A 10 cm height difference is a pretty significant and noticeable height gap, especially when it exists between two people.
Sure, you can have one car, building, or animal that’s 10 cm shorter than another, but as humans, we’re much more sensitive to height differences between our fellow human beings.
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Is a 10 cm height difference big?
A 10 cm height difference definitely falls into the “big” category because it’s such an obvious height gap that it would immediately be noticeable to anyone who’s looking.
There is, of course, nothing inherently wrong with a ten centimeter height difference, but such a height gap is certainly more or less common between certain types of people.
For example, it’s quite common for a couple to have a ten centimeter difference in height between themselves since men are expected to be taller than women.
However, it’s less likely that two siblings of the same gender will have a 10 cm height difference because they both have similar height genetics.
You can also have a 10 centimeter height difference between two friends, be they male or female, seeing as intra-gender height can also vary by quite a bit.
How about a 9 cm height difference?
While not quite at double digits, a 9 cm height difference is still very much noticeable; I’d definitely consider it to be a big height difference.
Of course, a big height difference isn’t necessarily an excessive height difference.
Some couples, for example, prefer a larger height difference because it reinforces the male-taller norm that is found in nature and frequently reported in research studies.
If you don’t think that a 9 cm height difference is that noticeable, ask yourself this: If your friend grew by 9 cm, would you notice?
Of course, you would! So while there are certainly bigger height differences that exist between people, a 9 cm height difference is still pretty sizable.
How noticeable is an 11 cm height difference?
An 11 cm height difference is very noticeable. Indeed, from every angle, you’d clearly be able to spot the taller person and the shorter person.
In terms of an isolated measurement on a tape measure, 11 centimeters might not seem like much.
However, when those 11 centimeters of height difference exist between two humans, be they a couple or just two friends, the height gap becomes obvious.
I suppose this is because, as a species, we’re quite sensitive to height. I mean, if a tall person walks into the room, most of us immediately take notice.
Why do some people have a 10 centimeter height difference?
The short answer is genetics.
Some of us, thanks to our parents, are much taller than others.
But since men are usually significantly taller than women, it’s still possible for a relatively tall girl to be a bit shorter than an average guy.
I’d say that a 10 cm height difference between couples is actually a slightly smaller than average height gap, but not by much. There’s certainly nothing wrong with a 10 cm difference in height.
Can you reduce a 10 cm difference in height?
You can, but not by that much.
As I’ve said in similar articles, footwear can be very influential on your stature. So if a couple wants to reduce a 10 cm height difference for whatever reason, they need to make smart shoe choices.
In this scenario—closing a 10 cm height gap—the shorter person would wear shoes with a thicker heel than usual, and the taller person would opt for flat shoes with no heel or only a very small one.
Improving your posture will also help to reduce a ten centimeter height difference, but not as much as changing your footwear will.
Related: Can a person get 10 cm taller?
In summary
A 10 cm height difference between people is pretty common, especially between couples and friends.
I think a lot of people get caught up on this specific height difference because ten is a nice round number that seems like a big measurement.
And while a 10 cm difference in height is very much noticeable, it’s not big to the point where it should be a cause for concern.