Child Height Percentile Calculator
Find where your child stands on the height-for-age chart using WHO (0-5 years) and CDC (2-20 years) growth standards. Get a precise percentile, z-score, category, and predicted adult height with the mid-parental formula.
Child Information
Computed age: 5 years 0 months (60.0 months total)
Auto-suggested based on age. WHO is preferred for 0-2 years; CDC is standard for 2-20 years.
Height-for-Age Chart (CDC, Boys)
Enter your child's information and click Calculate Percentile to see results.
Understanding Your Child's Height Percentile
Height percentile is the single most useful number a pediatrician will share with you about your child's growth. It compares your child's height to a reference population of thousands of children of the same age and sex, and tells you the percentage of those children whose height falls at or below your child's. A 60th percentile, for example, means your child is taller than 60 percent of children their age. The 50th percentile is exactly the median - it is not a target, nor a goal to aspire to. Children growing at the 10th percentile and children growing at the 90th percentile are both completely healthy when they follow their own steady curve over time.
This calculator uses two internationally accepted growth references. The World Health Organization (WHO) released its 2006 Multicentre Growth Reference Study standards for children aged 0 to 5 years, based on a prospective sample of optimally nourished, exclusively breastfed children from six countries: Brazil, Ghana, India, Norway, Oman, and the United States. These are prescriptive standards that describe how children should grow. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2000 growth charts cover ages 2 to 20 years and are descriptive - they describe how a US reference population actually grew during 1963 to 1994. Most US pediatricians use WHO for 0 to 2 years and switch to CDC at age 2 for continuity through adolescence.
The mathematics behind percentiles is the LMS method developed by Cole and Green. For each age and sex, the reference is summarized by three numbers: L (the power of a Box-Cox transformation to remove skewness), M (the median height for age), and S (the coefficient of variation). The LMS values for the age in question are read off the published tables, and the child's standardized z-score is computed as Z = ((height divided by M)^L minus 1) divided by (L times S). The z-score is then converted to a percentile using the standard normal cumulative distribution function. This is precisely the math used in clinical software worldwide.
When should you actually worry? Three concerning patterns are worth a conversation with your pediatrician: a height below the 3rd percentile or above the 97th, a sudden drop or rise of more than two major percentile bands within a year, or a child whose growth is inconsistent with their predicted genetic potential. The mid-parental height formula included in this calculator estimates that potential: for boys, average the parents' heights and add 2.5 inches; for girls, average and subtract 2.5 inches; in either case, expect a 95 percent range of plus or minus 3.5 inches. This is a powerful sanity check for whether your child is on track for the family genetic pattern, though it is not a guarantee of final adult height.
CDC Height-for-Age Percentile Table
Approximate height in centimeters at the 3rd, 50th, and 97th percentiles by sex and age. Use these reference rows to sanity-check the calculator output above.
| Age | Boy 3rd | Boy 50th | Boy 97th | Girl 3rd | Girl 50th | Girl 97th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 yr | 82.0 | 87.8 | 93.7 | 80.5 | 86.4 | 92.6 |
| 3 yr | 90.0 | 96.5 | 103.0 | 89.0 | 95.7 | 102.4 |
| 4 yr | 96.5 | 103.0 | 110.0 | 95.4 | 102.7 | 110.2 |
| 5 yr | 102.3 | 109.2 | 116.7 | 101.6 | 109.6 | 117.5 |
| 6 yr | 108.0 | 115.1 | 122.9 | 107.5 | 115.8 | 124.0 |
| 8 yr | 118.4 | 126.5 | 135.4 | 118.5 | 127.3 | 136.5 |
| 10 yr | 128.0 | 137.4 | 148.0 | 128.7 | 138.4 | 149.0 |
| 12 yr | 137.0 | 149.0 | 162.0 | 139.0 | 151.5 | 163.0 |
| 14 yr | 149.0 | 164.0 | 178.0 | 148.0 | 159.5 | 169.0 |
| 16 yr | 160.0 | 173.5 | 184.0 | 151.0 | 162.5 | 171.0 |
| 18 yr | 165.0 | 176.5 | 187.0 | 151.5 | 163.0 | 172.0 |
| 20 yr | 165.5 | 177.0 | 188.0 | 152.0 | 163.5 | 172.5 |
All values in centimeters. Multiply by 0.3937 to convert to inches.
How to Measure Your Child's Height (5-Step Guide)
Choose lying length or standing height
For children under 2 years, measure recumbent length lying flat on their back. For children 2 and older, measure standing height against a wall. The two measurements differ by about 0.7 cm because gravity compresses the spine slightly when standing.
