Megalodon Size Chart: How Big Is It?

October 13, 2022April 23, 2023 by Egle Goleckyte

The megalodon (C. megalodon) was a massive prehistoric shark that roamed the oceans millions of years ago. With a size that could dwarf modern-day sharks, the megalodon is one of the most awe-inspiring creatures ever. But just how big was a Megalodon really?

Mature adult megalodons were 10.2 metres (about 33.5 feet) long on average, with the largest creatures measuring 17.9 metres (58.7 feet). Some scientists believe the largest forms could have been up to 25 metres (82 feet) long.
A+ Quote

The name Megalodon means “big tooth”, and this shark definitely lived up to its name with a set of massive teeth that could reach up to 7 inches in length.

Megalodon Size Chart: How Big Is It? size-charts.com — _{Photo by Matt Benson on Unsplash}

Some scientists believe that this massive shark could reach sizes up to 60 feet long–making it the largest known predator in history! Others claim that Megalodon sharks were much smaller, and probably only reached lengths of around 25 feet. So which is it? How big did megalodons get?

In this guide, we’ll look at these questions of size and more, explore the evidence, and help you understand the megalodon sizing.

Table of Content of Megalodon Sizing

How big was the megalodon?
- Megalodon size vs tooth size
- What was the average size of a megalodon?
How big is the biggest megalodon ever found?
How does the megalodon size compare to modern-day sharks?
What is the Megalodon size compared to humans?
What was bigger than a megalodon?
Megalodon shark attack
Megalodon shark alive today?

How big was the megalodon?

We can’t say for certain how big the megalodon was. However, fossil evidence suggests that these giant sharks could reach lengths of up to 60 feet (18 meters), making them one of the largest marine predators ever.

Megalodon teeth are also some of the most iconic fossils, with many examples measuring over six inches. Given its massive size, it’s no wonder that the megalodon was at the top of the food chain for millions of years. Indeed some estimates based on fossil evidence suggest that these sharks could have reached lengths of up to 100 feet, making them monstrous predators. However, until more complete fossils are found, we may never know the true size of this legendary creature.

Megalodon size vs tooth size

Tooth size		Shark size
inches	cm	feet	meters
1	2.5	7.3	2.2
1.5	3.8	11.3	3.4
2	5.1	15.3	4.7
2.5	6.4	19.3	5.9
3	7.6	23.3	7.1
3.5	8.9	27.3	8.3
4	10.2	31.3	9.5
4.5	11.4	35.3	10.8
5	12.7	39.3	12
5.5	14	43.3	13.2
6	15.2	47.3	14.4
6.5	16.5	51.3	15.6
7	17.8	55.3	16.8
7.5	19	59	18

What was the average size of a megalodon?

So, what was the megalodon’s average size? The average megalodon size in feet was about 16-18 feet long. Megalodon teeth are commonly found in marine sediments all over the world, giving us a good indication of just how big these extinct animals were. They were truly massive beasts!

This massive predator would have weighed between 50 to 100 tons in terms of megalodon size and weight. Megalodon was an apex predator that sat at the top of the food chain.

How big is the biggest megalodon ever found?

The answer is a little complicated, as there is some disagreement among experts about the maximum size of this ancient shark. However, most scientists believe that the largest megalodon ever found was around 60 feet long. This means that it was slightly longer than a great white shark, which typically grows to around 20 feet in length.

How did the megalodon get so big?

So, how did the megalodon get so big? One of the reasons the megalodon got so big was that it was an apex predator. This means it was at the top of the food chain and had no predators. As it grew larger, it also needed more food to sustain itself, which is why it evolved to be so massive. It is thought to have fed on large marine mammals such as whales, much like its modern-day relatives.

While its size and power would have been impressive, megalodon was ultimately outcompeted by smaller sharks and went extinct around 2.6 million years ago.

Nevertheless, this prehistoric beast continues to fascinate scientists and amateur enthusiasts alike.

Megalodon size comparison to other large prehistoric creatures

How does the size of the megalodon compare to other large prehistoric creatures? Let’s take a look.

Megalodon is believed to be the largest shark that ever lived. It was about 60-70 feet long and weighed up to 60 tons! That’s bigger than a T-Rex! Compared to other prehistoric creatures, the megalodon was quite large. For example, the largest land animal that ever lived, the elephant-like gomphothere, was only about 20 feet long and weighed about 4 tons.

The Megalodon was also much larger than the biggest crocodile that ever lived. The largest crocodile was about 23 feet long and weighed 2 tons. So, the megalodon was about 3 times as long and weighed 30 times as much as the biggest crocodile!

Check out this great video about megalodon size

_{How Big Can Animals Get? by RealLifeLore}

How does the megalodon size compares to modern-day sharks?

