Height Calculator
Height Calculator
Estimate a child's potential adult height using the child's information and parents' heights.
Predicting Based on the Parents' Heights Only
Estimate a child's potential adult height using the parents' heights. This provides a genetic estimate.
Height Converter
Convert height measurements between US and metric units with mathematical accuracy.
US to Metric (ft/in → cm)
1 in = 2.54 cmMetric to US (cm → ft/in)
1 cm ≈ 0.3937 inHow to Use Our Height Calculator
To use our Height Calculator, follow the numbered input sequence for each of the 3 calculator modules below. Each module accepts height measurements in US units (feet, inches, pounds), metric units (centimeters, kilograms), and other units through the unit tab bar at the top of each tool.
Child Height Predictor
Use this tool for children aged 4 to 17 years. The Khamis-Roche method requires 5 inputs to calculate predicted adult height.
- Enter child's chronological age in decimal years (e.g., 5.2 years).
- Select child's biological sex (male or female).
- Input current standing height and body weight.
- Input biological mother's and father's standing heights.
- Click Calculate to view predicted adult height.
Parents' Heights Only
Use this tool for unborn babies, infants, or toddlers under 4 years old. The mid-parental method requires 3 inputs.
- Select target child's biological sex (boy or girl).
- Input biological mother's standing stature (ft/in or cm).
- Input biological father's standing stature (ft/in or cm).
- Click Calculate for mid-parental genetic target range.
Height Converter
Convert stature measurements bidirectionally between United States customary and international metric standards.
- To convert US to Metric: enter feet and inches, then click Convert to Metric Unit.
- To convert Metric to US: enter centimeters (cm), then click Convert to US Unit.
- Read the instant converted stature output.
Interactive Calculator Usage Guide
Select a calculator below and follow the numbered input sequence to generate accurate height predictions and conversions.
How Is Height Calculated?
Height is calculated using linear regression analysis, mid-parental genetic inheritance formulas, and skeletal maturity assessment models. In pediatrics and child development, adult stature is the result of epiphyseal growth plate chondrocyte division in the long bones, driven by genetics (60% to 80%), endocrine hormone secretion, and childhood nutrition.
There are 3 primary scientific models used in clinical endocrinology to calculate predicted adult height:
Linear Regression (Khamis-Roche)
The Khamis-Roche method applies weighted statistical beta coefficients to 4 non-invasive variables: chronological age, current standing height, current body weight, and unadjusted mid-parental stature. Dr. Harry Khamis and Dr. Alex Roche validated the Khamis-Roche method in 1994 using the Fels Longitudinal Study dataset from the United States.
Mid-Parental Method (Tanner Formula)
The mid-parental method calculates genetic baseline height by averaging maternal and paternal standing heights and applying a sex adjustment of +2.5 inches (+6.5 cm) for boys or -2.5 inches (-6.5 cm) for girls. The mid-parental formula accounts for regression toward the mean in human stature inheritance.
Skeletal Maturity (Greulich-Pyle)
The Greulich-Pyle method uses a left hand and wrist X-ray radiograph to measure bone age against the Greulich-Pyle skeletal maturity atlas. The Greulich-Pyle method is used in clinical pediatric endocrinology to evaluate growth disorders, growth hormone deficiency, and advanced or delayed pubertal timing.
Interactive Biological Factor Breakdown: What Determines Height?
Adult height is a multifactorial trait governed by genetics, endocrinology, nutritional intake, and environmental factors. Click each factor to inspect its biological mechanism.
Genetics & Heredity
Over 700 genetic variants (single nucleotide polymorphisms) have been identified that directly regulate height by controlling bone mineralization, cartilage cell division, and hormone sensitivity. Both the mother's and father's genetic contributions are balanced through mid-parental inheritance.
How to get taller?
To get taller during childhood and adolescence, maximize deep sleep duration, maintain high-protein and calcium-rich nutrition, engage in weight-bearing physical exercise, and practice correct spinal posture before epiphyseal growth plates fuse. Once the epiphyseal growth plates calcify and close at the conclusion of puberty, biological bone elongation ceases permanently.
