Below is a height percentile calculator for men and women, 18 years old and older in the United States. Toggle between imperial (feet/inches) and metric (meters/centimeters) units to view the adult distribution of heights in America. We also have height by age for adults.
You can also find a companion adult weight distribution calculator. Also, try our BMI Calculator to compute a body mass index by adding weight to the equation.
Height Percentile Calculator for Men and Women in the United States
Data from adults in the CDC's 2015-16 NHANES survey. Heights were measured at a mobile examination center (MEC).
Median and Average Height for Men and Women
Height is decently approximated by a normal curve – most people cluster around average height, and average height and median are similar for both men and women.
Average and Median Height for Women
Adult women in the United States had a median and average height of 5’3.6" in 2016.
Average and Median Height for Men
18 year old and older men in the United States had a median and average height of 5'9.2" in 2016.
Selected Height Percentiles for Men and Women
Men tend to be taller (and heavier) than women. Here are selected height percentile breakpoints for American men and women:
| Percentile | Male Height | Female Height |
| 1% | 5'1.54" | 4'8.85" |
| 10% | 5'5.2" | 5'0.04" |
| 25% | 5'7.01" | 5'1.65" |
| 50% | 5'9.17" | 5'3.58" |
| 75% | 5'11.02" | 5'5.63" |
| 90% | 6'0.64" | 5'6.97" |
| 99% | 6'3.57" | 5'9.72" |
American Height Distributions for Women and Men
Unlike weight distributions, height distributions are tame... height is the classic example for a normal distribution. We'll soon have a height by age calculator too, but the surprising thing (versus, say, BMI or weight) is how little the breakpoints change for so many ages.
Most people of approximately normal physical health reach their adult height in their late teens or early twenties, and maintain their daily standing height for around a decade.
Usually in their mid to late thirties, people will start to stand slightly shorter. The causes are legion, but sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and spinal compression are the main causes for most height declines. Other conditions such as scoliosis can also affect standing height.
If you find height interesting, also see the BMI calculator or BMI distribution for women and men for more.
