Quick answer
Giant Pandas typically weigh around 70–120 kg (155–265 lb), with length and height varying by sex and population. Size influences diet (Herbivore (almost entirely bamboo)), home range, and predator risk.
Key takeaway
Giant Pandas typically weigh around 70–120 kg (155–265 lb), with length and height varying by sex and population. Size influences diet (Herbivore (almost entirely bamboo)), home range, and predator risk.
Typical Giant Panda size
Adults are often described at 70–120 kg (155–265 lb). Guides may list head-body length separately from tail; museum skins and live weights do not always match.
Males, females, and growth
Many species show sexual dimorphism. Juveniles reach adult mass over months to years; nutrition in Temperate mountain forests of central China affects final size within genetic limits.
Why giant panda size matters
Body size shapes diet (Herbivore (almost entirely bamboo)), territory size, predator risk, and rough longevity patterns around ~20 years in the wild.
Measuring giant pandas
Live weights are hard to take; researchers use morphometrics, cameras, or carcass data. Treat tourist guesses cautiously.
Diet and digestion
Although it belongs to the order Carnivora, the giant panda eats almost entirely bamboo, consuming 12 to 38 kg a day. Its digestive system is poorly suited to plants, so it must feed for many hours daily, and it grips stalks using a pseudo-thumb, an enlarged wrist bone that works like an extra digit.
A bear that eats bamboo
Although classified as a carnivore, the giant panda's diet is about 99% bamboo. Because bamboo is low in nutrients, pandas must eat enormous quantities, between 12 and 38 kg per day, and spend much of their waking life feeding.
Sources
Giant Panda FAQs
How big is a giant panda?
Giant Pandas typically weigh around 70–120 kg (155–265 lb), with length and height varying by sex and population. Size influences diet (Herbivore (almost entirely bamboo)), home range, and predator risk.
What is the scientific name of the giant panda?
Ailuropoda melanoleuca — used in research and conservation listings for giant pandas.
What do giant pandas eat?
Giant Pandas eat almost entirely bamboo, with seasonal and regional variation in Temperate mountain forests of central China.
Where do giant pandas live?
They are associated with Temperate mountain forests of central China. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of giant pandas?
Listed in our guides as Vulnerable. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.