Short answer: in the United States, a man counts as tall from 181.4 cm (5′11″) (tallest 20%) and very tall from 188.9 cm (6′2″) (tallest 3%). For women the thresholds are 167.2 cm (5′6″) and 174.2 cm (5′9″). Averages: men 175.4 cm (5′9″), women 161.6 cm (5′4″).
≥ 181.4 cm
Tall for a man (tallest 20%)
≥ 167.2 cm
Tall for a woman (tallest 20%)
| Men | Women | Percentile band | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very short | < 161.9 cm (5′4″) | < 149.1 cm (4′11″) | P0–P3 |
| Short | 161.9–169.3 cm (5′7″) | 149.1–156 cm (5′1″) | P3–P20 |
| Slightly below average | 169.3–173.6 cm (5′8″) | 156–159.9 cm (5′3″) | P20–P40 |
| Average height | 173.6–177.2 cm (5′10″) | 159.9–163.3 cm (5′4″) | P40–P60 |
| Slightly above average | 177.2–181.4 cm (5′11″) | 163.3–167.2 cm (5′6″) | P60–P80 |
| Tall | 181.4–188.9 cm (6′2″) | 167.2–174.2 cm (5′9″) | P80–P97 |
| Very tall | ≥ 188.9 cm (6′2″) | ≥ 174.2 cm (5′9″) | P97–P100 |
Bands are percentiles among adults of the same sex: shortest 3% "very short", tallest 20% "tall", tallest 3% "very tall" — the same scale as every "Is it tall?" page on this site. Not a medical definition.
In the United States, men under 169.3 cm (5′7″) are short (shortest 20%) and under 161.9 cm (5′4″) very short (shortest 3%). For women the limits are 156 cm (5′1″) and 149.1 cm (4′11″). Short or tall is just a statistical position.
Calculate your rank as a man → Calculate your rank as a woman →
Values are cohort-weighted averages for adults aged 18+, derived from NCD-RisC 2020 and UN population estimates; they do not reflect regional differences within a country. Details: methodology and sources.