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The Average Height for 10 Year Olds in Feet (Boys and Girls)

The Average Height for 10 Year Olds in Feet (Boys and Girls)

If you’re curious about what the average height for 10 year olds is and want to learn whether specific heights are short or tall for a 10 year old, then this is the article for you.

Here, we discuss the average height for 10-year-old boys and girls in feet.

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What’s the average height for a 10-year-old boy in feet?

A chart displaying the average height for a 10 year old boy in feet

What’s the average height for a 10 year old boy in feet? According to in-depth measurement research, the average height of a 10-year-old boy in feet is around 4 feet 8 inches tall.

Specifically, in a sample of 185 10-year-old boys, the average ten-year-old male was found to be around 4ft 7.7in tall, which is equal to 141.7 cm.

As evidenced on the chart above, between the ages of 10 and 11, a ten year old boy will typically increase in height by roughly 3 inches.

As research shows, a child’s growth happens in spurts, so some 10-year-olds are naturally going to be shorter and taller than others. For example, ten-year-olds who have only just turned 10 will likely be considerably shorter than those who are almost 11.

What’s the average height for a 10-year-old female in feet?

A chart displaying the average height for a 10 year old female in feet

What’s the average height for a 10 year old female in feet? Based on US height data, which measured the heights of 205 ten year old girls, the average height of a 10 year old female in feet is around 4 feet 8 inches tall.

If you read the previous section, then you’ll know that, at age 10, boys and girls are the same height, rounded up to the nearest inch. If we use the unrounded measurements, then 10-year-old girls are, on average, 0.6 inches taller than 10-year-old boys.

One reason for this could be that girls typically begin puberty at an earlier age than boys and thus may have started to experience rapid height development sooner.

Specifically, the average ten-year-old girl was found to be 4ft 8.3in tall, which works out at 143 cm exactly. 

Related: How to grow taller at 10 years old?

What height is considered tall for a 10-year-old?

A chart showing the average height of a 10 year old boy in feet
A chart displaying the average height for a 10 year old girl in feet

What height is considered tall for a 10 year old? Statistically, a height of just over 4 feet 9 inches would mean that a 10 year old boy would likely be taller than around 75% of his peers.

For 10 year old girls, a height of just over 4 feet 10 inches would, statistically, mean that they’d likely be taller than approximately 75% of girls their age.

It’s interesting to see that, at the 75th height percentile, 10-year-old females actually had a higher measurement than 10-year-old males by a full inch. This again shows that many 10-year-old girls have already begun to experience rapid physical development.

The age of 10 is a crucial growing period for children and, as such, boys and girls of this age will typically need somewhere in the vicinity of 2000 calories per day to support their active lifestyle and physical development. [2]

How tall should a 10-year-old be in feet?

A person checking how tall a 10 year old should be

How tall should a 10 year old be in feet? Based on the average 10 year old height data, typical 10 year old boys and girls should both be around 4 feet 8 inches tall.

Of course, not every ten-year-old will be this tall. Both genetic factors (mainly) and environmental factors (to a lesser degree) can influence the height of a child at any age.

For example, if a 10-year-old is receiving proper nutrition, getting enough sleep, and performing plenty of exercise—as is recommended—then they might well be 4 foot 10 or taller. [3] This is an example of how environmental factors influence height development.

On the contrary, if a 10-year-old has short parents and is one of the younger children in their class, then they might naturally be a bit shorter than their peers. This example shows how genetic factors, as well as age, impact a child’s height growth trajectory.

Next, we’re going to go through a series of mini-case studies to see if a given height is tall, short, or perfectly normal for 10-year-old females and males.

Is 4’2 short for a 10-year-old?

Is 4’2 short for a 10 year old? Yes, definitely, A height of 4’2 or 4’3 would put a 10-year-old below the 5th percentile, meaning that over 95% of their peers would likely be taller than them.

It’s important to remember that children grow at different rates, and there can be a wide range of heights that are considered normal and healthy.

Is 4’4 short for a 10-year-old?

Is 4’4 short for a 10-year-old? While there are definitely some ten-year-olds who are 4’4, such a height is still very much on the extra-short side for a 10-year-old girl or boy. 

If you have concerns about a child’s growth, it’s always a good idea to consult with a pediatrician for a more accurate assessment of their growth and development.

Is 4’5 short for a 10 year old?

Is 4’5 short for a 10 year old? Yes, it absolutely is. Considering that 4’5 is a full 3 inches below the 10 year old average height, such a measurement would definitely be considered much shorter than normal for a ten year old boy or girl.

Is 4’6 short for a 10 year old?

