Parental Target Height CalculatorFree online fitness & health calculator — instant results, no sign-up
Estimate a child's adult target height using the mid-parental method.
For general information only. This is not medical advice, diagnosis, dosing guidance or a treatment recommendation. Talk to a doctor or other qualified health professional about your health, pregnancy, or diet.
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About the Parental Target Height Calculator
The Parental Target Height Calculator estimates a child's adult target height from the father's and mother's heights using the mid-parental method. It applies a sex-specific adjustment and reports a rough genetic target in centimeters, rather than a guaranteed adult height.
- Father's height (cm)
- The biological father's adult height in centimeters, with a default of 180 cm.
- Mother's height (cm)
- The biological mother's adult height in centimeters, with a default of 165 cm.
- Child's sex used by formula
- Select Male or Female to choose the formula's sex-specific adjustment; this input has no units and defaults to Male.
Formula and method
T = (F + M + S) / 2, where S = +13 cm for Male and −13 cm for Female. With the default inputs: T = (180 + 165 + 13) / 2 = 179 cm.
- TEstimated adult mid-parental target height, in centimeters.
- FBiological father's adult height, in centimeters.
- MBiological mother's adult height, in centimeters.
- SSex-specific adjustment: +13 cm when Male is selected or −13 cm when Female is selected.
Add the two parental heights, apply the adjustment selected by the child's sex used by the formula, and divide the result by two. The default inputs use 180 cm for the father, 165 cm for the mother, and Male, giving a mid-parental target height of 179 cm.
Worked example
These are the calculator's starting values and the results it actually produces for them.
Inputs
- Father's height180 cm
- Mother's height165 cm
- Child's sex used by formulaMale
Results
- Mid-parental target height179 cm
- NoteRough genetic target, not a guaranteed prediction; growth and health factors matter.
How to use the Parental Target Height Calculator
- 1Enter the biological father's adult height in centimeters; the default is 180 cm.
- 2Enter the biological mother's adult height in centimeters; the default is 165 cm.
- 3Select Male or Female for the child's sex used by the formula; the default is Male.
- 4Read the calculated mid-parental target height; the default inputs produce 179 cm.
- 5Read the accompanying note and consider the result alongside the child's growth history and health.
Reading your result
The 'Mid-parental target height' row shows the estimated adult genetic target in centimeters: 179 cm for the default inputs. The 'Note' row states: 'Rough genetic target, not a guaranteed prediction; growth and health factors matter.' Treat the height as a reference point, not a required outcome, a growth percentile, or a diagnosis.
Limitations
This method assumes the entered heights are those of the child's biological parents and uses a simplified sex-specific adjustment. It does not account for the child's age, current height, growth rate, puberty timing, bone age, nutrition, chronic illness, or hormonal conditions. Adult height can differ substantially from this estimate, and the calculator does not provide an individualized prediction interval. Its Male/Female adjustment may not adequately represent growth in children with variations in sex development or hormone treatment. Concerns about growth should be assessed using serial measurements and clinical evaluation, not this estimate alone.
Common questions
Why does selecting Male add 13 cm before dividing by two?+
The conventional mid-parental method uses a 13 cm adjustment to account approximately for average adult height differences between males and females. It adds this adjustment for Male and subtracts it for Female before averaging.
Does a result of 179 cm mean my child will reach exactly that height?+
No. With a father's height of 180 cm, a mother's height of 165 cm, and Male selected, 179 cm is a rough genetic target. Individual genetics, growth timing, nutrition, and health can lead to a different adult height.
Should I enter adoptive parents' heights or biological parents' heights?+
Use biological parents' heights because this method estimates inherited height potential. If either biological parent's height is unknown, the estimate is less reliable; an adoptive parent's height is not a genetic substitute.
Can this calculator tell whether my child is growing normally now?+
No. It does not use the child's current height or age. Assessing current growth requires measurements over time, age- and sex-appropriate growth charts, and consideration of puberty and health.
Does the calculator save my information?+
Calculations run in your browser. While signed in, inputs and results are automatically recorded in account history; saving a result creates a separate saved record.
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Results are estimates for informational purposes and are not financial, medical or legal advice.