What is the Average Height of Teenagers by Age in the USA?

If you’ve ever wondered how tall is the average American teen, the answer depends on their age (and whether they’re a boy or girl). Teens grow quickly during puberty, so the average height for teenagers in the USA increases each year through the early teen years.

By the late teens (around 18–19 years old), most boys and girls have almost reached their adult height. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average adult man in the U.S. is about 5 ft 9 in tall, and the average adult woman is around 5 ft 4 in.

But what about those in-between years? Let’s take a closer look at the averages for each age and how boys and girls compare.

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Understanding Height Growth in the Teen Years

Before diving into the numbers, it’s helpful to understand a bit about teen growth spurts and CDC height percentiles.

The CDC’s growth charts use percentiles to show how a child’s height compares to others. The 50th percentile (median) is considered “average” – meaning about half of teens are taller and half are shorter than that height.

It’s normal for a healthy teen to fall anywhere within a wide range of heights. For example, at age 14, a normal range (5th to 95th percentile) for boys is roughly 4 ft 11 in to 5 ft 9 in, and for girls about 4 ft 11 in to 5 ft 7 in. So “average” doesn’t mean everyone should be that height – it’s just the midpoint of a broad, normal spectrum.

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One interesting pattern is that girls tend to hit their growth spurt earlier than boys. On average, girls enter puberty around ages 10–13, often getting their major height spurts between 10 and 14 years old.

Most girls reach their adult height by about 14–15 years old.

Boys, on the other hand, usually start puberty a bit later (around ages 12–15) and have their big growth spurts between roughly 12 and 16.

Boys also continue growing slightly longer – many stop gaining height by about 16–18, though some may continue into their later teens (18–20 years old) before reaching full adult height.

This difference means that in early adolescence (middle school years), girls are often taller on average than boys of the same age, but by the later teen years boys catch up and surpass the girls’ average height.

Average (median) height by age for U.S. boys (blue line) and girls (orange line), based on CDC growth chart data

Average Height Chart for U.S. Teenagers (Ages 10–19)

Below is a US teen height chart by age, showing the average height for teenagers in the USA from age 10 through 19. These values are based on the 50th percentile (median) from CDC growth charts, which we can think of as the “average” height at each age. For each age, we list the average height for boys and girls in both feet–inches and centimeters:

Average Height Chart for U.S. Teenagers (Ages 10–19)

Source: CDC Growth Charts, 2000 – Stature-for-Age Percentiles (50th percentile)

Interpreting the Height Chart

As the table shows, girls on average are a bit taller than boys around ages 10–13.
For instance, at 12 years old, the average girl is about 59.4″ (151 cm) vs. 58.7″ (149 cm) for a boy the same age.
This is because girls tend to hit their growth spurt sooner.

However, by age 14, the tables turn – the average 14-year-old boy is around 64.6″ tall, while the average girl is approximately 63.2″.
Boys surpass girls in height around this point, and the gap grows through later adolescence.

By 18–19, the average male teen is about 5′9″ (175–176 cm) – roughly 5 inches taller than the average female teen at 5′4″ (163 cm).

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It’s worth noting that by age 18 or 19, most teens have basically reached their full adult height.
You can see in the chart above that the average heights plateau by 18–19 for both sexes.

A 19-year-old’s average height is virtually the same as at 18.
In other words, an “average American teen” at 19 is practically an average American young adult in height.

Of course, individual teens may finish growing earlier or later than average – some boys might gain another inch after 18, and some girls might stop growing as early as 13 or 14.
Every teen’s timeline is a little different.

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Encouraging a Healthy Perspective on Height

While charts and averages are helpful for reference, keep in mind that height varies widely among individuals.
Genetics, nutrition, and other environmental factors all influence a teen’s growth.

It’s perfectly normal for a healthy 13-year-old boy to be 5′0″ or 5′6″, even though the “average” is around 5′2″.
Similarly, a 16-year-old girl might be 5′0″ or 5′8″ and still fall within a healthy range.

If your teen’s doctor says they’re tracking their growth curve well, then they’re likely growing just fine – even if they aren’t exactly at the 50th percentile.

The CDC height percentiles are helpful benchmarks, but there's a wide spectrum of normal.

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If you or your teen are curious about how they stack up against these averages, it can be fun to compare heights visually.

FAQs About Teen Height in the USA

1. What is the average height for a 13-year-old boy in the U.S.?

The average height for a 13-year-old boy in the USA is about 61.4 inches (156 cm). However, height can vary greatly depending on genetics and growth stage.

2. What is the average height for a 13-year-old girl?

A 13-year-old girl in the U.S. averages 61.8 inches (157 cm), slightly taller than boys of the same age due to earlier puberty.

3. At what age do boys usually stop growing?

Most boys stop growing between 16 and 18 years old, though some may continue growing slightly until age 20.

4. When do girls typically reach their final height?

Girls typically reach their adult height between 14 and 15 years old, often within 1–2 years of starting menstruation.

5. Can nutrition and sleep affect a teen’s height?

Yes. A balanced diet, regular sleep, and physical activity all contribute to healthy growth during the teenage years.

Try Calqora’s 2D Height Comparison Tool

This interactive tool lets you visualize height differences by showing figures of people (or objects) side by side.

You can input your teen’s height (in either cm or feet/inches) and compare it to the average for their age, or to other heights – whether it’s friends, family members, celebrities, or even landmarks.

Seeing the heights in a simple 2D chart can help put those numbers in perspective.

Our US teen height chart by age data (like the averages above) is built into the tool, so you can easily see how your height compares to the typical height of an American teen of any age.

👉 Try the Height Comparison Tool – it's free, fun, and surprisingly insightful!

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References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – CDC Growth Chart Data (2000)
• Parents.com – “What’s the Average Height for Boys/Girls?”
• Cincinnati Children’s Hospital – “Normal Growth – Height & Weight Ranges”
• Healthline – “When Do Girls/Boys Stop Growing?”