The largest — by which measure?

A rainforest heavyweight

Guinness World Records lists Theraphosa blondi as the largest known spider by mass, reporting up to 175 grams. Smithsonian’s National Zoo reports up to about 12 centimetres in body length and 28 centimetres in leg span. These are maxima from different accounts, not typical values or measurements that should be combined into one imagined record individual.

Long legs change the comparison

Heteropoda maxima from Laos is noted for exceptional leg span, with Guinness describing unusually large specimens around 30 centimetres. This is a different measurement from mass or body length, and leg posture affects span. The comparison illustrates different extremes rather than providing a single complete ranking of all spiders.

Making scale meaningful

Every size figure needs a unit, measurement and source. Adults and juveniles, as well as males and females, require separate consideration. Our artistic images are not drawn to scale. A maximum should also be distinguished from ordinary size in the wild. Being large says nothing by itself about venom or defensive tendencies.

Sources & image credits

Sources checked: 1 November 2026. Figures and records carry the qualifications stated in each article.