Height-for-Age Calculator
Child height percentile and stunting check. Free, private and instant.
How to use the Height-for-Age
- Pick metric (cm, kg) or imperial (ft, in, lb) units.
- Choose child is a: Boy or Girl.
- Enter age in years and months.
- Enter height or length.
- Press Calculate to get an instant result with a colour scale, chart and plain-English explanation.
About the Height-for-Age
Height-for-age shows how tall a child is compared with peers of the same age and sex. A very low value (below -2 z-scores) is called stunting and can signal long-term undernutrition.
Also known as: height for age percentile, child height percentile calculator, length for age calculator, stature for age chart.
Worked example
- Child is a: Boy
- Age: 5 years
- Height or length: 110 cm
Height-for-age percentile: 50th percentile (Normal height). At 5 years, 110 cm is taller than about 50% of boys the same age (z-score 0.00).
- Percentile: 50th
- Z-score: 0.00
- Median height: 110 cm
- Typical range (3rd-97th): 102 cm - 118 cm
Formula and cut-offs
z = (height - median) / SD using approximate WHO reference medians and standard deviations for each age and sex, then converted to a percentile. WHO: below -2 stunted, below -3 severely stunted.
Frequently asked questions
What is stunting?
Stunting means a child's height-for-age is more than two standard deviations below the WHO median. It reflects chronic undernutrition or repeated illness.
Should I measure lying down or standing?
Children under 2 years are measured lying down (length). From 2 years, measure standing height.
When should I worry about my child's height?
Talk to your doctor if your child is below the 3rd percentile, crosses two major percentile lines downward, or is much shorter than you would expect from both parents' heights.
What is the height-for-age percentile for a 5-year-old boy and 110 cm?
Height-for-age percentile: 50th percentile (Normal height). At 5 years, 110 cm is taller than about 50% of boys the same age (z-score 0.00). Enter your own numbers above for a personal result.
Sources and references
Written and checked by the MediHub editorial team against the sources above. Read how we build and review our calculators.
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Last updated . This calculator is for education only and is not medical advice. See the medical disclaimer.