How this height calculator works
This tool estimates a child's likely adult height using the mid-parental height method, also called the target height formula. It combines the mother's and father's height with the child's sex to produce a single estimate, published in pediatric growth literature and still widely used as a quick reference point.
The formula
- Boys: target height (cm) = (father's height + mother's height + 13) / 2
- Girls: target height (cm) = (father's height + mother's height - 13) / 2
- Equivalently: average the two parents' heights, then add 6.5 cm for a boy or subtract 6.5 cm for a girl. The 13 cm adjustment approximates the average height gap between adult men and women.
Reading the result
The predicted height is a midpoint estimate, not a guarantee. Clinical references commonly describe a spread of roughly ±8.5 cm around the target as a typical band, since actual adult height also depends on nutrition, overall health, timing of puberty, and genetic factors beyond parental height alone. Treat the number as a rough planning reference rather than a precise forecast.
When this calculator applies
The mid-parental method is meant for a child who has not yet finished growing. If you are asking about someone who has already reached their final adult height, simply measure it directly - a formula adds no value once growth is complete. This tool performs arithmetic only; it is not a substitute for growth charts or an evaluation by a pediatrician, which remain the right tools for tracking an individual child's growth over time.