Kids Height & Weight Percentile Calculator
Calculate your child's height and weight percentiles from the WHO (birth to 2) and CDC (2 to 19) growth charts.
ExampleCDC charts · boy, 3 y 0 m
57thheight percentile
Height57thWeight40thTaller than about 57 of 100 boys his age; weight at the 40th, both in the typical range.
- BMI-for-age
- 23rd · healthy weight
- BMI
- 15.2
General information from published research, not a diagnosis or medical advice. Talk to a doctor before changing medication or treatment. One measurement matters less than the trend over time; your pediatrician can assess yours. SourcesTerms
Where the numbers come fromWHO 0–2 years, CDC 2–20 years (LMS method)
This calculator uses WHO Child Growth Standards from birth to 2 years and the CDC 2000 growth charts from 2 to 20 years, as the CDC recommends. Percentiles come from each chart’s published L, M and S values for the child’s sex and age in completed months.
BMI-for-age (from 2 years) uses the CDC BMI charts: under the 5th percentile is underweight, 5th to 84th a healthy weight, 85th to 94th overweight, and 95th or above the obesity range. This child’s BMI is 15.2.
How this works: Method, 2 sources,
How this works
Method
Height and weight are compared with the WHO Child Growth Standards from birth to 2 years and the CDC 2000 growth charts from 2 to 20 years, as the CDC recommends, using each chart’s published L, M and S values for the child’s sex and age in completed months. Each measurement becomes a z-score, z = ((X ÷ M)^L − 1) ÷ (L·S), which the normal distribution turns into a percentile. From age 2, BMI-for-age uses the CDC cut-offs: under the 5th percentile is underweight, 5th to 84th a healthy weight, 85th to 94th overweight and 95th or above the obesity range.
Sources
Limits
General information from published research, not a diagnosis or medical advice. Talk to a doctor before changing medication or treatment. One measurement matters less than the trend over time; your pediatrician can assess yours.
Privacy
On your device. Nothing you enter or open leaves this browser. About privacy labels
Changes
- Added a printable report with the height, weight and BMI-for-age charts and their sources.
- Switched to the full WHO (birth to 2) and CDC (2 to 20) growth tables for every month, with exact percentiles and a BMI-for-age percentile from age 2.
- Redesigned with a growth chart that marks your child among the percentile bands.
- Added a shareable result image.
- First published.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are growth percentiles and what do they mean?
Growth percentiles indicate how your child's height or weight compares to other children of the same age and sex. For example, if your child is at the 75th percentile for height, they are taller than 75% of children their age. Percentiles between the 5th and 95th are generally considered within the normal range.
What are WHO growth standards?
The WHO (World Health Organization) growth standards describe the expected growth of healthy children under optimal conditions. They are based on data from children in six countries who were breastfed and raised in environments that promote healthy growth. These standards are used worldwide as a reference for assessing child growth and development. Following CDC guidance, this calculator uses them up to age 2 and the CDC 2000 growth charts from 2 to 20 years.
When should I be concerned about my child's growth?
Consult your pediatrician if your child's measurements consistently fall below the 3rd percentile or above the 97th percentile, if there is a sudden change in growth percentile (crossing two or more percentile lines), or if height and weight percentiles are significantly different from each other. A single measurement is less important than the overall growth trend over time.
What are growth spurts and when do they occur?
Growth spurts are periods of rapid growth that are normal in childhood. Infants grow rapidly in the first year, and children often experience a growth spurt just before puberty (around ages 8-13 for girls and 10-15 for boys). During growth spurts, children may temporarily shift percentile lines before stabilizing.
Is BMI used differently for children than for adults?
Yes, BMI for children is interpreted using age- and sex-specific percentiles rather than fixed cutoffs used for adults. A child's BMI percentile compares them to other children of the same age and sex. Underweight is below the 5th percentile, healthy weight is 5th to 84th, overweight is 85th to 94th, and obese is at or above the 95th percentile.