The largest modern-day sharks are the great white shark (up to 20 feet/6 meters long) and the whale shark (up to 40 feet/12 meters long). The megalodon would have therefore been three times longer than a great white shark and two-and-a-half times heavier than a whale shark! Not only was the megalodon much larger than any living shark today, but it was also far more powerful. It is estimated that its bite force was up to 10 times greater than modern sharks.

Mosasaurus vs megalodon size:
The Mosasaurus was a large reptile that lived during the late Cretaceous period and grew to be around 40 feet long. On the other hand, the megalodon was a massive shark that lived during the Miocene epoch and could grow to be up to 60 feet long. In terms of weight, the Megalodon also far outweighed the mosasaurs, with estimates suggesting that it could have weighed up to 100 tons. With its massive size and weight, there is no doubt that the megalodon would have been the clear winner in a fight between these two prehistoric creatures.
Megalodon size vs blue whale size:
The blue whale is the largest living animal, measuring up to 100 feet long and weighing in at over 200 tons. Some scientists actually believe it is larger in size compared to the megalodon, which could grow to be over 60 feet long and weights reach up to 00 tons. In other words, the blue whale is roughly twice the size of the largest megalodon ever.
Megalodon size compared to great white shark:
Wondering how big is the megalodon size compared to great white? Well, the average megalodon size was around 60-70 feet long, while the average great white size is around 15-20 feet long. This means that the megalodon was about 3-4 times the size of the great white! The largest great white shark is between 21 feet and 25. This is of course about three times smaller compared to the largest megalodon.
Livyatan vs megalodon size:
Livyatan is believed to have been equally large, almost competing with the megalodon at about 57 feet maximum, though the weight may have been smaller than the heaviest megalodon.

What is the Megalodon size compared to humans?

By comparison, a human is just a tiny little speck. The average human is around 6 feet tall and weighs around 200 pounds, making them roughly 1/100th the size of a megalodon. In other words, a megalodon would be as big as a car tire if a human were the size of a nickel. It’s mind-boggling to think about just how massive this prehistoric shark was!

What was bigger than a megalodon?

Believe it or not, a few creatures were bigger than the megalodon.

The largest predatory fish to roam the seas was the Carcharocles megalodon, but it was dwarfed by the colossal Leedsichthys rhinoceros, which could grow beyond 60 feet in length! This gigantic fish is believed to have been twice the size of the megalodon and had a thicker, more robust body.

Of course, there will always be a debate around this with different scientists giving different opinions as more evidence comes up. At an ever-evolving debate but all the same exciting.

Megalodon size and length

Estimates put the maximum megalodon length at around 65 feet long, while others believe they could grow even larger. However, no one can say for sure what the megalodon’s actual size is, as they went extinct over 2 million years ago.

We know that the megalodon was the largest shark that ever lived in prehistoric times, and was easily twice the size of the great white shark. They were also one of the fastest sharks in the ocean, capable of reaching speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. This made them one of the most deadly predators in history.

It’s important to remember that sharks have continued to grow in size over time, so it’s possible that the megalodon was even larger than we know. Clearly, these creatures were something to be feared. If you ever find yourself on an ark with a megalodon swimming nearby, you’d better hope Noah has a good plan!

Megalodon shark attack

So, what would happen if one of these creatures ever came ashore? First of all, it would be an incredible spectacle to behold. But secondly, it would probably mean danger to any human they come across. A megalodon could easily rip a person limb from limb with its razor-sharp teeth.

Megalodon shark still alive today?

While the megalodon has been extinct for millions of years, some people believe that this fearsome creature might still be alive today.

There have been several reports of giant sharks attacking boats and swimmers, leading some to believe that the megalodon might still be out there. However, most of these reports are unverified and there is no concrete evidence that the megalodon is still alive. It’s more likely that these incidents were actually caused by other large predators, such as great white sharks.

Still, the idea of the megalodon lurking in the depths of the ocean is enough to send a shiver down your spine. And who knows? Maybe this prehistoric monster is still out there somewhere, waiting to be discovered.

Conclusion

The megalodon shark was undoubtedly one of the largest, and most powerful predators to ever grace our oceans. It is believed that this massive predator reached lengths of up to 60 feet and weighed between 50 and 100 tons. This apex predator ruled the oceans for millions of years before going extinct. While its size may seem daunting, megalodon can teach us a lot about sharks and their role in the ocean ecosystem. And while the colossal creature is now extinct, it’s still fascinating to learn about their size and how they may have measured up to some of the largest creatures alive today.

Well, now you have it all about the megalodon size. Please ask any questions you might have via the comments section.

Picture in this post is from National History Museum