Optimize Deep Sleep
Get 8.5 to 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. Up to 75% of daily Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is secreted in pulsatile bursts during Stage 3 and Stage 4 slow-wave non-REM deep sleep from the anterior pituitary gland.
Nutritional Density
Consume 1,000 to 1,300 mg of calcium, 600 IU of Vitamin D, and 1.0 to 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram (2.2 lbs) of body weight daily. These 3 nutrients build collagen bone matrix and promote hydroxyapatite mineral deposition in growth plates.
Physical Activity
Perform weight-bearing exercises including basketball, swimming, jumping, and resistance sports for a minimum of 60 minutes daily. Mechanical loading stimulates growth plate chondrocyte proliferation and increases bone mineral density by 5% to 8%.
Spinal Posture
Correct forward head posture, thoracic kyphosis, and excessive lumbar lordosis through core strengthening and wall-stand exercises. Spinal decompression and postural correction can restore 1.0 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) of compressed visible stature.
Interactive Height Maximization Strategy Matrix
There are 4 modifiable biological strategies to maximize height before epiphyseal growth plate fusion. Click each strategy card to inspect its scientific basis, recommended dosage, and mechanism of action.
Deep Sleep & Human Growth Hormone (HGH) Secretion
Up to 75% of daily Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is released in pulsatile bursts from the anterior pituitary gland during slow-wave Stage 3 and Stage 4 non-REM deep sleep. Children and adolescents who consistently sleep fewer than 8 hours per night produce significantly lower HGH concentrations, directly limiting epiphyseal cartilage elongation.
Interactive Growth Velocity & Pubertal Timeline
Human linear growth occurs across four distinct biological phases. Click any growth phase to explore its growth velocity, hormonal drivers, and epiphyseal plate activity.
Infancy & Early Toddler Growth (Ages 0 to 2 Years)
Infants experience the fastest growth velocity of their entire lifetime, doubling their birth length within the first four years. By age 2, a toddler achieves approximately 50% of their future adult height. Maternal nutrition, breast milk or formula feeding, and thyroid hormone (thyroxine) are the primary biological regulators during this period rather than parental height.
Your Height Based on Parents
Your height based on parents is calculated by the mid-parental height formula (Tanner method), which averages the biological mother's and father's standing heights and applies a sex adjustment of 2.5 inches (6.5 cm). Genetics account for 60% to 80% of human stature variation through more than 700 inherited polygenic loci transmitted from both biological parents.
Due to regression toward the mean, children of extremely tall or short parents tend to reach adult heights closer to the population average. 95% of offspring reach an adult stature within the genetic target range of ±2.0 inches (±5.0 cm) of their mid-parental height calculation.
For boys, 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) is added to the parental average to account for the biological adult stature difference between adult males and adult females.
For girls, 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) is subtracted from the parental average to reflect the average sexual dimorphism in adult stature between males and females.
Interactive Mid-Parental Height & Genetic Target Range
The Mid-Parental Height method calculates the biological genetic baseline. Adjust the sliders below to see how parental stature calculates the child's target adult height range.
Growth charts
Growth charts are clinical percentile curves developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that track pediatric stature-for-age, weight-for-age, and growth velocity from birth to age 20 in the United States. A growth chart percentile indicates the relative percentage of healthy children in the United States who are shorter or taller than the measured individual at a given chronological age.
A 10-year-old child on the 50th percentile has a median national height of 54.5 inches (138.4 cm) for boys or 54.3 inches (137.9 cm) for girls, meaning 50% of same-age peers are shorter and 50% are taller. Consistent growth along a single percentile curve indicates normal endocrine and nutritional progression. Crossing downward across 2 or more major percentile curves warrants clinical evaluation by a pediatric endocrinologist for growth disorders or underlying nutritional deficiency.
