Rabbits are the ideal pet for many people. Bunny owners describe their companion animals as clever, friendly, and playful. But how big can a rabbit get? Rabbits are mammals that belong to the ‘Lagomorph’ order, which also contains hares and pikas (‘Lagomorph’ means ‘hare-shaped’).
Rabbits have incisor teeth that are constantly growing, comparable to rodents. Rabbits belong to the Leporidae family, which includes more than 50 species. The rabbit species that is often kept as a pet is known as ‘Oryctolagus cuniculus,’ and within this species, many varieties have been established via selective breeding to improve certain qualities.
Rabbits, too, are getting the word out, with the USDA’s Animal and Health Inspection Services estimating that up to 5 million pet rabbits live in American homes. While most people associate rabbits with specific imagery, there are more than four dozen breeds of the floppy-eared pals, ranging in size from a few ounces to over 20 pounds.
So, continue reading to find more about how big can a rabbit get, different breeds, and different sizes of rabbits. Let’s learn more about our bunny friend in this article.
Table of Contents
The largest breeds of rabbit
The Flemish Giant is, without a doubt, the biggest rabbit breed approved by the ARBA. One of these Flemish Big rabbits most likely includes one of the uplifting stories about giant house rabbits.
These rabbits usually reach a weight of at least 15 pounds, but they may easily reach 20-25 pounds. The average Flemish Giant weighs around 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms), although the breed may grow to be much more significant.
The record for the longest Flemish Giant rabbit was four feet three inches! The physique of a Flemish Giant rabbit is large and robust, with broad hindquarters. Because their spines have a prominent but not excessive arch, these rabbits are classified as “semi-arch” breeds.
The buck and doe of the Flemish Giant share a few distinct traits. Bucks have a significantly broader head than do deer. On the other hand, it does frequently has a complete dewlap. It might take up to a year and a half for Flemish Giants to mature.
The coat of the Flemish Giants is thick, dense, and shiny. The Flemish Giant rabbit breed has seven colors recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association:
- White
- Black
- Steel gray
- Blue
- Light gray
- Fawn
- Sandy
The smallest breeds of rabbit
The tiniest domestic rabbit breed is more challenging to recognize. Many people may mention Netherland Dwarf rabbits, which are a popular pet due to their tiny size. As adults, these rabbits will weigh between 2 and 2.5 pounds.
There are a few more breeds that are comparable to Netherland dwarfs in size. Britannia Petite rabbits are the most famous. The maximum mature weight of these rabbits is 2.5 pounds, although they can weigh significantly less.
However, because they were intended to be exquisite show rabbits, they are not nearly as prevalent.
There are a few additional miniature rabbit breeds that weigh less than 3 pounds regularly.
- Polish
- Dwarf Hotots
- Jersey Wooly
- Himalayans
- Lionheads
How big can rabbits grow – The average size of adult rabbits
The average rabbit you’ll find as a home pet weighs around six pounds. On the other hand, it is as helpful as stating that the typical dog weighs 35 pounds. While it may provide you with a basic idea of what to expect, it will not help determine your rabbit’s size.
Rabbits’ sizes vary substantially based on their age and breed, as you might anticipate. The variance in size isn’t as significant as you’ll see across dog breeds, but it’s noticeable.
Some rabbits are relatively tiny, while others can grow to be quite massive. As a result, I’m going to divide rabbits into three groups.
Small Rabbits (up to 5lbs)
The majority of dwarf and micro breeds are classified as small rabbits. These are the bunnies who will never weigh more than five pounds at a time. Believe it or not, it is the rabbit breed category with the fewest rabbit breeds.
Only 11 of the 50 rabbit breeds approved by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) have a maximum weight of fewer than five pounds.
However, because most of these species are expressly developed to be pets, you will see a disproportionate number of these rabbits as house pets.
The small-sized rabbit breeds are the following:
- Dwarf Hotot
- American Fuzzy Lop
- Dutch
- Florida White
- Britannia Petite
- Havana
- Mini Rex
- Holland Lop
- Jersey Wolly
- Himalayan
- Mini Lop
- Netherland Dwarf
- Silver
- Polish
- Tan
Medium Rabbits (5-8lbs)
The most prevalent rabbit breeds are those that are medium or average in size. These rabbits will grow to weigh between 5-8 pounds as adults. Most rabbits will come in at around five or six pounds, which is on the lower end of this spectrum.
