Height calculator
Enter the mother's and father's heights and the child's sex. The calculator predicts the child's adult height using the mid-parental method and shows the typical range around it.
Use it to estimate how tall a child is likely to be as an adult, based on the parents' heights.
Predicted height
179 cm
- Typical low
- 170.5 cm
- Typical high
- 187.5 cm
The result updates as you type. The headline is the predicted adult height; the range shows the band most children fall within.
How does it work?
This is the mid-parental method: average the parents' heights with a 13 cm sex adjustment. Most children land within roughly 8.5 cm of the estimate. It is a guide, not a guarantee.
Mid-parental height formula
- H
- Predicted adult height in centimetres.
- M
- Mother's height in centimetres.
- F
- Father's height in centimetres.
With a 165 cm mother and 180 cm father, a boy is (165 + 180 + 13) / 2 = 179 cm, typically within about ±8.5 cm.
Method & sources
Uses the mid-parental method: average the parents' heights with a 13 cm sex adjustment. Boys add 13 cm; girls subtract 13 cm. The typical range is about ±8.5 cm around the estimate.
Sources
Where this method comes from — use these references to understand the formula, assumptions, and limits.
- Growth charts — WHO child growth standards — World Health Organization, verified 2026-06-10
How we calculate
- Uses the mid-parental method: average the parents' heights with a 13 cm sex adjustment.
- Boys add 13 cm; girls subtract 13 cm.
- The typical range is about ±8.5 cm around the estimate.
- It is a prediction for children, not a guarantee.
Rounding
Heights are shown to one decimal. The calculation uses full precision.
What this calculator does
Height is strongly inherited. The mid-parental method averages the two parents' heights and adjusts for the child's sex to predict adult height, then adds a typical range because genetics, nutrition, and health all play a part.
How to use it
- Enter the mother's height in centimetres.
- Enter the father's height in centimetres.
- Pick whether the child is a boy or a girl.
- Read the predicted height and its typical range.
A worked example
With a 165 cm mother and a 180 cm father, a boy is predicted at (165 + 180 + 13) / 2 = 179 cm, typically within about 170.5–187.5 cm.
How reliable is it?
It's a reasonable guide, but most children land somewhere in the ±8.5 cm range rather than exactly on the estimate. Nutrition, health, and timing of growth all affect the outcome.
Common mistakes
- Entering heights in metres or feet instead of centimetres.
- Swapping the sex, which shifts the estimate by 13 cm.
- Reading the prediction as a fixed outcome rather than a range.
When it's useful
For curiosity, to set rough expectations, or as a starting point for a conversation with a pediatrician about growth.
FAQ
- How is adult height predicted?
- The mid-parental method averages the parents' heights and adds 13 cm for a boy or subtracts 13 cm for a girl.
- How accurate is the prediction?
- It's a guide. Most children fall within about ±8.5 cm of the estimate, but individual results vary.
- Why does the child's sex matter?
- On average, adult men are taller than women, so the method adjusts the parents' average by 13 cm up or down.
- Does nutrition affect height?
- Yes. Genetics set the potential, but nutrition, sleep, and health influence whether a child reaches it.
- Can I use it for an adult?
- It's designed to predict a child's future height from parents. For an adult, you already know the actual height.
- Can I share a calculation?
- Yes. Use Share to copy a link that reopens the calculator with the same heights and sex.
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<p>Calculator from <a href="https://wisecalcs.com/en/health/height-calculator">WiseCalcs</a></p>