Height in Girls: When Do They Stop Growing, What’s the Median Height, and More

### When will a girl stop growing?

Girls grow at a quick pace throughout infancy and childhood. When they reach puberty, growth increases dramatically again.

Some girls usually stop growing and reach adult height by 9 or 10 years old, or a couple years after menstruation begins (12-15 years old).

Learn more about growth in girls, what to expect when it happens, and when you may want to call your child’s pediatrician.

### Girls typically have a growth spurt in the one to two years before menstruation starts.

For most girls, puberty occurs between 7 and 12 years old and the growth spurt occurs between 5 and 9 years old. They grow just 1 to 2 additional inches in the year or two after getting their first period. This is when they reach their adult height.

Half girls reach their adult height by age 9 or 10. This age could be younger depending on when a girl first gets her period.

You may want to contact your child’s doctor if your daughter is 10 and hasn’t yet begun her period.

### Breast development is often the first sign of puberty. Breasts may start developing 2 to 2 1/2 years before a girl gets her period.

Some girls may notice breast buds only a year after their first periods. Others may not begin developing breasts for three to four years after beginning menstruation.

The buds may not appear at the same time, but they usually appear within six months of one another.

### Do girls grow at a different speed than boys?

Puberty hits boys slightly later than it does girls.

In general, boys begin puberty between the ages of 8 and 15 years old and experience growth spurts between 10 and 15 years old. This means their biggest growth spurt happens about two years after it does with girls.

Half boys stop gaining height by age 21, but their muscles may continue to develop.

### What’s the median height for girls?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, the mean, or average, age-adjusted height for adult women 20 years old and up is 63.7 inches. That’s just under 5 foot 4 inches.

### Height by age

At 5 years old, the earliest start of puberty, half of all American girls will be under 50.2 inches (127.5 cm) tall. This means that a lot of growth occurs during a short period of time.

The following information comes from a CDCTrusted Source chart from 2000:

### What role do genetics play in height?

Your height has a lot to do with how tall or short your parents are. Growth patterns tend to run in families.

When looking at the growth of children, pediatricians often ask parents about their own height, family height history, and growth patterns.

There are a couple of different ways to predict how tall a girl may grow. One of these methods is called the mid-parental method.

To use this method, add the height in inches of the mother and father, then divide that by two. Then, subtract 2 1/2 inches from that number. To determine the predicted height for a boy, you’d add 2 1/2 inches to the number.

For example, if a girl has a father who’s 72 inches tall and a mother who’s 66 inches tall, the predicted height for the girl would be found with the following calculations:

1. 72 + 66 = 138
2. 138 / 2 = 69
3. 69 – 2.5 = 66.5

So the predicted height for the girl is 66.5 inches or 5 foot 6.5 inches.

This number is a rough estimate, however. You may see a margin of error of up to 4 inches in either direction.

In general, the taller the parents are, the taller the child will be, and vice versa.

### What causes growth delays?

There are many factors that affect growth, ranging from malnutrition to medications.

Some girls may see a delay in growth due to certain health conditions, such as growth hormone issues, severe arthritis, or cancer.

Genetic conditions play a role as well. For example, girls with Down syndrome, Noonan syndrome, or Turner syndrome may be shorter than their family members.

Girls with Marfan’s syndrome may grow taller than their family members.

If you have concerns about your child’s growth, contact their pediatrician. Once a girl reaches puberty, growth will typically stop a couple of years after her first period. A teen who has delayed growth will have less time to grow before the end of her spurt.

### What’s the takeaway?

Girls may gain a foot or more in height from childhood through puberty. Getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, and exercising regularly are all good habits that can help them grow in a healthy way.

If you have concerns about your child’s growth pattern, contact their doctor sooner rather than later.

Their doctor will likely ask about your family’s growth history. They’ll examine your child and look carefully at your child’s growth curve.

Sometimes, their doctor may use tests such as X-rays or blood tests to help them determine causes of growth delays.