Average Height and Weight for Teenagers by Age (13–19 Years)
The teen years are when growth gets dramatic, and uneven. One 14-year-old towers over classmates while another hasn't started to change yet, and both can be completely normal. Here's the average height and weight at every age from 13 to 19, the normal range around those averages, how much teens grow and gain each year, when boys and girls usually stop growing, how doctors judge a healthy teen weight, and the signs worth raising with a pediatrician.
- Quick Answer
- Average Height and Weight by Age (13–19 Years)
- Normal Height Range by Age
- Normal Weight Range by Age
- How Much Teens Grow and Gain Each Year
- Boys vs. Girls: Why the Gap Opens Up
- When Do Teens Stop Growing?
- Is My Teen's Weight Healthy? Why Doctors Use BMI
- Early Bloomers and Late Bloomers
- How to Support Healthy Growth in the Teen Years
- When to Talk to a Doctor
- FAQs
Quick Answer
At age 13, the average boy and girl are both about 5'2" (156–157 cm) and 101 lb (46 kg). By 19, the average young man is about 5'9½" (176.6 cm) and 152 lb (69.2 kg), and the average young woman is about 5'4" (163.3 cm) and 126 lb (57.4 kg). These are the 50th percentile (median) values on the CDC growth charts used by U.S. pediatricians.[1] Girls do most of their growing before 13, so they add only about 2 inches from 13 to 19, while boys hit their growth spurt in these years and add about 8 inches.[1][4] Healthy teens vary widely around these numbers. Doctors judge weight by BMI-for-age, and what matters most is steady progress through puberty along a teen's own curve.[2][6]
Average Height and Weight by Age (13–19 Years)
The table below shows the median height and weight for boys and girls at each birthday from 13 to 19. Half of teens that age are above these numbers and half are below. For the years before this, see our guide to average height and weight for children (6–12 years).
| Age | Boys — Height | Boys — Weight | Girls — Height | Girls — Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 years | 5'1.6" (156.4 cm) | 101.0 lb (45.8 kg) | 5'1.9" (157.3 cm) | 101.4 lb (46.0 kg) |
| 14 years | 5'4.6" (164.1 cm) | 112.9 lb (51.2 kg) | 5'3.2" (160.5 cm) | 109.1 lb (49.5 kg) |
| 15 years | 5'7.0" (170.1 cm) | 124.5 lb (56.5 kg) | 5'3.7" (161.9 cm) | 114.9 lb (52.1 kg) |
| 16 years | 5'8.4" (173.6 cm) | 134.7 lb (61.1 kg) | 5'4.0" (162.6 cm) | 118.9 lb (53.9 kg) |
| 17 years | 5'9.0" (175.3 cm) | 142.6 lb (64.7 kg) | 5'4.1" (162.9 cm) | 121.7 lb (55.2 kg) |
| 18 years | 5'9.4" (176.2 cm) | 148.3 lb (67.3 kg) | 5'4.2" (163.1 cm) | 124.0 lb (56.2 kg) |
| 19 years | 5'9.5" (176.6 cm) | 152.5 lb (69.2 kg) | 5'4.3" (163.3 cm) | 126.4 lb (57.4 kg) |
Source: CDC stature-for-age and weight-for-age growth chart data (50th percentile), values for teens who have just reached each birthday, rounded to one decimal place.[1]
The numbers tell a clear story. At 13, girls are still slightly taller than boys. By 14, boys have pulled ahead, and from there the gap widens every year while girls' heights barely move. By 19, both medians are essentially at adult height: compare them with the average height of Americans. To check a specific teen, use our Height and Weight Calculator by Age or Growth Percentile Calculator, which use the same CDC reference data.
Normal Height Range by Age
The spread of normal heights is widest in the early teens, because some teens are deep into puberty while others haven't started. At 14, the band between the 5th and 95th percentiles is more than 10 inches for boys.
| Age | Boys (5th–95th percentile) | Girls (5th–95th percentile) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 years | 56.5–66.7 in (144–169 cm) | 57.4–66.4 in (146–169 cm) |
| 14 years | 59.3–69.7 in (151–177 cm) | 58.9–67.4 in (150–171 cm) |
| 15 years | 61.7–71.8 in (157–182 cm) | 59.6–68.0 in (151–173 cm) |
| 16 years | 63.3–73.0 in (161–185 cm) | 59.8–68.2 in (152–173 cm) |
| 17 years | 64.2–73.6 in (163–187 cm) | 60.0–68.3 in (152–174 cm) |
| 18 years | 64.7–73.9 in (164–188 cm) | 60.0–68.4 in (152–174 cm) |
| 19 years | 64.9–74.1 in (165–188 cm) | 60.1–68.5 in (153–174 cm) |
Calculated from the CDC's published LMS parameters for stature-for-age at each birthday.[1]
Normal Weight Range by Age
Weight varies even more than height, because it reflects how tall a teen is, how far along puberty is, and how their body is built. At every age from 13 to 19, the 95th percentile is roughly 1.7 to 2 times the 5th percentile, which is why a weight number on its own says little about whether a teen is healthy.
