The short answer: Adult Atlantic cod typically weigh between 5 and 20 kilograms (about 11 to 44 pounds), with some individuals reaching up to 40 kilograms (88 pounds).
Atlantic cod weight by type
Cod keep growing throughout life, so weight depends mainly on age and size. Here are rough figures.
| Type (example) | Typical weight |
|---|---|
| Juvenile (1 to 2 years) | Under 1 kg |
| Young adult (~50 cm) | About 1 to 3 kg (2.2 to 6.6 lb) |
| Mature adult (~80 cm) | About 5 to 20 kg (11 to 44 lb) |
| Large old cod (1 m+) | Up to roughly 40 kg (88 lb) or more |
What affects Atlantic cod weight
- Age. Cod grow continuously, so older fish are the heaviest.
- Diet. Abundant prey produces larger, faster-growing fish.
- Region. Populations across the North Atlantic differ in typical size.
- Season. Body and spawning condition shift weight slightly.
- Fishing pressure. Heavily fished stocks tend to have fewer large, old fish.
How Atlantic cod weight compares
A mature cod around 10 kg weighs roughly the same as a medium house cat or a large bag of flour.
Frequently asked questions
How big can an Atlantic cod get?
Large old cod can exceed 40 kilograms and over a meter in length, though such giants are now rare due to fishing.
How long do Atlantic cod live?
Atlantic cod can live up to around 25 years and keep growing throughout their lives.
How much does a typical market cod weigh?
Commercially caught cod are often in the 2 to 10 kilogram range, smaller than the largest possible specimens.
