Height Percentile Charts by Age for Boys & Girls
Browse CDC stature-for-age height percentile charts by age from 2 to 19. Select any age group to view detailed distributions, or use this guide to interpret what each height percentile channel indicates.
Understanding Stature-for-Age Percentiles
A growth percentile describes how a child or teen compares to a representative population of the same age and biological sex. For example, a 15-year-old at the 50th percentile is taller than 50% and shorter than 50% of peers in the CDC reference sample. Percentiles are statistical distribution markers, not clinical targets or test scores. Being at the 15th or 85th percentile is natural variation, not a diagnosis of abnormal growth.
| Age | Boys | Girls | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cm | ft / in | cm | ft / in | |
| 2 | 86.5 | 2'10" | 85 | 2'9.5" |
| 3 | 95 | 3'1.4" | 93.9 | 3'1" |
| 4 | 102.2 | 3'4.2" | 100.8 | 3'3.7" |
| 5 | 108.9 | 3'6.9" | 107.7 | 3'6.4" |
| 6 | 115.4 | 3'9.4" | 114.7 | 3'9.2" |
| 7 | 121.8 | 3'11.9" | 121.5 | 3'11.8" |
| 8 | 127.9 | 4'2.3" | 127.6 | 4'2.2" |
| 9 | 133.5 | 4'4.6" | 132.9 | 4'4.3" |
| 10 | 138.6 | 4'6.6" | 138 | 4'6.3" |
| 11 | 143.5 | 4'8.5" | 144 | 4'8.7" |
| 12 | 149.1 | 4'10.7" | 151.2 | 4'11.5" |
| 13 | 156.1 | 5'1.5" | 157.2 | 5'1.9" |
| 14 | 163.8 | 5'4.5" | 160.4 | 5'3.1" |
| 15 | 169.9 | 5'6.9" | 161.9 | 5'3.7" |
| 16 | 173.5 | 5'8.3" | 162.5 | 5'4" |
| 17 | 175.3 | 5'9" | 162.9 | 5'4.1" |
| 18 | 176.2 | 5'9.4" | 163.1 | 5'4.2" |
| 19 | 176.6 | 5'9.5" | 163.3 | 5'4.3" |
Clinical Interpretation of Height Percentile Channels
In pediatric growth assessment, a single height percentile chart point indicates where a child ranks relative to 100 peers of the exact same age and sex. Pediatricians evaluate growth along defined height percentile chart channels rather than expecting every individual to track the 50th percentile.
| Height Percentile Band | Population Distribution | Clinical Context & Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Above 97th Percentile | Taller than 97 out of 100 peers | Often represents tall familial stature or accelerated early growth. If disproportionate to parental height or accompanied by signs of early puberty, a clinician can review growth and endocrine markers. |
| 75th to 90th Percentile | Taller than 75–90% of peers | An above-average healthy growth channel. Consistent tracking within this height percentile band suggests stable genetic and nutritional development. |
| 25th to 75th Percentile | Typical population mid-range | Covers the middle 50% of the healthy reference population. The 50th height percentile chart is the statistical median, not a mandatory clinical objective. |
| 3rd to 10th Percentile | Shorter than 90–97% of peers | Normal biological variation for many children with shorter familial background or constitutional delay of growth (late bloomers). Routine monitoring verifies a steady growth velocity. |
| Below 3rd Percentile | Shorter than 97 out of 100 peers | Meets the statistical definition of short stature. Often familial, but guidelines recommend a pediatrician visit to review growth trends and rule out thyroid, digestive, or growth-hormone concerns. |
Why Height Percentile Trajectory Matters More Than a Single Check
A single measurement tells you where a child sits on the height percentile chart today, but it does not reveal the underlying growth trajectory. In pediatric practice, sustained centile crossing — where a child falls across two or more major height percentile channels (for example from the 50th to the 10th height percentile, or rising from the 50th to the 90th) — is a more sensitive signal than absolute stature alone.
Children typically settle into their genetic height percentile chart channel by age 2 to 3 and follow it consistently until puberty. During the pubertal growth spurt (roughly ages 11–14 for girls and 13–16 for boys), differences in timing frequently cause temporary shifts in height percentile chart rank. Comparing an earlier dated measurement with current stature helps separate normal maturation timing from a genuine slowdown in growth velocity.
CDC 2000 vs. WHO Growth Standards: Which Height Percentile Chart to Use?
A frequent point of confusion when checking a height percentile chart is the difference between CDC and WHO charts. The World Health Organization (WHO) standards describe growth under optimal environmental and nutritional conditions for children under age 5. The CDC 2000 growth reference documents actual observed growth distributions across ages 2 to 19. For children and teenagers aged 2 and older, the CDC stature-for-age height percentile charts are the primary benchmark used in clinical and school settings.
How the CDC 2000 LMS Curves Work
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) generated the CDC 2000 Growth Charts using the Cole LMS method. It models skewness (L), the median (M), and the coefficient of variation (S) across continuous age months. This mathematical smoothing produces precise percentile curves without arbitrary jumps between age brackets.
Measuring Correctly for a Dependable Height Percentile Chart Result
Small measurement inconsistencies can shift a calculated height percentile by 5 to 15 centile points, especially during rapid adolescent growth. Spinal disc compression causes a natural diurnal loss of 1 to 2 cm between waking and evening. For comparability with CDC height percentile charts, measure in the morning, barefoot, against a flat wall on a hard uncarpeted floor, with heels, buttocks, and shoulder blades touching the wall, and read the mark at the top of the head with a firm right-angle object.
Population Scope vs. TallMax Assessment Scope
The CDC reference tables on this website cover ages 2 to 19 for general population reference. However, the interactive TallMax comprehensive assessment strictly focuses on adolescents aged 13 to 17. For this teen cohort, puberty timing, measured velocity, and family parental target ranges provide critical context that raw reference tables alone cannot capture.
Limits of this data
These are population reference values, not predictions. They say nothing about how tall any individual will end up, and they do not replace a clinician's assessment. The CDC 2000 charts describe a US reference population and may fit other populations less well.
Frequently Asked Questions About Height Percentile Charts
What does being on the 50th height percentile actually mean?
Being on the 50th height percentile chart means a child sits exactly at the statistical median for their age and biological sex in the CDC reference sample. Half of healthy children of the same age and sex are taller and half are shorter. It is not an 'ideal' mark; healthy height naturally spans every percentile.
Can a child’s height percentile change as they grow?
Yes, especially around puberty. A teen who enters the growth spurt later than average may temporarily sit on a lower height percentile chart channel while peers undergo peak height velocity, then move back up as their own spurt begins. Outside puberty, a persistent unexplained drop across two major height percentile chart lines is worth reviewing with a clinician.
How do parental heights relate to a child’s height percentile?
Genetics explains roughly 60% to 80% of adult height variation. Clinicians estimate a mid-parental target range (roughly ±5 cm around the parental average) to define an expected familial channel. A child near the 15th height percentile chart whose parents are also around the 15th percentile is usually following exactly the expected genetic path.
Is a low height percentile a sign of a growth disorder?
Not by itself. Most children between the 3rd and 10th height percentile chart are healthy and simply show familial short stature or constitutional delay. A full picture considers growth velocity over time, nutrition, energy, bone maturity, and family history before any clinical conclusion is drawn.
Check Your Child or Teen's Growth
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