While tiny compared to many other rabbit breeds, this average size is still two to three times that of a typical pet rabbit. There are around 15 breeds that come within the medium group.
A little rabbit from one of the more giant breeds, on the other hand, may weigh less than eight pounds.
The medium-sized rabbit breeds are the following:
- Belgian Hare
- French angora
- English angora
- American Sable
- English Spot
- Harlequin
- Rex
- Lilac
- Rhinelander
- Silver Marten
- Satin Angora
- Standard Chinchilla
Large rabbits (8lbs or more)
Even though giant rabbits make up the bulk of ARBA-recognized rabbit breeds, most of these breeds are unusual and not typically seen as house pets. Rabbits in this group often reach a weight of 8 to 15 pounds.
Rather than being designed as pets, several of these more giant rabbit breeds have been produced as meat rabbits. While rabbits are becoming increasingly popular as pets, having one of these vast rabbits as a home pet is still uncommon.
The large-sized rabbit breeds are the following:
- Creme d’Argent
- American
- Giant Angora
- Checkered Giant
- American Chinchilla
- Continental Giant (Conti)
- Beveren
- Flemish Giant (Patagonian)
- Californian
- French Lop
- Champagne d’Argent
- Giant Chinchilla
- Cinnamon
- Silver Fox
- English Lop
- Palomino
- Hotot
- New Zealand
- Satin
How can you tell how big a rabbit will get?
If you have a young rabbit and want to know how large it will grow, you may use a few methods to get an educated guess. It will ensure that you have a large enough enclosure ready when they reach their total adult weight.
Looking into your rabbit’s breed is the most straightforward approach to get an idea of how large they will grow.
If you know your rabbit’s breed, you may use my breed chart to figure out what range to expect. You may still estimate their adult size if you adopt your rabbit and don’t know its breed.
If you know how old your rabbit is, you may use its present age to guide its total grown weight. Although not exact, it may provide you with a decent idea, so you know what to anticipate.
- When a rabbit is around four months old, it is roughly half the size of an adult rabbit. It indicates that a bit of rabbit that weighs about 3 pounds as a baby will grow to be approximately 6 pounds as an adult.
- When a rabbit is around 6-8 months old, it is roughly a third of the size of an adult rabbit. If you adopt a rabbit that isn’t nearly a year old but not quite a baby bunny, they will still grow. If your rabbit weighs 3 pounds at this age, they will likely grow to be around 4.5 pounds as adults.
The 10 Largest Rabbit Breeds
Whether you think that more significant is better, this list of the world’s ten most giant rabbit breeds will have you appreciating their massive size and wishing to wrap your arms around them.
While these vast rabbit breeds are enormous, they have an extensive range of personalities and characteristics. Most of these rabbit species were once developed for fur and meat but are now increasingly popular as pets.
10. Giant Chinchilla
The Giant Chinchilla rabbit breed was established in the United States in 1921 by Edward H. Stahl and is listed by the ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association) as having a maximum weight of 16 pounds.
This rabbit breed was created to produce premium chinchilla fur on a giant animal. A rabbit breed with a thick, dense blue-grey fur coat and a soft white underbelly has resulted. Their body is enormous, and their ears are long and straight.
Giant Chinchilla rabbits have a lifespan of up to ten years. They make excellent pets and may often be spotted next to their owners. Their demeanor is laid-back, peaceful, and compassionate while yet being fun.
9. Silver Fox
The Silver Fox may grow to be 12 pounds in weight. As its name says, the Silver Fox has a short, thick coat of silver fur similar to the Arctic Silver Fox.
The Silver Fox rabbit has short, erect ears and a medium body. They’ve been bred for both their fur and meat, as well as for display.
8. Checkered Giant
Checkered Giant rabbits have furry bodies and long legs. This breed’s origin is uncertain. However, some individuals claim the breed was created by crossing a Flemish Giant with a Lop. In the United Kingdom, giant checkered rabbits are known as Giant Papillons.
The Checkered Giant has a distinct color pattern, with a white coat and black or blue patterns. They feature a strip of black fur along the spine, rings around their eyes, and a butterfly on their snout.
If kept adequately for, Checkered Giants can live to be eight years old. Male Checkered Giants (bucks) weigh 11 pounds, while female Checkered Giants (roosters) weigh 12 pounds.
