15 Biggest Spiders in the World, Ranked

Spider sizes vary greatly due to habitat, diet, and lifestyle differences. A larger spider doesn’t always mean a more ferocious or dangerous one, and the harmless ones, albeit large, are just scary to look at. Some of the biggest species out there can grow as big as a dinner plate, and they usually eat larger prey such as rodents and even snakes.

15. California Ebony Tarantula

The California Ebony Tarantula has a leg span of up to 5 inches and weighs about 3 to 6 ounces. Found in California’s dry, rugged landscapes, it dines on insects and other small arthropods. This tarantula has a dark, glossy appearance and tends to live in burrows where it waits to ambush its prey.

14. Giant Crab Spider

The Giant Crab Spider can have a leg span of up to 5 inches. They weigh around 1 ounce. They typically feed on insects and small vertebrates. You can find them in desert regions and warm environments, often seeking shelter under rocks and within crevices. Although fairly large, they pose no danger to humans.

13. Cerbalus Aravaensis

Cerbalus Aravaensis can have a leg span of up to 5.5 inches. It lives primarily in the sandy areas of the Arava Valley, between Israel and Jordan. As a nocturnal predator, its diet consists of insects and other small invertebrates. It’s adapted to living in the desert, surviving in harsh conditions with limited water sources.

12. Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula

The Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula has a leg span reaching up to 6 inches, its legs adorned in black and white stripes. It primarily feeds on insects and other small invertebrates. This spider thrives in the tropical climates of Costa Rica and its surrounding regions. It lives in burrows and enjoys a humid environment, such as rainforests, where they spend most of their time. 

11. Camel Spider

Camel spiders aren’t true spiders nor true scorpions, but rather something in between called Solifugae. They can grow up to 6 inches in length and weigh around 2 ounces. These arachnids live in desert regions and primarily feed on insects, lizards, and small birds. Although fearsome and large in size, they aren’t venomous and pose little danger to humans.

10. Brazilian Wandering Spider

The Brazilian Wandering Spider has a leg span of up to 7 inches and typically weighs around 0.2 ounces. It is very aggressive and feeds on insects, small amphibians, and occasionally small mammals. Its habitat includes tropical forests and human settlements across South and Central America. It’s also one of the most venomous spiders in the world, and in turn, one of the most dangerous.

9. Colombian Giant Tarantula

The Colombian Giant Tarantula, or Megaphobema robustum, has a leg span that can reach up to 7 inches and a weight of around 6 ounces. It is native to the rainforests of South America, and feeds on insects, small rodents, and frogs. These tarantulas have very vibrant coloration and are a popular household pet, although they need to be handled with care as they can be quite defensive.

8. Brazilian Black Tarantula

The Brazilian Black Tarantula has a leg span of up to 8 inches and weighs around 0.6 ounces. Its main habitats are the forests and grasslands of Brazil, where it preys on insects, small mammals, and other spiders. When threatened, the Brazilian Black Tarantula can kick irritating hairs from its abdomen. Even so, this tarantula is a favorite among pet enthusiasts due to its manageable size, relaxed nature, and relative ease of care. 

7. Chaco Golden Knee Spider

The Chaco Golden Knee Spider can reach a leg span of 8 inches and typically weighs around 16 ounces. Native to Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, this spider spends its time in grasslands and scrublands. Its diet mainly includes insects such as crickets and roaches. This spider got its name due to the golden coloration on its ‘knees’. It’s also a popular species among pet enthusiasts because of how docile they are.

6. Hercules Baboon Spider

Now we’re getting into the ‘really large spiders’ territory. The Hercules Baboon Spider has a leg span of up to 8.5 inches and a weight of around 2.5 ounces. It feeds on insects, small mammals, and occasionally other small spiders. Native to East Africa, it typically inhabits dry scrublands and savannas, living in burrows that it digs. They also have powerful venom, but their bites are generally never fatal to humans. 

5. Face-Sized Tarantula

The Face-Sized Tarantula is slightly bigger than the Hercules Baboon Spider thanks to its 9-inch leg span. It inhabits forests and abandoned buildings in Sri Lanka. Its diet includes lizards, small rodents, and even snakes. Unfortunately, deforestation has endangered their population, and their large size often causes alarm in people who usually kill it out of fear.

4. Brazilian Salmon Pink Birdeater

Another large South American resident is the Brazilian Salmon Pink Birdeater, which has a leg span of a whopping 11 inches and can weigh up to 3.5 ounces. Its diet mainly consists of insects, small rodents, and occasionally birds. Considering its large size, it’s a relatively mild-natured spider that usually won’t attack first, although its bite can be quite painful, akin to a cat bite.

3. Grammostola Anthracina

The Grammostola Anthracina, also known as the Brazilian Giant Tawny Red Tarantula, has a leg span of up to 11 inches. Weighing in at around 3.2 ounces, it primarily feeds on insects and small vertebrates. It inhabits dry rural areas in South America, particularly Argentina and Brazil. It can live up to 30 years, especially in well-maintained environments.

2. Giant Huntsman Spider

The Giant Huntsman Spider’s leg span of almost 12 inches would make it the second-largest spider on the planet. It lives in the caves in Laos and weighs around 2.6 ounces. Its diet consists of insects and other small invertebrates. Due to its size and habitat, encountering this arachnid can be quite an experience as it’s not every day that you see a spider the size of a soda bottle!

1. Goliath Birdeater

Goliath Birdeaters are absolutely massive thanks to their 12-inch leg span and 6.2-ounce weight. They inhabit the rainforests of South America, predominantly Venezuela, northern Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. Their diet mainly consists of insects and small rodents. They prefer moist, warm environments and create burrows in which to live. While their bite is venomous, it’s only as painful as a wasp sting.

12 Scary Creatures of the Planet

12 Scary Creatures of the Planet