Average height
Average Height for a 12-Year-Old Boy
By the Taller team · Updated · 4 min read · How we write
The average height for a 12-year-old boy in the US is about 5'0" (152 cm), the 50th percentile on the CDC growth charts (measured halfway through the year, at 12½). Most 12-year-old boys are between 4'7" and 5'5" tall (5th to 95th percentile).
Height percentiles for 12-year-old boys
A percentile tells you how many boys of the same age are shorter: at the 75th percentile, a boy is taller than 75 out of 100 boys 12 years old.
| Percentile | At 12 | At 12½ |
|---|---|---|
| 5th | 4'6" (137 cm) | 4'7" (140 cm) |
| 10th | 4'7" (140 cm) | 4'8" (143 cm) |
| 25th | 4'8.5" (144 cm) | 4'10" (147 cm) |
| 50th (median) | 4'10.5" (149 cm) | 5'0" (152 cm) |
| 75th | 5'0.5" (154 cm) | 5'2" (158 cm) |
| 90th | 5'2.5" (159 cm) | 5'4" (162 cm) |
| 95th | 5'3.5" (162 cm) | 5'5" (165 cm) |
How much will a 12-year-old boy grow?
At the median, boys grow about 2.8 in (7.0 cm) between 12 and 13. A boy of average height at 12 has reached about 84% of adult height and still has around 10.9 in (28 cm) to go.
At 12, puberty is underway for many boys and the growth spurt often begins. Boys who haven’t started yet are not behind: the normal range for starting puberty is wide.
Check a height
Enter a height to see its exact percentile for boys aged 12.
Is my son’s height normal?
Any height between roughly the 3rd and 97th percentile is common. What matters more is the trend: a child who stays on the same percentile line over the years is usually growing normally. Talk to a doctor if your child is below the 3rd percentile, much shorter than the parents’ heights suggest, has stopped growing, or has crossed two major percentile lines downward. See the height percentile calculator and height predictions for 12-year-old boys.
Average height for boys by age
| Age | Median height | Normal range (5th–95th) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 years | 4'3.5" (131 cm) | 3'11.5" – 4'7.5" |
| 9 years | 4'5.5" (136 cm) | 4'1.5" – 4'10" |
| 10 years | 4'7.5" (141 cm) | 4'3" – 5'0" |
| 11 years | 4'9.5" (146 cm) | 4'5" – 5'2.5" |
| 12 years | 5'0" (152 cm) | 4'7" – 5'5" |
| 13 years | 5'3" (160 cm) | 4'10" – 5'8" |
| 14 years | 5'6" (167 cm) | 5'0.5" – 5'11" |
| 15 years | 5'7.5" (172 cm) | 5'2.5" – 6'0.5" |
| 16 years | 5'8.5" (175 cm) | 5'4" – 6'1.5" |
| 17 years | 5'9" (176 cm) | 5'4.5" – 6'2" |
| 18 years | 5'9.5" (176 cm) | 5'5" – 6'2" |
Frequently asked questions
Is 5'3" tall for a 12-year-old boy?
Yes. 5'3" is about the 84th percentile for boys aged 12, so taller than roughly 84 out of 100. Being tall at 12 can also mean an early growth spurt, so it doesn’t guarantee being tall as an adult.
Is 4'9" short for a 12-year-old boy?
4'9" is about the 16th percentile for boys aged 12: below average but well within the normal range. Many boys who are shorter at 12 simply start puberty later and catch up.
How much will a 12-year-old boy grow?
At the median, boys grow about 2.8 in (7.0 cm) between 12 and 13, and about 10.9 in (28 cm) in total before adulthood. The real number depends on genetics and puberty timing.
How tall will a 12-year-old boy be as an adult?
A boy of median height at 12 is on track for about 5'9.5" (177 cm). For a personal estimate that also uses the parents’ heights, use the height calculator.
Sources
- Clinical Growth Charts (2000 CDC stature-for-age) — CDC / National Center for Health Statistics
- Data Table of Stature-for-age Charts (LMS parameters) — CDC
- Puberty — Nemours KidsHealth
Keep reading
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Growth is very individual: if you are worried about your height, growth or puberty, talk to a doctor or a pediatric endocrinologist.