Donkey vs Mule
Verdict: The difference is parentage: a donkey has two donkey parents, while a mule is a donkey sire crossed with a horse mare. Mules also usually cannot breed, and they often have a horse-like tail.
A donkey is a species, and a mule is a hybrid. A mule is the offspring of a male donkey, called a jack, and a female horse, called a mare. The reverse cross, a female donkey with a stallion, produces a hinny, which is hard to tell from a mule by sight.
Because a mule inherits from both parents, it blends traits. It has long donkey-like ears and a heavy head, while its tail is usually covered in long hair like a horse's. Mules also tend to be larger and more variable in size. Size and ears overlap with donkeys, so look at several cues, and ask about parentage when you can.
Donkey vs Mule side by side
| Trait | Donkey | Mule |
|---|---|---|
| Parents | Two donkeys | Jack (male donkey) and mare (female horse) |
| Chromosomes | 62 | 63, one from each parent's set |
| Fertility | Fertile | Usually infertile because of the odd chromosome count |
| Height at withers | About 35 to 59 inches | From under 50 inches (miniature) to about 70 inches (draft mules) |
| Ears | Large and long | Long ears and a heavier head, like a donkey |
| Tail | Not horse-like | Usually covered with long hair like a horse's |
| Back markings | Most show a dorsal stripe and shoulder stripe forming a cross | No firm rule |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 years working in poor countries; 30 to 50 in developed ones | Hardier and longer-lived than horses |
Last verified October 2026. Typical values; individual animals, products and local prices vary.
When you are looking at which
Donkey
- Both parents are donkeys, or the animal has bred and had a foal.
- It is small to medium, under about 4 feet 10 inches at the shoulder.
- It has a dark stripe down the back crossed by a stripe over the shoulders.
- It lives on little feed and brays loudly to nearby animals.
Mule
- You know the sire was a donkey and the dam was a horse.
- It is tall for an equid, up to about 5 feet 10 inches, with a heavy head.
- Its tail carries long flowing hair like a horse's.
- It has never produced a foal, and most mules never can.
How this works
This page compares donkeys and mules on parentage, chromosomes, fertility, size, ears and tail, using encyclopedic and university extension material. The quiz asks five questions, with parentage as the only definitive one and the others as supporting hints, and each answer explains how strong its cue is.
Many cues overlap: mules have donkey-like ears, and some donkeys are tall. Hinnies look like mules, so the quiz cannot separate those. When the answer matters, as with a purchase or registration, confirm parentage with the breeder or the registration papers rather than relying on looks.
Where these numbers come from
The figures and defaults on this page are based on:
- Wikipedia: Mule, Mule parentage, chromosomes, size range, ears, tail and hardiness (checked October 2026)
- Wikipedia: Donkey, Donkey height range, ears, lifespan, stripes and feed needs (checked October 2026)
- University of Missouri Extension: Mules (G2925), Mules and hinnies are sterile and look the same (checked October 2026)
Field-identification guide. Hinnies and unusual crosses cannot be separated by sight.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a mule and a hinny?
A mule has a donkey father and a horse mother, while a hinny has a horse father and a donkey mother. Extension guidance notes a hinny cannot be told apart from a mule by looking. Both are sterile.
Can mules reproduce?
Almost never. A horse has 64 chromosomes and a donkey has 62, so a mule has 63, and the odd number makes producing reproductive cells difficult. Mules are usually infertile.
Which lives longer, a donkey or a mule?
Donkeys in developed countries may live 30 to 50 years, while working donkeys in poor countries live about 12 to 15. Mules are described as hardier and longer-lived than horses, but no firm average is given.
Which eats less?
Donkeys are efficient digesters that need about 1.5 percent of body weight in dry matter daily, versus 2 to 2.5 percent for a horse. Mules are described as cheaper to keep than horses too.
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