GlenCalc

Height calculator

A child’s adult height is often estimated from the average of the parents’ heights, adjusted for sex. Most children end up within about 3.5 in (8.5 cm) of the estimate.

Your answer

Predicted adult height5 ft 10.1 in178 cm
Likely range5 ft 6.7 in to 6 ft 1.4 in

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How we worked it out

Updated as you change the numbers.

  1. Mid-parental height = (father + mother + 13 cm) ÷ 2.
  2. About 95% of children reach an adult height within ±8.5 cm of this target.

Method and assumptions

The mid-parental (Tanner) method averages the parents’ heights and adds 6.5 cm (2.5 in) for a boy or subtracts it for a girl. It is a rough guide: nutrition, health and genetics spread the outcomes. A pediatrician can estimate more precisely from growth charts or bone age.

Questions

How tall will a boy be with a 5 ft 10 in father and 5 ft 5 in mother?

About 5 ft 10 in, give or take 3.5 in.

Sources

Method and figures checked on . Every worked answer on this page is covered by an automated test. Found a mistake? Tell us.

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