The animal kingdom is home to creatures with gripping power far beyond human capabilities. While the average human grip strength is around 100 PSI, some animals can exceed this by several times, using their strength for hunting, defense, or survival. This list ranks the top 15 animals with the strongest grip in the world, measured in PSI. Each entry highlights how they use their extraordinary strength and why it matters. Read to the end to discover the species with the most powerful grip ever recorded.
What Qualifies as Grip Strength?
Grip strength refers to the force an animal exerts when holding or grasping with a specialized physical structure. This includes hands, claws, talons, or other appendages used to grip surfaces, prey, or objects. Animals with strong bite force or those that lack the ability to physically grip—like species that rely solely on body weight or teeth—are not included.
To qualify for this list, animals must have physical structures specifically adapted for gripping. These include opposable thumbs, such as those found in primates, powerful claws like those seen in raptors or crustaceans, or suction-based systems used by creatures like octopuses. Only animals with documented grip force, measured in PSI or reliably converted data, are considered. The focus is solely on the act of holding, not biting or pinching. Additionally, the grip must play a critical role in the animal’s survival, whether for climbing, capturing prey, holding objects, or defending territory.
Animals with the strongest grip
In this list, you’ll find animals from across the globe—primates, crustaceans, birds, and even sea creatures—that have one thing in common: an extraordinary ability to grip. These creatures use their strength to climb, hunt, defend, and thrive in their environments, often outclassing humans by several times. Be sure to read till the end to discover the animal with the strongest grip ever recorded!
10. Humans
PSI Grip Strength: ~100-200 PSI (trained individuals)
Humans may not seem impressive compared to other animals on this list, but their grip strength is still remarkable, especially for trained individuals. The average human grip strength is around 100 PSI, but elite athletes, such as rock climbers or powerlifters, can easily exceed 200 PSI.
This strength is crucial for tasks like lifting, climbing, and tool use, showcasing the versatility of human hands. Despite being lower on the list, humans excel in precision and adaptability, allowing them to perform delicate tasks like threading a needle or applying brute force for heavy lifting. For perspective, an average human grip can crush soft fruits or severely bruise small prey.
9. Japanese Macaque
Scientific Name: Macaca fuscata
PSI Grip Strength: ~230 PSI (estimated)
Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, are renowned for their incredible hand strength, which they use to climb trees, grip rocky surfaces, and forage in their mountainous habitats. Their grip strength, estimated at around 230 PSI, is significantly stronger than the average human’s. This enables them to cling to branches even in freezing conditions or turbulent weather.
Macaques use their powerful hands for social bonding, tool use, and navigating challenging environments. For perspective, their grip is strong enough to hang onto a branch while supporting their full body weight, making them adept survivors in harsh climates.
8. Green Anaconda
Scientific Name: Eunectes murinus
PSI Grip Strength: ~300 PSI (estimated constriction force per square inch)
Green anacondas, the largest snakes in the world by weight, use their immense strength to subdue prey such as capybaras, deer, and even caimans. Their constriction force, measured at approximately 300 PSI per square inch, is applied in a gripping motion that prevents prey from breathing or escaping.
Once they coil around their target, their muscles contract with immense power, exerting a grip that ensures survival is impossible for their prey. Incredibly, they can hold struggling animals underwater for extended periods, leveraging their aquatic environment. For comparison, their grip is strong enough to crush ribs and disrupt blood flow in their victims, making them one of the most formidable predators in South America.
7. Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
PSI Grip Strength: ~400 PSI
Bald eagles are powerful raptors with a grip strength of approximately 400 PSI, enabling them to snatch fish from water with ease and hold onto wriggling prey mid-flight. Their talons are specially adapted for gripping slippery surfaces, with sharp, curved claws that pierce deeply.
This grip strength is more than double that of an average human and strong enough to crush bones in smaller animals. For perspective, their grip is comparable to the pressure of a car tire running over your hand. The bald eagle’s incredible strength is key to its survival as a top predator in its ecosystem.
6. Chimpanzee
Scientific Name: Pan troglodytes
PSI Grip Strength: ~440 PSI
Chimpanzees are known for their exceptional hand strength, with grip forces reaching up to 440 PSI. Their hands are built for climbing and manipulating objects, making them one of the most dexterous and powerful primates.
Chimpanzees rely on their grip to swing between branches, break apart tough fruits, and wield tools with precision. Their grip is strong enough to crack open nuts or overpower rivals in aggressive encounters, showcasing their adaptability and strength.
5. King Crab
Scientific Name: Paralithodes camtschaticus
PSI Grip Strength: ~500 PSI (estimated)
King crabs, native to the cold waters of the North Pacific, possess enormous claws with a grip strength of up to 500 PSI. These powerful claws are used for a variety of survival tasks, including crushing the tough shells of mollusks, defending against predators, and tearing apart prey.
Each claw is specialized: the larger “crusher” claw is designed for brute force, while the smaller “cutter” claw excels at precision tasks. Their grip is strong enough to break through human skin or cause serious injury, making them a species to handle with caution. Beyond their gripping power, king crabs use their claws to assert dominance over rivals and secure food in the competitive seafloor ecosystem.
4. Harpy Eagle
Scientific Name: Harpia harpyja
PSI Grip Strength: ~530 PSI
The harpy eagle has one of the strongest grips of any bird in the world, measuring approximately 530 PSI. This strength allows it to crush the bones of medium-sized mammals, such as sloths and monkeys, in a single squeeze. Its massive talons, which are larger than a grizzly bear’s claws, can exert enough force to puncture deeply into its prey.
Harpy eagles rely on their grip to immobilize animals in the dense rainforests of Central and South America. Their extraordinary power is a testament to their status as apex predators and one of the most formidable birds of prey.
3. Orangutan
Scientific Name: Pongo pygmaeus
PSI Grip Strength: ~600 PSI
Orangutans possess an extraordinary grip strength of around 600 PSI, enabling them to swing through trees and hold onto branches with ease. These great apes are perfectly adapted to arboreal life, relying on their grip to navigate dense rainforests. Their strength is nearly three times that of the average human, and their hands can support their full body weight for extended periods.
Orangutans are also known for their intelligence, using their powerful hands to craft tools and solve problems. For perspective, their grip is strong enough to snap small tree branches or restrain large prey if needed.
2. Coconut Crab
Scientific Name: Birgus latro
PSI Grip Strength: ~740 PSI
Coconut crabs have the strongest grip of any invertebrate, measured at an astonishing 740 PSI. These giant land crabs use their massive claws to crack open coconuts, their primary food source. Their grip strength is strong enough to break bones or crush hard objects, making them formidable even against predators.
For perspective, the pressure from their claws is nearly equivalent to the force exerted by a lion’s bite. Coconut crabs also use their claws to climb trees, defend their territory, and even hunt small animals, showcasing the versatility of their crushing grip.
1. Gorilla
Scientific Name: Gorilla beringei
PSI Grip Strength: ~1,300 PSI
Gorillas dominate the primate world with their unparalleled grip strength of approximately 1,300 PSI. Their immense power allows them to crush bamboo stalks, uproot vegetation, and defend themselves effectively. This grip strength is not only vital for survival but also demonstrates their extraordinary physical capabilities.
A study conducted by Proceedings of the Royal Society B (2017) documented gorilla hand usage during climbing and foraging, highlighting how their hands are perfectly adapted for gripping large, unstable branches and manipulating tools. Gorillas have been observed bending thick branches and even metal bars in captivity, showcasing the raw force in their hands. Their grip strength is nearly six times that of the average human, making them one of the strongest land animals.
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