When Do Girls Stop Growing? Median Height, Genetics & More

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HealthlineSubscribeWhen Do Girls Stop Growing? Typical Growth, Average Height, and More

Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M.D. — Written by Ashley Marcin — Updated on January 27, 2026

When growth usually stops
Growth speed
Average height
Genetics and height
Growth delays
Takeaway

Girls typically stop growing a few years after their first period. Some health factors, like growth hormone issues or nutritional deficiencies, may cause growth delays.

Girls usually grow at a quick pace throughout infancy and childhood. When they reach puberty, growth increases dramatically again, and it generally stops a few years after menstruation begins.

If you’re not sure whether your child’s growth is typical, talk with your child’s pediatrician.

The use of binary terms such as “female” or “girls” in this article reflects the language of the sources we’ve used. Unless otherwise noted, it’s unclear whether the research we reference included participants with expansive gender identities.

When do girls usually stop growing?

Most girls reach their adult height around age 15 or 16, but this age can vary. It could be younger depending on when they first get their period.

Female children typically have a growth spurt just before menstruation starts. For most females, puberty starts between 8 and 13 years old and the growth spurt occurs between 10 and 14 years old.

After menstruation starts, growth generally slows, and most girls will grow just a few inches in the following year or two.

You may want to talk with your child’s doctor if your daughter is 15 and hasn’t yet begun her period.

»Learn more:The Tanner stages of puberty

Do girls grow at a different speed than boys?

Puberty hits boys slightly later than it does girls, so girls typically stop growing before boys do.

In general, male children begin puberty between the ages of 9 and 14 and experience growth spurts between 12 and 15 years old. This means their biggest growth spurt generally happens about two years after it does with girls.

Most boys stop gaining height by age 17, but their muscles may continue to develop.

What’s the average height for girls?

The following table lays out approximate mean (average) height ranges for girls in different age groups. These estimates come from a 2021 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with data taken from 2017 to 2018.

Age group	Average height
2 to 5	around 40 inches (3 feet 4 inches)
6 to 11	around 53 inches (4 feet 5 inches)
12 to 15	around 63 inches (5 feet 3 inches)
16 to 19	just under 64 inches (5 feet 4 inches)

According to a 2018 CDC report, the mean (average) age-adjusted height for women 20 years and older is 63.7 inches. That’s just under 5 feet 4 inches.

It’s important to remember that these are just averages. Height can vary greatly within age groups; for example, children ages 6 to 11 may be anywhere from 47 to 59 inches tall.

In general, a doctor may only need to investigate if a child’s height falls far outside the typical ranges for their age group or they have concerning symptoms, like low weight gain or fatigue.

What role do genetics play in height?

Growth patterns tend to run in families, so your height often has a lot to do with how tall or short your parents are.

When looking at the growth of children, pediatricians often ask parents about their own height, family height history, and growth patterns.

There are a few different ways to try and predict how tall a child may grow. One of these methods is called the mid-parental method.

To use this method for girls, add the height in inches of the mother and father, then divide that by two. Then, subtract 2.5 inches from that number. To determine the predicted height for a boy, you’d add 2.5 inches to the number instead of subtracting.

For example, if a girl has a father who’s 72 inches tall and a mother who’s 66 inches tall, the predicted height for the girl would be found with the following calculations:

72 + 66 = 138
138 / 2 = 69
69 – 2.5 = 66.5

So the predicted height for the girl is 66.5 inches or 5 feet 6.5 inches.

This number is a rough estimate, however. You may see a margin of error of a few inches in either direction.

In general, the taller the parents are, the taller the child will be, and vice versa.

»Discover:Genetics and other factors that affect height

What causes growth delays?

Many factors can affect growth. Some girls may see a delay in growth due to certain health conditions, such as growth hormone deficiency. Inadequate nutrient intake may also play a role.

Genetic conditions play a role as well. For example, girls with Down syndrome, Noonan syndrome, or Turner syndrome may be shorter than their family members.

Conversely, girls with Marfan syndrome may grow taller than their family members.

If you have concerns about your child’s growth, contact their pediatrician. Once a female child reaches puberty, growth will typically stop a few years after their first period. A teen who has delayed growth will have less time to grow before the end of the growth spurt.

»Find care:If you don’t have a pediatrician yet, find one in your area.

Takeaway

Girls may gain a foot or more in height from childhood through puberty, and they usually stop growing a year or two after their first period. Getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, and getting regular physical activity are all habits that can help them grow.

If you have concerns about your child’s growth pattern, contact their doctor.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Breehl L, et al. (2023). Physiology, puberty. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534827/
Emmanuel M, et al. (2022). Tanner stages. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470280/
Fryar CD, et al. (2018). Mean body weight, height, waist circumference, and body mass index among adults: United States, 1999–2000 through 2015–2016. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr122-508.pdf
Fryar CD, et al. (2021). Mean body weight, height, waist circumference, and body mass index among children and adolescents: United States, 1999–2018. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr160-508.pdf
Klein DA, et al. (2017). Disorders of puberty: An approach to diagnosis and management. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2017/1101/p590.html
Lacroix AE, et al. (2023). Physiology, menarche.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470216/

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Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M.D. — Written by Ashley Marcin — Updated on January 27, 2026

When Do Girls Stop Growing? Median Height, Genetics & More

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When do girls usually stop growing?

Do girls grow at a different speed than boys?

What’s the average height for girls?

What role do genetics play in height?

What causes growth delays?

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

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