CDC Stature-for-Age Percentiles Reference (Median and Normal Range)
| Age | Boys 50th (Median) | Boys Range (5th–95th) | Girls 50th (Median) | Girls Range (5th–95th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Years | 40.3 in (102.5 cm) | 37.4 – 43.3 in (95.0 – 110.0 cm) | 40.0 in (101.5 cm) | 37.0 – 42.9 in (94.0 – 109.0 cm) |
| 8 Years | 50.2 in (127.5 cm) | 46.5 – 53.9 in (118.0 – 137.0 cm) | 49.8 in (126.5 cm) | 46.1 – 53.5 in (117.0 – 136.0 cm) |
| 10 Years | 54.5 in (138.4 cm) | 50.2 – 59.2 in (127.5 – 150.4 cm) | 54.3 in (137.9 cm) | 50.0 – 59.1 in (127.0 – 150.0 cm) |
| 12 Years | 58.7 in (149.1 cm) | 53.9 – 64.2 in (137.0 – 163.0 cm) | 59.4 in (150.9 cm) | 54.3 – 64.4 in (138.0 – 163.5 cm) |
| 14 Years | 64.5 in (163.8 cm) | 58.7 – 70.3 in (149.0 – 178.5 cm) | 63.2 in (160.5 cm) | 58.9 – 67.5 in (149.5 – 171.5 cm) |
| 18 Years (Adult) | 69.7 in (177.0 cm) | 65.4 – 74.2 in (166.0 – 188.5 cm) | 64.4 in (163.5 cm) | 60.2 – 68.3 in (153.0 – 173.5 cm) |
Interactive CDC Growth Chart & Percentile Explorer
Explore stature-for-age percentile curves (5th to 95th percentiles) based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Growth Charts.
At age 10, boys are in steady childhood development before their pubertal growth spurt, gaining about 2 to 2.5 inches (5 to 6.5 cm) per year.
The Khamis-Roche child height predictor
The Khamis-Roche child height predictor is a non-invasive statistical method developed in 1994 by Dr. Harry Khamis and Dr. Alex Roche that predicts adult stature for children aged 4 to 17 years without requiring skeletal bone age X-rays. The Khamis-Roche method was published in Pediatrics and developed from the longitudinal Fels Longitudinal Study dataset of healthy Caucasian children in the United States.
The Khamis-Roche mathematical model applies age-specific and sex-specific linear regression coefficients (beta weights) across 4 key biological metrics:
Interactive Khamis-Roche Prediction Flow
This interactive diagram shows how the 4 biological input variables pass through age-specific and sex-specific beta coefficients to produce a predicted adult height. Toggle between boy and girl sample calculations.
Clinical Height Prediction Methods Comparison
| Method Name | Primary Inputs | Radiation Required? | Median Error Margin | Best Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khamis-Roche Method | Age, Height, Weight, Mid-Parent Height | No (Zero X-rays) | 1.7 in (4.3 cm) boys / 2.1 in (5.3 cm) girls | Healthy children aged 4 to 17 years |
| Mid-Parental Formula (Tanner) | Mother's Height, Father's Height, Sex | No (Zero X-rays) | ±2.5 in (±6.5 cm) | Infants, toddlers, and unborn children |
| Greulich-Pyle Bone Age Method | Left Hand/Wrist X-ray, Skeletal Atlas | Yes (Ionizing Radiography) | 1.0 – 1.5 in (2.5 – 3.8 cm) | Growth hormone deficiency & endocrinopathies |
| Bayley-Pinneau Method | Standing Height + Greulich-Pyle Bone Age | Yes (Ionizing Radiography) | 1.2 – 1.6 in (3.0 – 4.0 cm) | Advanced or delayed pubertal timing |
FAQs
Common pediatric and biological questions about adult height prediction, growth velocity, and skeletal maturation.
Can identical twins be different heights?
Yes, identical twins can be different heights due to epigenetic variations, differing nutrient supply in utero, childhood illness frequency, and physical activity levels. Monozygotic twins share 100% of their DNA sequence, but differences in gene expression, diet quality, and sleep duration can produce adult height differences of 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.0 cm) between twins.
How can I increase my height?
