Child height predictor: estimate how tall your child may grow from both parents’ heights with the mid-parental method, with a likely range in cm or feet.
Roughly 95% of children finish within 8.5 cm either side of that target. The 13 cm adjustment stands for the typical height gap between men and women.
Influences on adult height
In what way
Genes
The largest influence — and the part this formula estimates
Nutrition
Enough calories, protein, calcium and iron while growing up
Health
Long-term illness, hormone disorders and poor sleep can hold growth back
Timing of puberty
Early or late puberty shifts when growth ends, not necessarily the final height
A bone-age X-ray of the hand lets doctors make a more precise forecast. See a paediatrician if your child is tracking far under the target range or their growth slows down. Follow progress with the growth percentile calculator and support healthy growth with our diet chart for kids.
Common questions
How reliable is this prediction?
Think of it as a range — the majority of children finish within ±8.5 cm of this figure. It does not factor in diet, illness or when puberty starts.
Is it possible to end up taller than mum and dad?
Yes, quite often. Better food and health than the parents had, together with normal genetic variation, mean plenty of children do.
At what age does growth usually finish?
Girls usually stop at about 14–16 years, roughly 2 years after their first period; boys tend to keep growing until 16–18.
Why is 13 cm added or taken away?
It reflects the average difference in height between adult men and women, so the target is adjusted for the child’s sex.
Checked against the sources listed. This is general guidance only and not a substitute for medical advice — please speak to your doctor about your own situation.