How big is a humpback whale?
An adult humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) typically measures about 14 to 16 metres long and weighs roughly 25 to 30 tonnes, with the largest individuals approaching 40 tonnes. Unusually for mammals, females grow slightly larger than males. For the wider profile, see our humpback whale species guide.
Length: as long as a bus, and then some
At 14 to 16 metres, a humpback is roughly the length of a large city bus or a couple of cars parked end to end. That makes it a true great whale, though it is well short of the blue whale, which can reach 24 to 30 metres.
Weight: heavier than four elephants
A 25-to-30-tonne humpback outweighs about four large African elephants combined. Despite that mass, humpbacks are famous for launching their bodies almost completely clear of the water in breaches.
The longest flippers of any whale
The humpback's most distinctive measurement is its pectoral fins, which can reach up to about a third of the body length, the longest in proportion of any whale. The genus name Megaptera literally means 'big wing' in tribute to them.
How strong and fast is a humpback?
Humpbacks are powerful rather than fast. They cruise slowly but can reach bursts of around 25 km/h (about 16 mph), and the muscle that drives their tail flukes is strong enough to throw 30 tonnes into the air. Even so, they are gentle filter feeders and are not aggressive toward people.
How much does a humpback eat for its size?
To fuel that bulk, a humpback can strain well over a tonne of krill and small schooling fish through its baleen each day during the feeding season, often building fat reserves it lives off while breeding.
Why size matters for survival
A humpback's size is no defence against modern hazards: entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with ships still injure and kill these giants along their migration routes. WARN helps fund partner marine teams working along Brazil's Abrolhos breeding coast, where you can support stranding and disentanglement response.
Read the full Humpback whale wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.
