Height Calculator — Predicted Adult Height

Medical disclaimer: This calculator is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Results are general estimates and may not reflect your individual circumstances. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your health.

Formula

cm = (feet × 12 + inches) × 2.54

Unit conversion uses the exact definitions: 1 inch = 2.54 cm and 1 foot = 30.48 cm. The mid-parent (Tanner) prediction averages the parents' heights and adds 6.5 cm for a boy or subtracts 6.5 cm for a girl, which is the same as the (mother + father ± 13) / 2 form used here. Roughly 95% of children land within about ±8.5 cm of that estimate, and the prediction is least reliable when the parents are unusually tall or short. It is not a substitute for a growth chart plotted by a clinician.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Convert Height

Problem:Convert 6 feet 2 inches to centimeters.

Solution:Total inches = 6 × 12 + 2 = 74 inches Centimeters = 74 × 2.54 = 187.96 cm Rounded: 188 cm = 1.88 m

Result:188 cm (1.88 m)

Example 2: Predict Child Height

Problem:Mother: 165 cm, Father: 180 cm. Predict son's height.

Solution:Boy formula: (Mother + Father + 13) / 2 = (165 + 180 + 13) / 2 = 358 / 2 = 179 cm Range: 170.5 - 187.5 cm

Result:~179 cm (5'10") ± 8.5 cm

Example 3: Metric to Imperial

Problem:Height is 162 cm. What is this in feet and inches?

Solution:Feet = 162 ÷ 30.48 = 5.315 Whole feet = 5 Remainder: 0.315 × 12 = 3.8 inches 3.8 rounds to 4 inches Answer: 5 ft 4 in (162 cm)

Result:5 feet 4 inches

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert cm to feet and inches?

Divide cm by 30.48 for feet. Multiply remainder by 12 for inches. Example: 175 cm ÷ 30.48 = 5.74 feet = 5 ft 9 in (0.74 × 12 ≈ 9).

How accurate is the height prediction?

Mid-parent formula predicts within ±8.5 cm (3.3 in) for most people. Genetics, nutrition, health, and other factors affect actual height. It's an estimate, not a guarantee.

At what age do you stop growing?

Most girls stop at 14-16, boys at 16-18. Growth plates close after puberty. Some people grow into early 20s. X-rays can show if growth plates are still open.

What is the mid-parent height formula?

For boys: (mother's height + father's height + 13cm) / 2. For girls: (mother's height + father's height - 13cm) / 2. The 13cm adjusts for average male-female height difference.

What factors affect height?

Genetics (60-80%), nutrition, sleep, exercise, hormones, and health conditions. Chronic illness or malnutrition during childhood can reduce adult height.

Is morning height different from evening?

Yes, you're about 1-2 cm taller in the morning. Spinal discs compress during the day from gravity. Medical measurements are often taken in the morning for consistency.

What is the average height worldwide?

Global average: Men ~171 cm (5'7"), Women ~159 cm (5'3"). Regional differences are large: adult men average about 184 cm in the Netherlands and about 165 cm in India, according to NCD Risk Factor Collaboration data.

Can you increase height after growth plates close?

No significant height increase after plates close. Good posture, spinal decompression exercises may add 1-2 cm temporarily. Surgery exists but is extreme and risky.

How is height measured accurately?

Stand straight, heels together, against wall. Look straight ahead. Measure from floor to top of head with flat object. Remove shoes. Morning measurements are most consistent.

Why are people getting taller?

Better nutrition, healthcare, and living conditions increase average height over generations. Dutch men have gained 20 cm in 150 years. This is called the secular trend.

Background & Theory

Height conversion and prediction are useful for medical, fitness, and curiosity purposes. Understanding height involves both measurement and genetics.

Conversion Formulas:

cm to feet/inches:
Feet = cm ÷ 30.48
Inches = (cm ÷ 2.54) mod 12

feet/inches to cm:
cm = (feet × 12 + inches) × 2.54

Height Prediction (Mid-Parent):
Boys: (Mother + Father + 13) ÷ 2
Girls: (Mother + Father - 13) ÷ 2
Range: ± 8.5 cm

Growth Milestones:

Birth: ~50 cm
Age 2: ~87 cm
Age 10: ~138 cm
Adult: genetics determine

Average Adult Heights:

Region	Male	Female
N. Europe	180	167
N. America	175	162
Asia	170	158
Global	171	159

Factors Affecting Height:

Genetics: 60-80%
Nutrition: 20-40%
Sleep and exercise
Health conditions
Hormones

History

Height measurement has long interested scientists and societies. Ancient civilizations valued height differently—Egyptians prized average stature, while Greeks idealized taller forms. Systematic height data collection began in the 18th century. Military conscription records provided the first large-scale height data, revealing nutritional and health patterns across populations. Francis Galton's height studies in the 1880s pioneered statistical genetics. He discovered "regression to the mean"—very tall parents tend to have slightly shorter children, and vice versa. The mid-parent formula for predicting adult height was refined through 20th-century research. Today, growth charts track children's development, and height remains a key health indicator.