Although Checkereds are enormous rabbits, they fall short of the Flemish Giant and the French Lop in size and have yet to set any records. Although each rabbit has a distinct personality, the breed is known to bite and have a neurotic disposition.
7. British Giant
The British Giant, descended from the Flemish Giant, is smaller than its relative but weighs between 11 and 15 pounds. Their physique is long and muscular, with a large head and tall, erect ears, as well as a cottontail.
This rabbit breed has a soft and thick medium-length coat. Giants from the United Kingdom come in a range of hues. This rabbit breed is resilient in general and is frequently raised for meat.
With its easygoing and gentle demeanor, the British Giant makes an excellent pet. They love to rest and stretch out and are relatively idle.
6. French Lop
French Lops are “exceptionally sociable,” When socialized from an early age, they make excellent pets that like being handled. However, they are considered a giant rabbit breed, with adults weighing at least 11 pounds.
Because of their size, they’re mighty. If rabbits are frightened, they can kick out with their rear legs, which can cause harm, so they’re not an ideal pet for first-time rabbit owners.
5. Hungarian Giant
Hungarian Giant rabbits weigh around 11 to 15 pounds. They were created about two hundred years ago when wild rabbit species intentionally crossed with a range of continental rabbit types.
Soft, thick hair and erect ears distinguish this rabbit breed. The rabbit’s flesh has been the primary purpose of these animals. They’ve recently gained popularity as show rabbits and pets.
4. Spanish Giant
The Spanish Giant is a crossbreed between Flemish Giants and other big Spanish rabbit breeds, weighing approximately 15 pounds on average. They have large, erect ears and short, thick, velvety hair in a variety of hues.
Before Spain’s efforts to restore its population in 2009, the Spanish Giant was on the verge of extinction due to its abuse as a meat producer. Its numbers are increasing nowadays.
Of course, the fact that the Spanish Giant has litters of up to 16 rabbits helps. Despite its short lifetime of four to six years, this quiet and gentle rabbit species makes a good pet.
3. Blanc de Bouscat
The Blanc de Bouscat has a striking look with pure white fur, ruby eyes, and a sturdy build. Bucks may weigh up to 12 pounds when fully grown, while mature does weigh approximately 14 pounds.
A Blanc de Bouscat may be recognized by its distinctive white coat, as well as its rugged, muscular frame, round headset into their shoulders, and long, erect ears. The Bouscat rabbit is a French breed that originated in the Gironde hamlet of Bouscat.
They’re an uncommon find in other countries, but because of their quiet but lively personality, they’re very popular as pets in France.
2. Continental Giant
The Continental Giant rabbit is a large breed that may weigh up to 16 pounds. The physique of this rabbit breed is robust and lengthy, and it is said to be derived from Flemish Giants. They have a glossy, thick coat that comes in a range of hues.
Continental Giants rabbits have served as meat, fur, and display animals in the past. Although they prefer not to be picked up, this rabbit breed has a kind, friendly, and intelligent demeanor as a companion.
If you want a Continental Giant as a pet, remember that they’re best suited to families with older children and owners who can give a vast living space.
1. Flemish Giant
The Flemish Giants are precisely what their name implies: they are enormous. The average mature weight of a Flemish Giant is 12 to 15 pounds, while some of the most prominent Flemish Giants can weigh up to 20 pounds.
According to USA Today, breeders haven’t established a maximum weight for the rabbit since it may grow extensively.
As a result, the Flemish Giant demands more room and resources (more food, a dog crate instead of a standard rabbit enclosure, and more cleaning and maintenance time), so anybody thinking about getting one should be well prepared.
However, they are well-liked for their amiable and laid-back demeanor, so the company they bring would be worth the extra time.
Conclusion
Rabbits are available in a wide variety of colors, sizes, shapes, and coat kinds. The finer distinctions between breeds are generally of interest to individuals who exhibit their rabbits, while the ordinary owner is more concerned with the size and type of coat.
Sorting through the often befuddling assortment of rabbit varieties is difficult since rabbits range in size from dwarf types weighing less than 2.5 pounds to large breeds weighing up to 16 pounds.
Colors range from white to browns, grays, and black, while fur lengths vary short to long. It’s worth noting that longer-coated animals need daily care, which takes a bit longer than shorter-haired varieties. Keep in mind that a rabbit purchased from a pet store may not be purebred and fulfill breed criteria.
