how big is a huntsman spider
A typical huntsman spider is roughly the size of an adult human hand, with a leg span around 10–15 cm (4–6 inches) and a body length of about 1.8 cm (0.7 inches). Some special species, like the giant huntsman, can reach a leg span of up to about 25–30 cm (10–12 inches), roughly the size of a dinner plate.
Quick Scoop
- Average huntsman size :
- Leg span: up to about 15 cm (5.9 inches).
- Body length: around 1.8 cm (0.7 inches).
- Visually, that’s “palm‑sized” rather than monster‑movie huge.
- Giant huntsman spider (record holder) :
- Body length: about 4.6 cm (1.8 inches).
- Leg span: about 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 inches), making it the spider with the largest known leg span, comparable to a dinner plate or two U.S. dollar bills end to end.
- What people actually see at home :
- In many parts of Australia, a “big” huntsman on the wall is commonly described as hand‑sized, with leg spans around 10–12 cm being typical adults, and the very large individuals edging up toward that 15 cm mark.
In everyday terms, when someone asks “how big is a huntsman spider,” the honest answer is: usually hand‑sized, but in rare cases, there are giants that can stretch close to a foot across.
| Type | Body length | Leg span | Everyday comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical huntsman | ~1.8 cm (0.7 in) | [5]Up to ~15 cm (5.9 in) | [5]About the size of an adult hand | [7]
| Giant huntsman | ~4.6 cm (1.8 in) | [3][1]~25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) | [1][3]Roughly dinner‑plate sized | [3][1]