. Next, use a laser rangefinder or a map tool, and note it in meters or feet.
- Time the run. Then start a stopwatch as the animal passes the first marker and stop it at the second.
- Divide distance by time. For instance, 50 meters in 2.5 seconds is 20 m/s.
- Convert the result. After that, enter it in the converter above to read km/h and mph.
- Repeat several times. Finally, average the runs, because a single timing can be off by a few tenths of a second.
Recommended Tools for Measuring Speed and Distance
Of course, you will not clock a lion in your backyard, but the same tools work for dogs, horses, cars and sports. For example, a radar gun gives speed directly, while a rangefinder and a stopwatch let you calculate it from distance and time.
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Do and Don’t When Comparing Lion Run Speeds
Do
- Check whether a figure is measured or estimated.
- Note the unit, since m/s, km/h and mph differ a lot.
- Compare maximums with maximums.
- Remember that lionesses do most of the hunting.
Don’t
- Treat 80 km/h as a recorded lion speed.
- Assume a lion can hold its top speed for long.
- Mix up a single record with typical speed.
- Get out of a safari vehicle near lions.
Honest Limits of Lion Run Data
The collar study is the best data available; even so, it has limits. For one thing, it covered nine lions in one region, so lions elsewhere might run a little faster or slower. Also, collars sampled position five times per second, which smooths out the very briefest peaks. Moreover, the researchers never recorded a collared lion chasing a collared zebra, so the comparison uses each species’ own fastest runs. In addition, the wildebeest figure in this article is a popular estimate. Finally, all values here are rounded to two decimals after conversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can a lion run at most?
GPS collars on wild lions in Botswana recorded a top speed of 20.6 m/s, which equals about 74 km/h or 46 mph.
Can a lion run 50 mph?
Not according to the best measurements. The highest recorded run was about 46 mph. The 50 mph figure is a popular estimate.
How long can a lion run at top speed?
Usually for no more than 100 to 200 meters. At full sprint that takes only about 5 to 10 seconds.
Can a lion run faster than a zebra?
Yes. In the same study, the top lion run was 20.6 m/s and the top zebra run was 13.8 m/s, so the lion was about 49% faster.
Why do zebras often escape lions?
Zebras usually run below their top speed during hunts, which lets them turn sharply. A lion sprinting flat out cannot follow those turns.
How fast is a lion compared with a cheetah?
The cheetah is faster. Collared cheetahs reached 23.8 m/s, about 86 km/h (53 mph), compared with 74 km/h for lions.
Can a lion outrun a wildebeest?
Over a short burst, often yes. Over distance, no. Wildebeest are credited with about 80 km/h and far more stamina, so lions rely on ambush.
Are male or female lions faster?
No study has published separate male and female top speeds. However, lionesses are lighter and do most of the hunting.
How fast can a lion run compared with a human?
The 100 m world record averages about 37.6 km/h. A lion at 74 km/h is roughly twice that speed.
How do I convert a lion run speed from km/h to mph?
Divide km/h by 1.609344. For example, 74.16 km/h divided by 1.609344 gives 46.08 mph. The converter above does it instantly.
How Fast Can a Lion Run? The Bottom Line
To sum up, a measured lion run tops out at about 74 km/h (46 mph), while typical bursts run 45 to 60 km/h for no more than about 200 meters. Lions are faster than zebras on paper; nevertheless, short stamina and poor turning at speed mean most of their charges fail.
That is why lions stalk close, hunt in groups and strike at night. Meanwhile, if you want to compare any animal’s speed in your own units, the converter at the top of this page does the math for you.
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