Quick answer
Most adult great white sharks are 4 to 4.9 m (13–16 ft) long and weigh 680 to 1,100 kg (1,500–2,400 lb), with females larger than males. The biggest reliably measured great whites approach 6 m (about 20 ft). They are the largest predatory fish alive today — but the extinct megalodon was roughly three times longer.
Great white shark size at a glance
| Average length (adult) | 4–4.9 m (13–16 ft) |
| Maximum reliable length | ~6 m (about 20 ft) |
| Average weight | 680–1,100 kg (1,500–2,400 lb) |
| Largest females | Can exceed 1,800 kg (~4,000 lb) |
| Length at birth | 1.2–1.5 m (4–5 ft) |
| Females vs males | Females noticeably larger |
| Vs megalodon | Megalodon ~15–18 m — roughly 3× longer |
How long and heavy do great whites get?
A typical mature great white runs 4 to 4.9 m (13 to 16 ft) and weighs somewhere between 680 and 1,100 kg. That makes an average adult about the length of a family car and, in the case of large females, considerably heavier than one. Size varies with sex: females are the larger animals, which is common among sharks because carrying and producing large pups favours a bigger body.
Weight climbs faster than length because a shark grows thicker as well as longer. A 5 m female is not just slightly heavier than a 4 m male — she can be roughly double the mass. Reports of great whites over 6 m exist but are poorly documented, and many famous "record" figures were estimated rather than measured.
The largest great white sharks ever recorded
The most credible measured individuals sit just under 6 m. A frequently cited Cuban specimen claimed at 6.4 m (21 ft) is treated with scepticism by researchers, who suspect the length was exaggerated. Among living sharks, a famously large female nicknamed "Deep Blue," filmed off Mexico's Guadalupe Island, is estimated at around 6 m and is one of the biggest great whites ever captured on camera.
Pinning down a true maximum is hard because great whites are rarely caught and weighed intact, and length estimates from photos or jaws can be unreliable. What scientists can say confidently is that anything beyond about 6 m would be exceptional, and the species does not approach the sizes sometimes claimed in folklore.
Great white vs megalodon: it isn't close
The great white is often confused with its giant extinct relative, megalodon (Otodus megalodon), which lived until around 3.6 million years ago. Megalodon is estimated at 15 to 18 m (50 to 60 ft) — about three times the length of the largest great white and many times its mass. A single megalodon tooth can be larger than an adult human hand, while a great white's largest teeth are around 5 to 6 cm. The great white is the biggest predatory fish in today's oceans, but it is not a miniature megalodon; the two are separated by an enormous gap in size.
Great white shark size: FAQs
How big is a great white shark?
Most mature great white sharks measure 4 to 4.9 m (13 to 16 ft) long and weigh 680 to 1,100 kg (1,500 to 2,400 lb). Females grow larger than males. The biggest reliably measured individuals reach around 6 m (20 ft).
What is the largest great white shark ever recorded?
The largest reliably measured great whites are close to 6 m (about 20 ft). A famous Cuban specimen claimed at 6.4 m is widely doubted by scientists. 'Deep Blue', a living female filmed off Guadalupe Island, is estimated at around 6 m and is one of the largest ever filmed.
Are great white sharks bigger than megalodon?
No. The extinct megalodon (Otodus megalodon) reached an estimated 15 to 18 m (50 to 60 ft) — roughly three times the length of a great white and many times its mass. The great white is the largest predatory fish alive today, but it is dwarfed by its prehistoric relative.
How much does a great white shark weigh?
A typical adult weighs 680 to 1,100 kg (1,500 to 2,400 lb). Exceptionally large females can exceed 1,800 kg (about 4,000 lb). Weight rises steeply with length because the shark gets bulkier as it grows, not just longer.
How big are great white sharks when they are born?
Newborn great whites, called pups, are already 1.2 to 1.5 m (4 to 5 ft) long and fully independent from birth. The mother gives no parental care, and pups must hunt small fish and rays immediately.
How does a great white compare in size to a human?
An average adult great white is roughly three times the length of a tall adult human and can weigh as much as a small car. Even a young great white is longer than most people are tall.