Age and sex matter
The same height can have a different percentile at another age or on another reference curve. Use age at the time of measurement, including completed months.
For kids & teens
Height percentile calculator
Compare height by age and sex with the CDC reference. For ages 2 to under 20.
Your child’s height
A measurement, an age, and a little context.
No birthday needed. No measurements uploaded.
My Height Predictor
CDC 2000 stature-for-age reference. Ages 2 to under 20.
CDC growth referenceExample preview
Height percentile
54.3percentile
142 cm (4′ 7.9″) · 10 years 6 months · Boys
CDC reference curves Example measurement
Example for a boy aged 10 years 6 months, measuring 142 cm. Enter a measurement to see your own result.
Example preview, not a personal result.
Published methods, explained
Measurements stay on your device
Free. No account needed.
What does a height percentile mean?
Imagine 100 children of the same age and sex in the CDC reference population. A percentile tells you roughly how many would be shorter than a given height.
The 50th percentile is the middle. The 75th means taller than about 75 out of 100. Neither is a grade or a target to aim for.
How the CDC comparison is calculatedIllustrations of percentile meaning, not individual measurements.
Compare like with like
A specific reference
We use the CDC 2000 U.S. stature-for-age reference for ages 2 to under 20. It is not an adult height ranking or a worldwide population comparison.
Today and adulthood differ
This chart describes a current measurement. To explore a family-based adult estimate, use the height predictor with both parents’ heights.
Height percentile questions
Understand the reference before drawing conclusions from a number.
Read the methods & sourcesIs the 50th percentile the ideal height?
No. It is the median of the reference population, not an ideal or a health score. A single measurement cannot assess growth on its own; measurements over time and the child’s wider history provide context.
Can the same height have different percentiles?
Yes. The comparison depends on age in completed months and the male or female reference curve. A height alone, such as 5 feet 6 inches, is not enough to calculate an age-specific percentile.
Does this calculate weight or BMI percentiles?
No. This tool compares standing height for age. Weight and BMI use different measurements and reference data, so weight is not an input here.
Can I use this for a baby or an adult?
This tool accepts ages 2 to under 20 and uses standing height. Infant length and adult population comparisons need different references. It does not extrapolate outside its age range.
Will my child stay on this percentile?
This calculation describes one measurement. The curves show the CDC reference, not your child’s future growth. Our adult height predictor provides a separate family-based estimate; it does not project this percentile into adulthood.
Why might another calculator give a different result?
Calculators may use different reference populations, age intervals, measurement units or rounding. Ours uses CDC 2000 data and completed months. See the data and calculation method to make a like-for-like comparison.