The image of a perfectly pure white rabbit just might be the most iconic. It’s associated with innocence and rebirth, and of course a snow-white rabbit is, oh, so cute.
White rabbits also happen to be some of the most plentiful out of all of the domestic breeds, and no matter what purpose you have in mind for them, there’s all but certain to be a white breed that will work for you.
Whether you want a fun and affectionate pet rabbit, or if you want to raise your own rabbits for meat or fur, you can bet your bottom dollar there is going to be a specifically white breed or a white variety to serve your purposes.
Keep reading, and I’ll tell you about the white rabbit breeds you should know…
1. American
Originally conceived and specially bred for its magnificently pure and high-quality coat, the American rabbit is a traditional fur-bearing breed and today also a popular pet.
Notably, this is one rabbit that’s considered a “true” white breed, as the only other official fur color that is recognized is blue.
Black American rabbits exist, but aren’t recognized as a purebred by any special interest group or organization.
Today, this young heritage breed is currently under a “threatened” conservancy status, although concerted efforts are underway to preserve it.
2. American Fuzzy Lop
Another example of truth in a name, the American Fuzzy Lop is all-American, fuzzy and has lop ears.
The long, fuzzy fur of this rabbit is it basically a kind of wool, making it very similar to Angora breeds which you will see elsewhere on this list.
Tiny, friendly and excitable, this is another breed that needs lots of exercise and interaction to avoid being stressed.
The American Fuzzy Lop comes in other colors besides white, but white is again one of the most common and also the most popular.
3. Beveren
One of the oldest and most distinguished heritage breeds still around today, the Beveren was originally created in Belgium for fur, though it was sometimes reared for its meat.
Large, stocky and possessing a wonderfully dense and soft coat, today they’re also desired for their intelligence and curious personalities, making them entertaining pets.
However, they can be willful and difficult to handle, so probably not the best rabbit for new owners. White fur is common, but other standard-acceptable fur colors include black and blue.
4. French Angora
The French Angora is another breed with wool-like fur that’s perfect for crafting into all sorts of clothing and other textiles.
But unlike most other Angora breeds, the French Angora has a naturally “short” head, neck and face where the fur does not grow long.
This makes them far less prone to going woolbound, and makes your job of brushing and grooming them much easier and safer. You’ll find these magnificently fluffy rabbits in many colors besides white, but white is common…
5. Holland Lop
A tiny lop-eared breed that is famed for its friendly, sweet and playful personality, these wonderful and adorable white rabbits make great pets.
And when I say tiny, I mean really tiny: these little guys will rarely, if ever, grow to be more than four pounds at most!
They’re so small and precious it can tempting just put them in your pocket and take them with you wherever you go.
6. Jersey Wooly
The Jersey Wooly is a fascinating breed with, as you probably already guessed, a woolly coat similar to that of Angora rabbits.
However, their lengthy, plush fur differs significantly from that of the Angora rabbits in a few distinct ways. Namely, they require a whole lot less care than Angoras!
A Jersey Wooly’s fur generally won’t kink or mat down, meaning you only need to spend a little bit of time keeping them clean and presentable.
Jersey Woolies are most commonly found in white or broken colors, but you can also find solid colors ranging from black to various shades of gray, tan and more.
And unlike Angora rabbits, the Jersey Wooly was bred specifically to be a pet.
7. New Zealand
A domestic rabbit raised for meat around the world, New Zealand rabbits are known for incredibly quick growth and also quite a bit of variety.
Reaching their full size in just about 2 months, some top out at around 14 pounds, while others can be significantly lighter.
They’re also found in a variety of colors, with white being among the most common. That said, you can find New Zealand rabbits in broken (that’s white with another color), red, black and many other color variations.
8. Netherland Dwarf
One of the tiniest domestic rabbit breeds in the world, the adorable Netherland Dwarf is a popular pet for folks who don’t mind keeping their rabbit inside at all times.
However, these aspiring pet owners might not be ready for the energy level of these diminutive rabbits! Netherland Dwarfs need lots of exercise and room to explore to prevent boredom.
Like many pet varieties, the Netherland Dwarf has many fur colors besides white, particularly various shades of gray and broken patterns.
If you want a fully-grown rabbit that will still look like a baby bunny, the Netherland Dwarf is the one for you…
9. Himalayan
Another nearly all-white rabbit with exotic, contrasting markings, the Himalayan has pure white fur and pink eyes, a look that is set off by black patches of fur on their ears, nose, paws and at the base of their tail.
And contrary to what their name suggests, the Himalayan rabbit is not suitable for cold climates.
These beautiful rabbits are actually quite sensitive to temperature extremes, hot or cold, but they tend to be very friendly and good-natured, making them a great pet.
10. Lionhead
The name of the Lionhead tells you what you need to know about their most distinctive physical characteristic; that fluffy, frilly mane of wooly fur around their neck and head.
Naturally, this makes them look surprisingly similar to a male lion in miniature- at least if you squint! A fine pet and a popular show rabbit, therefore comes in many colors, including black, blue and chocolate alongside white.
Some Lionhead rabbits even have a “double mane,” making that ring of fur even more impressive than normal.
But keep that brush ready, because you’re going to need it if you want to take care of these bunnies.
11. Britannia Petite
The tiniest white rabbit on our list, the Britannia Petite rarely weighs more than 2 ¼ pounds when fully grown. Suitable only as a pet or a show rabbit, this is another pint-sized bunny that’s full of energy.
They’re also easily agitated and intimidated, making them prone to spooking. Nonetheless, they are charming and entertaining pets, but rare and expensive today.
Pure white Britannia Petites are out there, but most are a broken white with other colors.
