Child Height Predictor
Free child height predictor using the mid-parental method: enter both parents' heights to estimate a boy's or girl's adult height with a likely range.
About the Child Height Predictor
The most widely used quick estimate of a child's adult height is the mid-parental method: for boys, (mother's height + father's height + 13 cm) ÷ 2; for girls, (mother's height + father's height − 13 cm) ÷ 2. This free child height predictor applies the formula and shows the likely range of ±8.5 cm within which most children's adult height falls.
For example, with a 160 cm mother and 175 cm father, a son's estimate is (160 + 175 + 13) ÷ 2 = 174 cm and a daughter's is 161 cm. Parents and pediatric students use this as a genetics-based reference point — actual growth also depends on nutrition, sleep, health and puberty timing, so treat the output as an estimate, not a guarantee. The tool converts results to feet and inches automatically.
How to Use the Child Height Predictor
- 1Select whether the child is a boy or a girl.
- 2Enter the mother's height in centimetres.
- 3Enter the father's height in centimetres.
- 4Read the estimated adult height and the ±8.5 cm likely range.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the mid-parental height formula work?
Add both parents' heights, then add 13 cm for a boy or subtract 13 cm for a girl, and divide by 2. With a 160 cm mother and 175 cm father: a boy's estimate is (160 + 175 + 13) ÷ 2 = 174 cm (about 5'9"), a girl's is (160 + 175 − 13) ÷ 2 = 161 cm (about 5'3").
How accurate is a child height predictor?
The mid-parental estimate is a genetic midpoint: most children land within ±8.5 cm of it (roughly the 3rd to 97th percentile band). Nutrition, chronic illness, sleep and puberty timing shift the outcome, and siblings with identical inputs can differ by several centimetres.
Why add or subtract 13 cm?
Adult men average about 13 cm taller than adult women, so the adjustment converts both parents' heights onto the child's sex scale before averaging. It is the standard Tanner method correction used in pediatric growth assessment.
Can a child be much taller than both parents?
Yes. Height is influenced by hundreds of genes plus environment, and improved childhood nutrition has raised average heights generation over generation across South Asia and worldwide. The ±8.5 cm range covers most, not all, outcomes.
When should I be concerned about my child's growth?
Rate matters more than a single measurement. If a child consistently drops across percentile lines on a growth chart, or is far below the mid-parental range, consult a pediatrician — this calculator is an educational estimate, not a medical assessment.