10 largest rabbits in the world

Rabbits are well known as great pets, especially for children, as they can live both indoors and outdoors and are easy to tame. Cute and cuddly, there are about 300 recognized breeds of rabbits all over the world – from hanging eared to straight eared, long-haired and short-haired, everyone will find something for themselves. But how big can rabbits be? Well, the answer is about the same size as a medium sized dog. So with that in mind, what breeds are you likely to find these giants in? Dive into the world of the 10 largest rabbits in the world by weight!

# 10: english lop

First on our list is the English Burdock, a breed that was first bred in England in the nineteenth century and is best known for its large, floppy ears and friendly disposition. Believed to be one of the oldest domestic rabbit breeds, the English burdock can grow up to 5.5 kg (12 lb). They can be of a variety of colors, both monochromatic (black, blue, fawn) and with white spots. They are often known to be quite a lazy breed, which, combined with their curious yet friendly nature, makes them great pets for children. However, due to their large floppy ears, they can be prone to ear problems and therefore require regular check-ups to confirm their health.

# 9: giant papillon

The giant papillon, native to France, is also known as the checkered giant and typically weighs 5 to 6 kg (up to 13 lb). They were originally bred from Flemish giants and spotted rabbits in the late nineteenth century. It is a short-haired breed that is most notable for its soft white coat with black spots and straight black ears. They have a gentle disposition, but they are often active and energetic and require a lot of exercise to keep them entertained.

# 8: chinchilla

Reaching a weight of about 6 kg (13 lb), the chinchilla rabbit is a large breed that originated in France before being introduced to the United States in 1919, where the American chinchilla rabbit was bred. Despite the similarity in name, chinchilla rabbits are not actually related to chinchillas. Renowned for their soft silvery gray coat with a white belly, these rabbits are easily distinguishable from other breeds. Although chinchillas were originally bred for meat, today they make great pets when handled with care.

# 7 Biggest Rabbit: French Lop

Easily weighing 6 kg (13 lb), French burdock is actually a cross between an English loupe and a French butterfly. First bred in France in the 1850s as meat rabbits, they have a thick, heavy body with drooping ears and short hair that comes in a wide variety of colors. Although they are often used for exhibitions nowadays, they are really good pets and get along well with other animals. However, they are sometimes difficult to handle due to their size, so they are generally not recommended for novice rabbit owners.

# 6: Hungarian giant

The Hungarian Giant is a rabbit breed that was bred over two hundred years ago by crossing commercial meat rabbits with wild rabbits. They were first known as Hungarian agouti because of their color, until more colors were introduced and then the name was changed. They usually weigh about 6 kg (13 lb) and have large, straight ears, and although they can now be found in a wide variety of colors, agouti is still the predominant color of the breed. Nowadays, they are used more for demonstration than for meat.

# 5: Blanc de Buscat

These stunning white rabbits originated in Buscat, France in 1906, and because they were related to the French Angoras, they have one of the silkiest coats found on any rabbit today. Technically albinos, these rabbits have pink eyes and are never seen in any color other than white. Growing to over 6 kg (13 lb), Blanc de Buscat is one of the largest rabbits in the world. Calm and affectionate in nature, they are gentle giants that make excellent pets. They remain relatively unknown in the rest of the world and are considered risk breeds in their native France.

# 4: British giant

A relative of the Flemish giant, the British giant is one of the largest rabbit breeds in the UK, weighing between 6 and 7 kg (up to 15 lbs). The British giant, originally from Britain in the 1940s, has straight ears and medium-length fur that comes in a wide variety of colors, including black, white, blue and gray. The British giant is a particularly calm and obedient breed that makes excellent pets, including for children.

# 3: Spanish giant

Weighing in at around 7kg, the Spanish giant fights well for the top spot on our list. It was originally bred by crossing the Flemish giant with other large Spanish rabbits, and the result is a huge, friendly rabbit that is quite often the size of a small lamb. They have long, straight ears, they come in a variety of colors, and their hair is short and very thick. Their docile nature makes them great pets, although due to their sheer size, they do need a lot of exercise space.

# 2: continental giant

The continental giant, often considered one of the largest rabbits, is a massive rabbit that weighs over 7 kg (15 lb) and can reach about three feet in length. Sometimes referred to as German giants, these rabbits live for about five years and can be found in a wide variety of colors, including those with white spots. Their coat can be very thick and grow to about 4 cm (1.6 in) in length. Due to their large size and muscular body, they were originally bred for meat, but are now usually only pets. Continental giants get along well with other animals like cats and dogs, and their docile nature makes them a great choice as a pet.

# 1: the Flemish giant

The Flemish giant, which often weighs over 8 kg (18 lb), is the largest rabbit breed in the world. Originally bred in Flanders for fur and meat, the Flemish giant has very large, straight ears and a thick coat that comes in several different colors, including black, white, blue, fawn, and gray. They are fully grown by the age of one and a half, and despite their size, these colossal bunnies are actually just gentle giants as they have a particularly calm temperament, making them wonderful pets for anyone with a place to house them. These massive rabbits were the founders of many other giant breeds, including the Spanish giant and the British giant, but they still manage to hold onto their number one spot as the world’s largest rabbit.

Bonus: Matt Darius, the largest rabbit in the world

Although our list above lists the largest breeds of rabbits, the title of the largest individual the rabbit on Earth belongs to Darius, a continental giant that weighs over 50 pounds and is over four feet long!

Darius was bred in England by a breeder who produces extremely large continental giants. Unfortunately, on April 11, 2021, Darius went missing and was allegedly kidnapped. Darius has spawned several cubs that are close to his size, which means that if he ever returns, his record as the largest rabbit in the world probably won’t last long!