You can maximize your height before epiphyseal growth plate fusion by following 4 strategies: getting 8.5 to 10 hours of deep sleep every night, consuming a high-protein diet with 1,000 to 1,300 mg of calcium and 600 IU of Vitamin D daily, performing weight-bearing exercises including basketball and swimming, and maintaining proper spinal posture. Once epiphyseal growth plates close at the end of puberty, biological bone lengthening stops permanently.
What is the average height for a 12 year old?
The average height for a 12 year old boy is 58.7 inches (149.1 cm), and the average height for a 12 year old girl is 59.4 inches (150.9 cm) in the United States according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Growth Charts. At age 12, girls are frequently taller than boys because girls enter their pubertal growth spurt approximately 2 years earlier than boys.
What is the average height for a 13 year old?
The average height for a 13 year old boy is 61.4 inches (156.0 cm), and the average height for a 13 year old girl is 61.8 inches (157.0 cm) in the United States according to CDC Growth Charts. The 50th percentile stature at 13 years reflects the beginning of rapid adolescent growth for boys and the late growth spurt phase for girls.
When do girls stop growing?
Girls typically stop growing taller between ages 14 and 16, approximately 2 years after menarche (their first menstrual period). Rising estrogen concentrations trigger the epiphyseal growth plates in the long bones to calcify and close, ending linear skeletal development.
How do you measure height?
To measure height accurately, stand barefoot on a hard flat floor with heels, buttocks, upper back, and head touching a flat vertical wall, look straight ahead along the Frankfort horizontal plane, and lower a flat headpiece firmly onto the crown of the head to record the measurement in inches or centimeters (cm). Measurements taken in the morning are 0.5 to 0.75 inches (1.3 to 1.9 cm) taller than evening measurements due to spinal disc compression throughout the day.
Is height genetic?
Yes, height is 60% to 80% genetic, determined by more than 700 inherited polygenic variants from both biological parents that control chondrocyte division in the epiphyseal growth plates. The remaining 20% to 40% of adult stature depends on environmental factors including nutrition quality, sleep duration, and general health during childhood.
At what age do boys stop growing?
Boys typically stop growing taller between ages 16 and 18, with some young men continuing minor stature development until age 20 or 21 when their epiphyseal growth plates completely fuse under the influence of testosterone and estrogen.
What is the average height for a 14 year old?
The average height for a 14 year old boy is 64.5 inches (163.8 cm), and the average height for a 14 year old girl is 63.2 inches (160.5 cm) in the United States according to CDC Growth Charts. By age 14, boys experience Peak Height Velocity (PHV) and surpass girls in median stature.
What is the average height for a 10 year old?
The average height for a 10 year old boy is 54.5 inches (138.4 cm), and the average height for a 10 year old girl is 54.3 inches (137.9 cm) in the United States according to CDC Growth Charts. At age 10, both boys and girls grow at a steady pre-pubertal velocity of approximately 2 to 2.5 inches (5 to 6.5 cm) per year.
View All Height Calculators
Explore our height calculators, growth comparisons, and measurement converters to choose the tool that fits your needs.
Height Calculator
Estimate height using the main website calculator.
Height Calculator for Boys
Explore boys’ growth and estimated adult height.
Height Calculator for Girls
Explore girls’ growth and estimated adult height.
Height Calculator Based on Parents
Estimate a child’s height from both parents.
Adult Height Calculator
Estimate a likely final adult-height range.
Height Calculator by Age
Compare growth and height according to age.
Height Percentile Calculator
Compare height with age- and sex-based references.
Height Calculator by Shoe Size
Explore a rough estimate based on shoe size.
Couple Height Calculator
Compare the height difference between two partners.
Height Calculator from BMI and Weight
Derive height mathematically from BMI and weight.
Height Calculator Using Grandparents
Explore a broad family-based height estimate.
Feet to CM Converter
Convert feet and inches into centimeters.
Inches to CM Converter
Convert a total inch measurement into centimeters.
CM to Feet Converter
Convert height from centimeters to feet and inches instantly.
Height in Meters Converter
Convert height from common units into meters.