Height difference calculator
Enter two heights to get the exact gap in cm and ft/in, the percentage difference and a to-scale preview.
Difference
5.9″15 cm
Person A is 9.1% taller than Person B
- Where the top of Person B’s head reaches on Person A
- Nose or mouth
- How big is the gap?
- Large (15–24 cm / 6–9.5 in)
Based on average adult body proportions; posture, footwear and hair change the real result.
Understanding height differences
Height gaps feel bigger or smaller than the raw number suggests. A 10 cm (4 in) difference means the shorter person’s eyes are roughly level with the taller person’s mouth, which is very visible in photos.
The percentage difference is useful when comparing different sizes: a 20 cm gap between adults of 165 and 185 cm is about 12%, while the same 20 cm between children of 100 and 120 cm is 20%.
For couples, a gap of around 12 cm (5 in) is typical, because that is roughly how much taller average men are than average women worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a height difference?
Subtract the shorter height from the taller one. To get the percentage, divide the difference by the shorter height and multiply by 100.
Is a 15 cm height difference a lot?
15 cm (about 6 in) is a clearly visible gap: the top of the shorter person’s head usually reaches about the taller person’s nose.
What is the average height difference between men and women?
Worldwide, 19-year-old men average 170.8 cm and women 158.6 cm, a gap of about 12 cm (4.8 in).
Compare on the height chart
Line people, characters and objects up side by side on one visual scale.
More height tools
- Height converterConvert cm to feet and inches and back, with a full conversion table.
- Average height by countryAverage height of men and women in 200 countries, ranked and searchable.
- Height percentile calculatorSee what percentage of men or women you are taller than, in your country and worldwide.
- Hug simulatorSee a to-scale front or back hug for any two heights, and where your heads meet.
- 3D height comparisonCompare people, animals and objects as 3D models you can rotate and zoom.
- Height predictorHow tall will I be? Predict adult height from parents’ heights or a child’s current height.
- Average height by ageGrowth chart for boys and girls aged 5–19 in 200 countries, with a child height check.
- BMI & healthy weightCalculate BMI and see the healthy weight range for your height.