Average Height for Men in the U.S.
The average U.S. adult man stands 68.9 inches — just under 5′9″ (175.1 cm) and weighs 199 lb, per the CDC’s latest measured survey (CDC/NCHS NHANES, August 2021–August 2023 (published June 2025)). Women average 63.5 inches (5′3½″).
The average height for men in the U.S. is 68.9 in (5′9″, 175.1 cm); 6′0″ is about the 85th percentile (the 90th is 6′0.7″).
- Average man68.9 in (175.1 cm)
- Average woman63.5 in (161.2 cm)
- Median man69.0 in (5′9″)
- 6′0″ percentile~85th
- Average 14-year-old boy66.6 in
Source: CDC/NCHS anthropometric reference data (measured, not self-reported).
U.S. male height percentiles (CDC, measured)
| Percentile | Height |
|---|---|
| 5th | 63.9″ (5′3.9″) |
| 10th | 65.0″ (5′5″) |
| 25th | 66.9″ (5′6.9″) |
| 50th | 69.0″ (5′9″) |
| 75th | 70.9″ (5′10.9″) |
| 90th | 72.7″ (6′0.7″) |
| 95th | 73.7″ (6′1.7″) |
Average height by age group
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 20–29 | 69.4″ (176.3 cm) | 64.4″ (163.5 cm) |
| 30–39 | 69.3″ (176.1 cm) | 64.0″ (162.5 cm) |
| 40–49 | 69.4″ (176.4 cm) | 63.7″ (161.7 cm) |
| 50–59 | 68.6″ (174.3 cm) | 63.5″ (161.2 cm) |
| 60–69 | 68.8″ (174.7 cm) | 63.2″ (160.5 cm) |
| 70–79 | 67.9″ (172.4 cm) | 62.3″ (158.3 cm) |
| 80+ | 67.1″ (170.5 cm) | 61.7″ (156.8 cm) |
Older cohorts measure shorter partly from age-related height loss and partly from generational differences.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average height of a man in the U.S.?
68.9 inches — just under 5'9" (175.1 cm) — from CDC-measured NHANES data collected 2021–2023.
Is 6 feet tall for a man?
Yes. Six feet lands around the 85th percentile of U.S. adult men — taller than about 5 of 6; the measured 90th percentile is 6'0.7".
What's the average height for a 14-year-old boy?
About 66.6 inches (169.0 cm) and 144 lb at exactly age 14 — with an enormous normal range, since puberty timing varies by years.
Are Americans getting taller?
Not anymore. U.S. average height has been flat for about five decades; weight has kept rising (men now average about 199 lb).
Sources & methodology
Sources: CDC/NCHS Series 3 No. 50 — Anthropometric Reference Data 2021–2023 · CDC FastStats — Body Measurements.
All figures are measured (stadiometer) NHANES data, not self-reported surveys, which typically inflate height about an inch.