Height Calculator
Convert height between feet/inches and centimeters. Estimate child adult height and compare percentiles.
A height converter translates between feet/inches, centimeters, and meters for easy international height comparison.
Examples
Convert 5'10" to metric
Predict height for a boy
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the height predictor?
Why is 13 cm added for boys and subtracted for girls?
Quick Tips
- •The mid-parent height prediction is most accurate for children who have not yet started puberty.
- •Genetic height prediction has a margin of error of about 3-4 inches.
- •Nutrition, health, and environment also significantly affect final adult height.
A height converter translates between feet/inches, centimeters, and meters for easy international height comparison.
How to Use This Calculator
Use "Convert height" to switch between feet/inches and centimeters. Use "Predict child height" to estimate adult height based on parent heights using the mid-parent method.
Understanding the Formula
Conversion: 1 inch = 2.54 cm. Prediction (male): (Father cm + Mother cm + 13) / 2. Prediction (female): (Father cm + Mother cm - 13) / 2. Range is approximately +/- 8.5 cm (3.3 inches).
Examples
Convert 5'10" to metric
5 feet 10 inches = 70 inches x 2.54 = 177.8 cm = 1.78 meters.
Predict height for a boy
Father: 5'10" (177.8 cm), Mother: 5'4" (162.6 cm). Predicted = (177.8 + 162.6 + 13) / 2 = 176.7 cm (5'9.6"). Range: 168.2 — 185.2 cm.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the height predictor?
The mid-parent method explains about 40% of height variation. The +/- 8.5 cm range covers most outcomes but individual results may fall outside this range due to genetic variation, nutrition, and health factors.
Why is 13 cm added for boys and subtracted for girls?
The 13 cm (about 5 inches) represents the average height difference between adult males and females. Adding it for boys and subtracting for girls adjusts the mid-parent height to the appropriate sex-specific prediction.
Assumptions & Limitations
- The mid-parent height prediction method assumes both parents are of average build and does not account for grandparent heights.
- Conversion uses the exact factor 1 inch = 2.54 cm; rounding to whole inches may shift results by up to 1.27 cm.
- Height prediction accuracy decreases significantly for children who have already entered puberty.