CalcArcade.

Height Calculator

Enter the child's sex and the height of both parents. You get an estimate of the child's adult height and the mid-parental height.

Your numbers

Result

Estimate for information only, not professional advice. Last reviewed .

How we calculate it

The mid-parental height is the average of the two parents' heights. The Tanner method then adds 13 cm (about 5 inches) for a boy or subtracts 13 cm for a girl, and halves the total: (father + mother + 13 cm) ÷ 2 for a boy and (father + mother − 13 cm) ÷ 2 for a girl. That puts a boy 6.5 cm above the mid-parental height and a girl 6.5 cm below it.

For a father of 180 cm and a mother of 165 cm, the mid-parental height is 172.5 cm. A son is predicted to reach 179 cm (5 ft 10.5 in) and a daughter 166 cm (5 ft 5.4 in).

Assumptions and limits

  • This is an estimate for general information. It is not medical advice and cannot replace a conversation with a doctor. If you are worried about a child's growth, talk to a pediatrician.
  • A child's real height often differs from this estimate by several centimeters, because many genes, nutrition and health play a part. It is an average guess, not a promise.
  • It uses only the parents' heights. It does not use the child's current height or age, and it is not a growth chart.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is the mid-parental height method?

It is a rough guide. Heights run in families, so it is a useful starting point, but individual children can end up noticeably taller or shorter than the estimate.

Why is a different number used for boys and girls?

Adult men are on average taller than adult women. The 13 cm correction adjusts the average of the parents so the estimate fits the child's sex.

Can I predict height from the child's current height?

This calculator does not. Predictions from a child's current height need growth chart data and are best discussed with a doctor, who can also look at the child's growth over time.

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Worked example (a fixed example using the starting numbers, it does not change as you type)

Inputs: Units = US (pounds, feet and inches); Child's sex = Boy; Father: feet = 5; Father: inches = 11; Mother: feet = 5; Mother: inches = 5.

  • Predicted adult height 179.2 cm (5 ft 10.6 in)
  • Mid-parental height 172.7 cm (5 ft 8.0 in)

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Last reviewed: . Formulas and assumptions are described on our methodology page. For information only; not professional advice.