Height Percentile Calculator for Men and Women in the United States

Written by:
PK

Below is a height percentile calculator for men and women, 18 years old and older in the United States. Toggle between imperial (feet/inches) and metric (meters/centimeters) units to view the adult distribution of heights in America. We also have height by age for adults.

You can also find a companion adult weight distribution calculator. Also, try our BMI Calculator to compute a body mass index by adding weight to the equation.

Height Percentile Calculator for Men and Women in the United States

Data from adults in the CDC's 2015-16 NHANES survey. Heights were measured at a mobile examination center (MEC).

Median and Average Height for Men and Women

Height is decently approximated by a normal curve – most people cluster around average height, and average height and median are similar for both men and women.

Average and Median Height for Women

Adult women in the United States had a median and average height of 5’3.6" in 2016.

Average and Median Height for Men

18 year old and older men in the United States had a median and average height of 5'9.2" in 2016.

Selected Height Percentiles for Men and Women

Men tend to be taller (and heavier) than women. Here are selected height percentile breakpoints for American men and women:

PercentileMale HeightFemale Height
1%5'1.54"4'8.85"
10%5'5.2"5'0.04"
25%5'7.01"5'1.65"
50%5'9.17"5'3.58"
75%5'11.02"5'5.63"
90%6'0.64"5'6.97"
99%6'3.57"5'9.72"

American Height Distributions for Women and Men

Unlike weight distributions, height distributions are tame... height is the classic example for a normal distribution. We'll soon have a height by age calculator too, but the surprising thing (versus, say, BMI or weight) is how little the breakpoints change for so many ages.

Most people of approximately normal physical health reach their adult height in their late teens or early twenties, and maintain their daily standing height for around a decade.

Usually in their mid to late thirties, people will start to stand slightly shorter. The causes are legion, but sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and spinal compression are the main causes for most height declines. Other conditions such as scoliosis can also affect standing height.

If you find height interesting, also see the BMI calculator or BMI distribution for women and men for more.

      

PK

PK started DQYDJ in 2009 to research and discuss finance and investing and help answer financial questions. He's expanded DQYDJ to build visualizations, calculators, and interactive tools.

PK lives in New Hampshire with his wife, kids, and dog.

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