The average height for 13 year olds boys and girls is 61.4 inches and 61.8 inches, respectively. Keep reading to know the factors affecting this average height.
Adolescence is a time when the body undergoes many structural changes as a result of puberty. Therefore, weight and height variations during these formative years are variable. 13 years old is considered the “average” puberty period of both girls and boys. But what is the average height for 13 year olds? I have put together this information as well as other important factors affecting your teen’s height in this article. Let’s figure it out!
Do Teenagers Grow A Lot During Their Later Teen Years?
According to the NHS (National Health Service), almost all boys finish their growth by the age of 16 years old. They also tend to grow at a fantastic rate during their puberty. Several boys even continue to grow extra an inch or so in their later teenage years.
For girls, when they reach their puberty, their growth tends to increase substantially. Compared to teen boys, girls usually complete their puberty by the age of 14 or 15 years old.
How Does Puberty Affect Teenagers’ Growth?
Both girls and boys undergo a growth spurt during their puberty. Having said that, the growth rate is very different because teens tend to go through puberty at various ages. For most boys, the average height increased each year during their puberty is about 3 inches (approx. 7.6 centimeters). Girls, on the other hand, tend to grow around extra 1 or 2 inches each year during this period.
In fact, the age of a teen girl and boy when they undergo puberty doesn’t influence how tall they will ultimately be. Rather, it will impact when their growth begins and stops.
Most boys usually fall into the two categories as follows:
- Early matures, beginning puberty between the age of 11 and 12 years old.
- Late matures, beginning puberty between the age of 13 and 14 years old.
While girls typically start their puberty earlier, usually from 8 to 13 years old. But the growth spurts will be between their 10 and 14 years old.
While teens can gain the same average height during this period, those who fall into the late matures group are more likely to grow at a faster speed to compensate for the lost time.
During purty, your boys height could reach to 92 percent compared to their adult height. and what about girls? their puberty happen from around 8 to 13 years old which growth spurt will occur from 10 to 14 years old.
Now, let’s learn the average height for 13 years old teens.
Average Height For 13 Years Old Boys
For 13-year-old teen boys, the average height (based on 50th percentile) is approx. 64.1 inches (or 156 centimeters).
| Age (years) | 50th percentile height for teen boys (inches and centimeters) |
| 8 | 50.4″ (128 cm) |
| 9 | 52.6″ (133.5 cm) |
| 10 | 54.5″ (138.5 cm) |
| 11 | 56.4″ (143.5 cm) |
| 12 | 58.7″ (149 cm) |
| 13 | 61.4″ (156 cm) |
| 14 | 64.6″ (164 cm) |
| 15 | 66.9″ (170 cm) |
| 16 | 68.3″ (173.5 cm) |
| 17 | 69.1″ (175.5 cm) |
| 18 | 69.3″ (176 cm) |
Average Height For 13 Years Old Girls
At the age of 13 years old, most girls tend to grow faster than boys. However, their average height will increase more slowly than boys over the years. On average, a 13-year-old teen girl is 61.8 inches (157 centimeters), according to the 50th percentile height chart for girls.
| Age (years) | 50th percentile height for girls (inches and centimeters) |
| 8 | 50.2″ (127.5 cm) |
| 9 | 52.4″ (133 cm) |
| 10 | 54.3″ (138 cm) |
| 11 | 56.7″ (144 cm) |
| 12 | 59.4″ (151 cm) |
| 13 | 61.8″ (157 cm) |
| 14 | 63.2″ (160.5 cm) |
| 15 | 63.8″ (162 cm) |
| 16 | 64″ (162.5 cm) |
| 17 | 64″ (163 cm) |
| 18 | 64″ (163 cm) |
Is The Growth Speed Of Boys Faster Than Girls?
Both girls and boys grow in a different way. During childhood, most boys tend to develop at a quicker speed. On average, you can also see that boys are more likely to be taller than girls. And this is also the reason why separate growth charts are used for girls and boys for growth measurement over time.
In fact, consistency is more important than the percentile that your teens fall into. For example, if your teenager drops from the 50th percentile to the 20th or 30th, their doctor might have to do other tests to decide the major cause.
What Causes Children To Grow Slowly?
Growth delays in teens are affected by different possible causes, such as:
- Insulin levels
- Growth hormones
- Sex hormones
- Medical conditions that influence the thyroid
- Genetic disorders and Down syndrome
In addition to these factors, malnutrition in childhood can also slow teens’ growth. What’s more, teenagers who are overweight or obese are likely to have a lower rate of growth.
Final Thoughts
Generally speaking, the average height for 13 year olds girls and boys is 61.8 inches and 61.4 inches, respectively. This figure is measured according to the 50th percentile height chart from the CDC.
There are a lot of different factors influencing teens’ growth, and eventually, height. And these elements can be environmental factors as well as physical activity levels and nutrition. If you are worried about your teen’s possible growth delays, it is best to visit their doctor for advice.
