Child Height Predictor · Practical guide
Will My Child Be Taller Than Me?
Compare your own height with the mid-parental prediction to see whether your child is likely to outgrow you.
At a glance
The short answer
It depends on the other parent's height, not just yours. Run the mid-parental formula and compare the result to your own height. If a 5'9" (69 in) father has a child with a 5'4" (64 in) mother, their son's predicted height is (64 + 69 + 5) ÷ 2 = 69 inches — exactly the same as dad. Their daughter's prediction is (64 + 69 − 5) ÷ 2 = 64 inches, matching mom. When parents are average relative to each other, kids land close to the same-gender parent.
Interactive tool
Child Height Predictor
Enter your own values, then compare the result with the examples below.
Predicted Adult Height
When kids outgrow their parents
A child tends to surpass the taller parent when the other parent is also tall. Take a 6'2" (74 in) father and a 5'6" (66 in) mother: their son's prediction is (66 + 74 + 5) ÷ 2 = 72.5 inches (6'0.5") — tall, but still shorter than dad. With the ±2 inch range, he could plausibly reach 6'2.5" and edge past his father. Their daughter's prediction is 67.5 inches, about 5'7.5".
The generational effect
Better childhood nutrition means each generation in the U.S. has averaged slightly taller than the last, which is why so many teenagers tower over their parents even when the formula predicts a close match. If your child is tracking at a higher growth percentile than either parent did at the same age, landing above the mid-parental prediction is common.
A realistic way to read the result
Use the calculator above to get the predicted height and range, then compare the top of the range to your own height. If your height falls inside the predicted range, your child has a genuine chance of passing you — the ±2 inch window means an outcome an inch or two above the point estimate is well within normal variation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my child taller than both parents?
The mid-parental range is plus or minus 2 inches, and genes from grandparents also play a role through recessive combinations. Better nutrition than the parents had in childhood adds height too.
Do sons usually end up taller than their fathers?
On average, adult sons are about 1-2 inches taller than their fathers in recent generations, mostly due to improved childhood nutrition, though genetics keeps most sons close to the predicted range.
Can a short couple have a tall child?
Yes, though it is less common. Two shorter parents produce a lower mid-parental target, but the upper end of the range plus taller genes from extended family can still yield an above-average child.
At what age can you tell if a child will be tall?
By age 8-10, a child's growth percentile is a fairly stable indicator. A child consistently at the 90th percentile for height will very likely be a tall adult, barring unusually early or late puberty.