Strip to bare feet and minimal clothing
Remove shoes, socks, hats, and bulky outer clothing. Hair accessories, ponytails, and hats can each add 1 to 5 cm of false height. Have your child stand or lie completely flat with no buns, braids, or buns on the crown.
Position the body correctly
For standing: heels together, heels touching the wall, shoulders against the wall, head positioned so the line from the ear canal to the lower border of the eye is parallel to the floor. For lying: legs fully extended, knees not bent, eyes looking straight up.
Use a flat object to mark the top
Place a hardcover book or a flat ruler on top of the head, parallel to the floor. Press gently to compress the hair. Mark the wall with a pencil where the bottom of the book meets it. Avoid using a soft tape measure curled over the head, which inflates the reading.
Measure twice at the same time of day
Use a metal tape measure or wall-mounted stadiometer from the floor to the mark. Repeat the measurement; if the two readings differ by more than 0.5 cm, repeat again. Children are 0.5 to 1 cm taller in the morning - track at the same time of day for consistency over weeks and months.
When to Use This Calculator
Track infant length over time
For babies under 2 years, the WHO chart is the gold-standard reference. Pair this calculator with our full-spectrum baby growth tool for length, weight, and head circumference.
Baby Growth Percentile ->Annual school screenings
School nurses and pediatricians use height-for-age every year to flag children for follow-up. Also use our BMI-for-age tool to check height-weight proportionality alongside.
Child & Teen BMI ->Compare height and weight percentiles
A child who is in the 90th percentile for height but the 25th for weight may simply be tall and lean. Our weight-for-age tool gives you the matching number.
Child Weight Percentile ->Adult height conversion
Once your child reaches adult stature, use our height converter to swap between centimeters, inches, and feet+inches for ID forms, drivers licenses, and medical records.
Height Converter ->Pro Tips for Accurate Height Tracking
Measure barefoot every time
Even thin socks can add 0.3 to 0.5 cm of variability between measurements. Always go barefoot on a hard, flat floor.
Press shoulders and back of head to the wall
A common error is letting the child arch the lower back forward. Heels, buttocks, shoulder blades, and back of head should all touch the wall.
Measure at the same time of day
Children are tallest first thing in the morning and shortest by bedtime. The 0.5 to 1 cm diurnal variation can confuse growth tracking if measurements are random.
Watch for growth spurts
Healthy children grow 5 to 7 cm per year between ages 3 and 10, then 8 to 12 cm per year during puberty (girls earlier than boys). A 12-month period of less than 4 cm of growth in a school-age child deserves a pediatric review.
Plot the trend, not the point
A single measurement is a snapshot. Plotting height across multiple visits reveals whether your child is tracking their own curve - the single most important growth signal.
Note family puberty timing
If one or both parents were late bloomers (delayed puberty, growth into late teens), your child may be too. Constitutional growth delay is hereditary and benign.
Important Medical Disclaimer
This calculator is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and is not a substitute for a clinical evaluation by a licensed pediatrician or pediatric endocrinologist. Growth disorders, chronic illness, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and constitutional variants all require professional medical assessment. If you have any concern about your child's growth, please consult their healthcare provider.
Trusted by Pediatricians and Parents Worldwide
“I share this calculator with worried parents during visits to demystify height percentiles. The WHO/CDC auto-switch and the clear z-score output match what we use clinically, and the mid-parental adult height prediction is exactly the Tanner formula taught in fellowship. Excellent tool.”
“Parents fixate on the 50th percentile as if it were a target. This calculator shows the full 3rd-to-97th band visually, which makes counseling so much easier. The percentile marker animation is a small detail that helps families actually see where their child sits.”
“Both my kids are on the shorter side and I was anxious until I used this. Seeing the predicted adult height range based on our heights (my husband is 5′7 and I’m 5′2) made it click that they are exactly on the family trajectory. Way more useful than any printed handout.”
“I do annual height screenings for over 400 students. This calculator is the fastest way to flag the kids who deserve a closer look from their pediatricians. The category labels (very short, short, normal, tall, very tall) translate the math into language teachers and parents understand instantly.”
“I validated the LMS interpolation against the published WHO and CDC source tables and it tracks within 0.1 percentile points across the full age range. Diamond-grade implementation - many free online calculators round wrong or use outdated tables. This one is faithful to the source data.”
“My 11-year-old is in the 92nd percentile and his pediatrician mentioned he might end up around 6′3. I plugged the numbers in here and got 6′2 to 6′5, which matched perfectly. Reassuring to see the math play out the same way independently.”
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