Growth Chart Calculator
WHO and CDC references
At age 5, the CDC median height is about 109.2 cm for boys and 107.9 cm for girls. Use the calculator below to see where a child sits by height percentile, then keep weight and BMI in view so school-entry growth is read as a whole pattern.
This embedded tool follows the same setup as the growth chart calculator. Height percentile is highlighted first, while weight and BMI stay visible so a child's linear growth can still be read in context.
Percentile results
Current percentile summary
Interactive charts
Visualize the current percentile position
On CDC charts, boys at age 5 often span a surprisingly wide normal height range. A child near the lower or upper end may still be growing completely normally if the line stays steady from year to year and the family pattern supports it. For a cross-check, use the height percentile calculator. The median CDC reference point is 109.2 cm (43.0 in), but many healthy boys still grow above or below that midpoint while following a stable curve over time.
Girls at age 5 also show a broad normal range on CDC charts. By this age, steady annual growth matters more than whether one measurement lands exactly in the middle of the class or matches a sibling's build. The median CDC reference point is 107.9 cm (42.5 in), and long-term height pattern still matters more than landing on one exact number.
Use the unit switch to compare centimeters with inches across the same percentile rows. The table is for quick reference, while the calculator above uses the exact age setup needed for a more precise read.
Boys and girls reference rows with percentile cut points.
| Percentile | Boys (cm) | Girls (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| P3 | 101.5 | 100.1 |
| P10 | 103.9 | 102.6 |
| P25 | 106.3 | 105.0 |
| P50 | 109.2 | 107.9 |
| P75 | 112.0 | 110.8 |
| P90 | 114.5 | 113.3 |
| P97 | 117.3 | 116.2 |
Around age 5, most children grow about 5 to 7 cm, or around 2 to 3 inches, per year. Growth usually becomes steadier through the early school years before the next major acceleration at puberty. Because the year-to-year change is modest, a height trend is more meaningful than a one-time comparison. If you want context beyond a single number, compare the result with a height percentile calculator.
Age 5 is when height differences start to stand out more clearly in the classroom, but that does not mean anything is wrong. The normal reference range from the 3rd to the 97th percentile spans more than 16 cm at this age, so visible differences between classmates are expected. Height does not predict intelligence, readiness, or social ability. What matters more is that a child feels supported and continues to grow along a stable path. You can compare earlier and later reference points with average height for a 2 year old and average height for a 10 year old.
It is worth checking in when a 5 year old's height falls below the 3rd percentile, drops across major percentile channels, or slows noticeably compared with prior visits. Height should also be reviewed if appetite, energy, puberty timing, chronic symptoms, or family history raise concern. Children near the 10th percentile can still be completely healthy if the pattern is stable and the rest of the growth picture fits. For projection context, you can also predict your child's adult height.
Medical disclaimer
Growth chart results are educational and depend on age, sex, measurement quality, and WHO or CDC reference logic. Ask a pediatric clinician about persistent percentile shifts, delayed growth, puberty timing, or any question about height that does not fit the overall clinical picture.
These answers cover the most common parent questions about average 5 year old height, short stature concerns, and how much growth usually remains.
At age 5, the CDC median height for boys is about 109.2 cm, or 43.0 inches. The normal reference range from the 3rd to the 97th percentile is about 101.5 to 117.3 cm. Healthy children do not need to match the median if their overall growth trend remains steady.
Editorial Review
Content is maintained by our editorial team and reviewed against primary WHO and CDC growth references. Last reviewed site-wide on March 18, 2026.