Is 4’6 short for a 10 year old? Yes, while not extremely short, a height of 4’6 for a 10 year old boy would put him in the 25th percentile, meaning that he’d only be taller than around 25% of boys his age. It’s a similar story with girls.

Is 4’7 short for a 10-year-old?

Is 4’7 short for a 10-year-old? While it’s true that 4’7 is an inch smaller than usual for a ten-year-old, such a height isn’t exactly what you’d call short. For many of the reasons mentioned above, it’s perfectly normal for a 10-year-old to be an inch or so shorter than their peers.

Children grow at different rates, and there is a wide variation in height among individuals. So, being an inch or so shorter than their peers at age 10 is not a cause for concern and can be completely normal.

Is 4’8 short for a 10-year-old?

Is 4’8 short for a 10-year-old? No, since 4’8 is the average height for 10-year-olds, it’s definitely not a short height for a 10-year-old female or male; it’s a very normal height.

It falls within the typical range of heights for children of that age.

Is 4’9 tall for a 10-year-old?

Is 4’9 tall for a 10-year-old? Yes, seeing as 4’9 is an inch taller than the average height for a 10-year-old boy and girl, it can definitely be considered tall for a 10-year-old male or female.

It is slightly above the average height for children of that age group, so it would be taller than most of their peers.

Is 4’10 tall for a 10 year old?

Is 4’10 tall for a 10-year-old? Yes, definitely; if a ten-year-old is already 4’10, then they’re clearly growing at a faster rate than their peers.

If a 10-year-old boy was 4’10 then, statistically, he’d be taller than around 75% of his male peers, according to the available data.

Is 4’11 tall for a 10-year-old?

Is 4’11 tall for a 10-year-old? Yes, if a 10-year-old has achieved the height of 4’11 then, not only would they be 3 inches taller than the average person their age, but they’d also be as tall as an 11-year-old child.

Is 5 feet tall for a 10-year-old?

Is 5 feet tall for a 10-year-old? Yes, absolutely, a height of 5 feet is a full 4 inches above the average height for a 10-year-old female and male. It’s highly likely that any ten-year-old who is genuinely 5ft tall has some very impressive height development genetics. 

Is 5’1 tall for a 10 year old?

Is 5’1 tall for a 10 year old? Yes, very much so. At the height of 5’1, a ten year old will be towering above almost everyone in their class because they’ll be a massive 5 inches taller than average.

Five inches is a big difference when it comes to adult height, so you can just imagine how much older than their age a 5’1 ten year old will look!

Is 5’2 tall for a 10-year-old?

Is 5’2 tall for a 10-year-old? Yes, a height of 5’2 is exceptionally tall for a 10-year-old boy or girl and would put them well beyond the 95th percentile, which means that they’d be taller than virtually every other 10-year-old that they encounter.

Is 5’3 tall for a 10 year old?

Is 5’3 tall for a 10-year-old? Yes, definitely; it’s extremely rare for a ten-year-old to be 5’3, considering that this is a fairly normal height for a fully grown adult woman.

It is far above the typical height range for children of that age and is more in line with the average height for adult women.

Is 5’4 tall for a 10 year old?

Is 5’4 tall for a 10-year-old? A height of 5’4 is incredibly tall for a 10-year-old. Indeed, if you believe that your 10-year-old child is 5’4, then there might be a chance that you’ve overestimated their height or measured incorrectly.

Of course, it’s also possible that a ten-year-old could genuinely be 5’4. But this is, as mentioned, an extremely rare occurrence.

Is 5’5 tall for a 10 year old?

Is 5’5 tall for a 10-year-old? At a staggering 9 inches above the average 10-year-old boy’s height, a stature measurement of 5’5 is extremely tall for a 10-year-old. Most people will never encounter a ten-year-old who is this tall.

In conclusion: What can the average height for 10 year olds tell you?

A girl getting measured to see if she has an average 10 year old height

Beyond just being an interesting fact, the average height for 10-year-olds can also help you to gauge the progress of your child’s physical development.

You can use the percentile data in the above chart to see how much taller or shorter your ten-year-old is compared to other children their age.

References

  1. Marshall W. A. (1971). Evaluation of growth rate in height over periods of less than one year. Archives of disease in childhood46(248), 414–420. https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.46.248.414
  2. NHS website. (2022a, May 17). How many calories does a child of 7 to 10 need? nhs.uk. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/childrens-health/how-many-calories-does-a-child-of-7-10-need/
  3. Child Development: Middle Childhood (9-11 years old) | CDC. (2021, September 23). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/middle2.html