How Tall Would I Be?
"How tall would I be?" usually means one of three things: how tall you will be as an adult, how tall you would be if your parents were taller or shorter, or how tall you would be in a few years. This page answers each, using the same parent-height formula and growth-chart method as the free predictor above.
How tall would I be, given my parents?
Average your parents' heights, then add 6.5 cm (2.5 in) for a male or subtract 6.5 cm for a female. The table shows the genetic target for some common combinations (father / mother). The honest answer is a range of about 5 cm either side.
| Father / mother | Son's target | Daughter's target |
|---|---|---|
| 170 cm / 160 cm | 172 cm (5'8") | 159 cm (5'2") |
| 175 cm / 162 cm | 175 cm (5'9") | 162 cm (5'4") |
| 178 cm / 165 cm | 178 cm (5'10") | 165 cm (5'5") |
| 180 cm / 165 cm | 179 cm (5'10") | 166 cm (5'5") |
| 183 cm / 168 cm | 182 cm (6'0") | 169 cm (5'7") |
| 185 cm / 170 cm | 184 cm (6'0") | 171 cm (5'7") |
These are targets, not promises: siblings with the same parents often differ by several centimetres. For the full lookup table, see the mid-parental height calculator.
How tall would I be if my parents were different?
Change one parent's height by 10 cm and the target moves by 5 cm, because each parent counts for half in the average. A father who is 10 cm taller adds about 5 cm to the target, not 10. This is also why the result tends to sit closer to average than either parent: tall parents often have children slightly shorter than themselves, and short parents slightly taller, a pattern known as regression to the mean.
How tall would I be in a few years?
This depends on your age and where you are in puberty. Girls usually grow fastest around 10 to 12 and slow down after their first period. Boys usually grow fastest around 12 to 15. The calculator compares your height and age with CDC growth charts to estimate growth remaining. For a year-by-year view, see how much more you will grow.
Timing can matter more than the formula. Two 13-year-olds at the same height can finish 10 cm apart if one has already had the growth spurt and the other has not started.
What does not change the answer
- Supplements and stretching devices. Nothing you can buy lengthens bone. Good sleep and enough food help you reach your ceiling; they do not raise it.
- Shoe size. Feet finish growing before legs and spine, so big feet at 13 say little about your final height.
↑ Run the free predictor — 60 seconds, result shown without an account.
Frequently asked questions
How tall would I be if my dad is 6 feet and my mom is 5'5"?
Convert to a common unit and average: 6'0" is 183 cm and 5'5" is 165 cm, so the average is 174 cm. A son's target is about 180.5 cm (5'11") and a daughter's about 167.5 cm (5'6"), each within roughly 5 cm either side. Treat it as a range.
How tall would I be as an adult?
The quickest estimate is the mid-parental formula: average your parents' heights and add 6.5 cm (2.5 in) if you are male or subtract 6.5 cm if you are female. If you are still growing, your height and age on a growth chart sharpen it. Published target-height methods land within 8.5 cm (3.3 in) for about 95% of people (Tanner et al., 1970).
How tall would I be if I never hit a growth spurt?
Everyone has a pubertal growth spurt unless a medical condition interferes. A very late spurt is common and usually means you grow for longer, finishing closer to your genetic target than your current height suggests. If you are well past the typical age and see no signs of puberty, ask a doctor.
Does eating more make you taller?
Not beyond your genetic ceiling. Adequate protein and calories let you reach it; years of undernutrition can stop you getting there. Extra food on top of that does not add height.
Is the prediction less accurate for adopted children or step-siblings?
Yes for the parent formula: it relies on biological parents' heights. If you do not know them, compare your height and age with a growth chart instead, which does not need parental data but gives a wider range.
This tool provides a statistical estimate for general information only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are concerned about your growth or your child's, speak to a paediatrician or family doctor.