Visual speed comparison

Cheetah vs Leopard Speed

Which big cat is faster?

Speed comparison100 m
1
Cheetah
2
Leopard

Cheetah

104 km/h 64.6 mph

100 m in 3.46 sec
Ready

Cheetah vs Leopard

Same distance. Selected comparison speeds.

Leopard

58 km/h 36.0 mph

100 m in 6.21 sec

The clock runs in real time; use Skip for long races. Each racer is held at its selected comparison speed, so this is playful—not a prediction of acceleration, endurance, terrain, behavior, or safety.

Race answer

This comparison uses the cheetah at about 104 km/h (64.6 mph) (measured record) and the leopard at about 58 km/h (36.0 mph) (commonly reported estimate). At those speeds, the cheetah is approximately 79% faster than the leopard.

Cheetah

104 km/hMeasured record

Highest reliably recorded running speed; short sprint only.

Timed running research

Leopard

58 km/hCommonly reported estimate

A short-burst estimate, not a controlled race measurement.

Britannica

What this race does not show

This is a mathematical selected-speed comparison. It does not model acceleration, fatigue, terrain, motivation or animal behavior. Never use it as advice for approaching or escaping wildlife.