| Age | Boys (5th–95th percentile) | Girls (5th–95th percentile) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 years | 75.4–145.7 lb (34.2–66.1 kg) | 76.3–149.0 lb (34.6–67.6 kg) |
| 14 years | 84.8–160.3 lb (38.5–72.7 kg) | 83.6–159.6 lb (37.9–72.4 kg) |
| 15 years | 94.8–173.8 lb (43.0–78.8 kg) | 89.9–167.2 lb (40.8–75.8 kg) |
| 16 years | 104.3–185.8 lb (47.3–84.3 kg) | 94.7–172.1 lb (43.0–78.1 kg) |
| 17 years | 112.0–195.8 lb (50.8–88.8 kg) | 98.0–175.3 lb (44.4–79.5 kg) |
| 18 years | 117.3–202.9 lb (53.2–92.1 kg) | 100.0–178.0 lb (45.4–80.8 kg) |
| 19 years | 120.8–207.4 lb (54.8–94.1 kg) | 101.3–180.8 lb (46.0–82.0 kg) |
Calculated from the CDC's published LMS parameters for weight-for-age at each birthday.[1] These ranges describe how U.S. teens are distributed, not a "healthy weight" range. See the BMI section below.
How to read a percentile: a 15-year-old at the 25th percentile for height is taller than 25% of 15-year-olds of the same sex and shorter than 75%. It's a position in a line-up, not a grade, and in the teen years it often shifts temporarily depending on when puberty starts.
How Much Teens Grow and Gain Each Year
Puberty brings a burst of growth. During the growth spurt, individual girls typically grow 8 to 12 cm (3 to 5 inches) a year and boys 10 to 14 cm (4 to 6 inches) a year.[2] The CDC median curves show smaller yearly gains than that, because they average together teens whose spurts happen at different ages.
| Age span | Boys — Height | Boys — Weight | Girls — Height | Girls — Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 → 13 | +2.8 in (7.1 cm) | +11.3 lb (5.1 kg) | +2.3 in (5.9 cm) | +9.2 lb (4.2 kg) |
| 13 → 14 | +3.0 in (7.7 cm) | +11.9 lb (5.4 kg) | +1.2 in (3.1 cm) | +7.7 lb (3.5 kg) |
| 14 → 15 | +2.4 in (6.0 cm) | +11.6 lb (5.3 kg) | +0.6 in (1.4 cm) | +5.8 lb (2.6 kg) |
| 15 → 16 | +1.4 in (3.5 cm) | +10.2 lb (4.6 kg) | +0.3 in (0.7 cm) | +4.0 lb (1.8 kg) |
| 16 → 17 | +0.7 in (1.7 cm) | +7.9 lb (3.6 kg) | +0.1 in (0.4 cm) | +2.7 lb (1.2 kg) |
| 17 → 18 | +0.3 in (0.8 cm) | +5.7 lb (2.6 kg) | +0.1 in (0.2 cm) | +2.3 lb (1.0 kg) |
| 18 → 19 | +0.2 in (0.4 cm) | +4.2 lb (1.9 kg) | +0.1 in (0.1 cm) | +2.5 lb (1.1 kg) |
Differences between consecutive CDC 50th percentile values.[1] An individual teen's fastest year is usually larger than these figures, and often comes earlier or later.
Two patterns stand out. First, weight keeps rising after height levels off: boys add about 18 pounds from 16 to 19 while gaining barely an inch, as muscle continues to develop.[1][4] Second, the median boy gains about 8 inches and 51 pounds from 13 to 19, compared with about 2 inches and 25 pounds for the median girl.[1] To estimate whether a teen's fastest year is still ahead, try our Peak Height Velocity Calculator.
▶ Watch: When Do Boys Stop Growing? What Growth Plates Reveal
Watch on YouTube ↗Boys vs. Girls: Why the Gap Opens Up
Puberty typically begins between ages 8 and 13 in girls and between 9 and 14 in boys.[3] Girls usually have their growth spurt between 10 and 14, while boys' spurt comes about two years later on average.[4] That two-year head start explains the whole teen-years pattern.
When Do Teens Stop Growing?
Height growth stops when the growth plates near the ends of the long bones fuse at the end of puberty. On the CDC median curves, girls gain less than an inch in total after 15, and boys gain only about an inch after 16.[1] KidsHealth notes that most boys have stopped growing by about 16, although their muscles keep developing.[4] Late bloomers are the exception: a teen who starts puberty late also finishes later, so they can keep growing into their late teens.