12. California
Another popular meat breed domestic rabbit, and sometimes used as laboratory stock for testing, the chunky California rabbit, sometimes referred to as the Californian, is very common and usually seen with a superbly soft and bright white coat.
It has a lot in common with the New Zealand rabbit, particularly variability in overall size and coat color. Despite its utilitarian original purposes, it is also a popular pet bunny.
13. Dwarf Hotot
The adorably tiny cousin to the Blanc de Hotot, and developed relatively recently in the mid-1970s, these pure white bunnies have their fur color broken up only by the black monocle or domino markings over each eye as with their larger kin.
This makes them incredibly attractive and popular pet rabbits, but quite expensive because there aren’t that many of them out there on the market, or in the world!
It’s also worth mentioning that, compared to many of the hyperactive tiny breeds on our list, the Dwarf Hotot is far less spastic and much calmer; a good choice for owners who don’t want to invest too much time in exercise for their bunny.
14. English Angora
The English Angora, like all Angora variety breeds, has long, sheep-like wool instead of more traditional, short fur.
This makes it highly valuable and desirable for textiles, but also means that they require constant brushing, trimming and maintenance to prevent matting and associated health problems.
Nonetheless, they are good-natured and sweet rabbits and this has made them incredibly endearing to many owners. White and broken are the common fur colors, but darker tones of black, brown and speckled exist.
15. English Lop
You can think of the English Lop as the great granddaddy, and still reigning king, of all the other lop-eared domestic rabbit breeds we know today.
English Lops have lop ears alright, ones that are so huge they look almost like bloodhounds! An English Lops ears can measure over 2 feet long by themselves!
This rabbit is another breed that comes in a wide variety of colors besides white, including black, broken, tan and gray.
Though they were originally raised for meat, today they are perennially popular show rabbits and adoring pets…
16. Satin
The Satin rabbit’s name is a clue to its best quality: fur of superlative softness which has a glossy shine to it.
White variations of this breed in particular are borderline radiant such is the purity of their color!
But while it is today a greatly adored pet and the darling of many shows, the Satin was nonetheless originally a dual-use breed that was raised for both its meat and that excellent fur.
17. Satin Angora
If you love the silky softness of the Satin rabbit, and the long, wool-like fur of the Angora, do I have good news for you!
The Satin Angora combines the qualities of both breeds, and they even threw in some genetics from the French Angora so it has short fur on its head, making them somewhat easier to care for.
Satin Angoras are available in many colors besides white, although white is- yet again- commonplace and very popular.
18. Mini Lop
Ounce per ounce the single cutest bunny alive (says me!), the Mini Lop is tiny, plump, fluffy and has those adorably floppy ears and oversized eyes that make it a natural charmer.
Bred specifically to be pets, there is a huge variety of fur colors available in this breed including white, of course, and broken but also buff, fawn, different grays, brown, black and more.
Sweet and friendly, this is one of the rare tiny breeds that isn’t extremely energetic, and that makes them the perfect pet bunny for owners who just want to relax.
But, you must be aware that the mini lop is an escape artist: Their actual body is usually significantly smaller than their fur would suggest, and this means they can pop out of many cages and enclosures easily.
19. Mini Satin
The Mini Satin rabbit is, just as the name suggests, a smaller, specially selected variety of the larger, standard Satin rabbit.
And just like its larger relative, the incredibly plush, glossy fur is still present, and in the case of a white example of this breed so brilliant in the light that it seems to glow by itself.
And the Mini Satin, unlike its full-size brethren, was bred specifically to be a good pet, and most owners find them affectionate if surprisingly athletic, requiring lots of exercise.
20. Polish
Another tiny, pure white pet rabbit that rarely weighs more than 4 pounds, the Polish is one of the most unique breeds around.
Their ears are small, upright and pointy giving them a perpetually alert or surprised expression. Although they’re friendly, they aren’t necessarily easy to handle.
They are surprisingly willful and tend to be hyperactive. Sometimes they can be downright nippy and don’t like being held.
But if you have the patience for them you’ll probably find that they are lovable and hilarious pets.
Besides the usual white fur, you might find them in various shades of brown, black, and other colors.
21. Rex
Huge, stocky and surprisingly soft, the Rex is one of the largest rabbit breeds around and is famous for its intelligence, friendliness and overall good health.
This is another breed that needs lots of room to run and exercise if you don’t want them to get destructive in confinement.
Originally developed and bred for fur, the Rex is notable for having a distinct coat of fur that consists of underfur topped by guard hairs.
22. Blanc de Hotot
A French breed that’s nearly entirely white, save for the two monocle-like black markings around both of its eyes. It is definitely a striking look!
These large rabbits are quite rare even though they have been around since the early 1900s, and for most of the century in the US.
It turns out that, like many domestic breeds of various animals, World War II nearly wiped them out.
Presently, it’s only thought that there are a few thousand left in the world, though they have caught the eye of specialist breeders, so hopefully their population can be replenished.
23. Flemish Giant
One of the oldest domestic breeds around, and also one of the largest, these big bunnies live up to their name!
Topping out at around a full 20 pounds, the Flemish Giant is commonly found in a beautiful, pure white, and with their gentle disposition they make wonderful and stately pets.
You’ve probably seen them on the internet already in various viral videos; they are significantly bigger than many dogs!
Despite being great pets for owners that can afford to feed them, the Flemish Giant was originally bred as livestock for fur and meat, making it a capable if slow-growing utility breed.
Tom has lived and worked on farms and homesteads from the Carolinas to Kentucky and beyond. He is passionate about helping people prepare for tough times by embracing lifestyles of self-sufficiency.