The largest spider in the world has a leg span the size of a dinner plate. The smallest could fit on a pencil eraser.
How to Play: Guess if the spider on the right has a LARGER or SMALLER leg span than the one on the left.
Name A
Name B
Top 10 Largest Spider Species (Leg Span)
Leg span is the diagonal measurement from front leg tip to opposite back leg tip when extended. It’s the standard size measure for spiders.
| # | Name | Leg Span (cm) | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula | 30 | cm |
| 2 | Giant Huntsman Spider | 30 | cm |
| 3 | Salmon Pink Bird-Eater | 28 | cm |
| 4 | Brazilian Salmon Pink | 25 | cm |
| 5 | Brazilian Giant Tawny Red | 25 | cm |
| 6 | Hercules Baboon Spider | 20 | cm |
| 7 | King Baboon Spider | 20 | cm |
| 8 | Brazilian Wandering Spider | 17 | cm |
| 9 | Camel Spider (not true spider) | 15 | cm |
| 10 | Texas Brown Tarantula | 15 | cm |
Spider Size Records
The Goliath bird-eater (Theraphosa blondi) holds records for both leg span (30cm) and weight (175g). Despite the name, it rarely eats birds — its main prey is large insects and small mammals.
Giant huntsman (Heteropoda maxima) has the longest leg span among non-tarantula spiders. Discovered in Laos in 2001, it’s a fast-running cave spider.
The smallest spider, Patu digua, has a body 0.37mm long — barely visible without magnification. It lives in Colombian rainforest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Largest spider in the world?
Goliath bird-eater tarantula at 30cm leg span and 175g — the biggest by weight. Giant huntsman ties on leg span but is much lighter.
Are spiders insects?
No. Spiders are arachnids (8 legs, 2 body sections). Insects have 6 legs and 3 body sections.
Are big spiders dangerous?
Most large tarantulas have weak venom — comparable to a bee sting. The deadliest spiders (Sydney funnel-web, Brazilian wandering) are medium-sized.
Smallest spider?
Patu digua at 0.37mm body length — tiny enough to fit on a pinhead.
Note: Leg span in cm per arachnological references.
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