Age alone can't tell you how much growth is left. A doctor can check this with a bone age X-ray, and our Percentage of Predicted Adult Height Achieved Calculator gives a rough estimate. For the biology, see growth plates and their role in height development, and for what happens after the teen years, can you grow taller after 19?
Is My Teen's Weight Healthy? Why Doctors Use BMI
Weight-for-age is useful for tracking growth over time, but the CDC does not use it to classify teens as underweight or overweight. A tall 15-year-old will naturally weigh more than a short one. Instead, doctors use BMI-for-age, which adjusts weight for height and then compares the result with teens of the same age and sex.[6]
| BMI-for-age percentile | CDC weight category |
|---|---|
| Below the 5th percentile | Underweight |
| 5th to less than the 85th percentile | Healthy weight |
| 85th to less than the 95th percentile | Overweight |
| 95th percentile or higher | Obesity |
CDC BMI categories for children and teens ages 2 through 19.[7] From age 20, adult BMI categories apply.
BMI-for-age is a screening measure that opens a conversation about growth, not a diagnosis.[8] You can check a teen's number with our Child & Teen BMI Percentile Calculator. Keep in mind that weight gain is a normal, necessary part of puberty, and that teens can be very sensitive about their bodies. KidsHealth notes that girls can become very critical of their weight, which can lead to unhealthy dieting, while boys tend to worry more about height and muscle, which can lead to unhealthy practices like steroid use.[4] Focus conversations on energy, strength, and healthy habits rather than the number on the scale, and talk to a pediatrician before a teen tries to change their weight.
Early Bloomers and Late Bloomers
Because puberty can start years apart, two healthy 14-year-olds can differ by most of a foot. An early bloomer may be among the tallest in class at 13 and average by 18; a late bloomer may be among the shortest at 14 and catch up later. Doctors call the most common form of late development constitutional delay. It's more common in boys and often runs in families, with a parent or sibling who was also a late bloomer.[5]
The best way to tell whether a teen is simply on a later schedule is to compare their growth with their family, not their friends. Our Mid-Parental Height Calculator estimates a genetic target from both parents' heights,[2] and the Tanner Stage Finder helps show how far along puberty is.
How to Support Healthy Growth in the Teen Years
Genetics sets the range for adult height, but habits during puberty help teens grow to their full potential within it, especially while growth plates are still open.
- Enough calcium: the recommended intake is 1,300 mg a day for ages 9 to 18.[9] Check needs with the Calcium Intake Calculator for Kids & Teens.
- Regular, balanced meals: appetite often climbs during the growth spurt. Skipping meals or extreme dieting during these years works against growth.
- 8 to 10 hours of sleep: that's the recommended amount for teens aged 13 to 18.[10] Learn how sleep affects height growth, or check needs with the Sleep Needs Calculator by Age.
- 60 minutes of activity a day: teens up to 17 should be active for at least an hour daily, including bone-strengthening activities on at least 3 days a week.[11]
- Age-specific steps: our guides on how to grow taller at 14, 15, 16, and 17 put these habits into a daily routine.
When to Talk to a Doctor
A pediatrician can review the growth record, check puberty stage, and, if needed, order a bone age X-ray to see how much growth is left. Our Bone Age Calculator is an educational tool, not a replacement for that evaluation.
FAQs
What is the average height and weight for a 15-year-old?
When do girls and boys stop growing?
How much do teens grow during a growth spurt?
Why is my 13-year-old son shorter than the girls in his class?
How do I know if my teen's weight is healthy?
Can a teen still grow taller after 18?
References
- [1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. CDC Growth Charts Data Files: stature-for-age and weight-for-age, 2 to 20 years (LMS parameters and selected percentiles). cdc.gov/growthcharts/cdc-data-files.htm
- [2] Nwosu BU, Lee MM. Evaluation of short and tall stature in children. American Family Physician. 2008;78(5):597-604. aafp.org
- [3] Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Puberty and precocious puberty. nichd.nih.gov
- [4] Nemours KidsHealth. Growth and your 13- to 18-year-old. kidshealth.org
- [5] Merck Manual Consumer Version. Delayed puberty. merckmanuals.com
- [6] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anthropometric indices: definitions and categories. cdc.gov
- [7] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Child and teen BMI categories. cdc.gov
- [8] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Using the BMI-for-age growth charts: what to know. cdc.gov
- [9] NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Calcium: fact sheet for health professionals. ods.od.nih.gov
- [10] Paruthi S, et al. Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations: a consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2016;12(6):785-786. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27250809
- [11] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Child activity: an overview. cdc.gov
