At 17, there's no single "should be" height, as it varies by genetics and development, but average heights are around 175.5 cm (5'9") for boys and 163 cm (5'4") for girls, with most teens near their adult height, though some growth can continue. Genetics (parents' height) and nutrition are key, and you'll likely fall within a normal range (e.g., 5th-97th percentile).
Median male height at 17 is roughly 175--178 cm (5′9''--5′10''); many finish growing by 17--18, though some gain 1--3 cm after 17. Final adult median is about 177--180 cm (5′10''--5′11''). Female adolescent averages: by 17 most females have reached adult height.
Q: What is the typical range for average height in 17-year-old males? A: While specifics depend on geographical location and other factors, the typical range is generally between 5'6" and 5'11".
Height and Percentiles:
Here are some percentile ranges for reference: 5th percentile: Approximately 5 feet 7 inches (170 centimeters) 50th percentile (average height): Around 5 feet 10 inches (178 centimeters) 95th percentile: Approximately 6 feet 2 inches (188 centimeters)
If you're short, you may just have familial (genetic) short stature. In other words, short parents tend to have short children. If a doctor finds you're growing steadily and sexually maturing at the right age, then you can probably expect to grow to a normal size, although you may be somewhat shorter than average.
In this database, a 95th percentile male is 6 feet, 2 inches (188 cm) and 246 pounds (111.58 kg); a 5th percentile female is 4 feet, 11 inches (150 cm) and 113 pounds (51.26 kg). What these numbers tell us is that there is indeed a significant anthropometric difference between military and civilian databases.
Although most adults will not grow taller after the age of 18 to 20, there are exceptions to this rule. Firstly, the closing of growth plates can be delayed in some individuals. If the growth plates remain open during the ages of 18 to 20, which is uncommon, height can continue to increase.
A BMI of 17 falls squarely within the underweight category, a designation that often elicits concern. While a healthy BMI for adults typically ranges between 18.5 and 24.9, understanding the nuances of a BMI of 17 requires a comprehensive approach.
The average height for men in the United States is 5 feet 9 inches. That number continues to change based on ethnicity, genetics and other factors. Non-Hispanic Black men in the U.S., for example, are, on average, 5 feet 9.3 inches tall, while Mexican-American men are, on average, 5 feet 6.9 inches tall.
Who is a child? The answer to this question in international and domestic law is clear: a child is anyone under the age of 18.
The upper age limit for starting GH therapy is generally determined by the status of the growth plates (epiphyses) in the bones. Once these plates close—typically around age 14 in girls and 16 in boys—further height increase is not possible.
Stunted height growth is primarily caused by severe malnutrition (especially protein, vitamins, minerals) and chronic illness during childhood, but also by hormonal issues (growth hormone deficiency, thyroid problems), genetic conditions, extreme stress/neglect, and certain medications like long-term corticosteroids, all impacting the bone growth plates. While genetics set your potential height, these environmental and health factors prevent you from reaching it, especially if they occur during the critical first 1000 days (conception to age 2).
“Males can keep growing as long as their growth plates haven't closed, which usually happens by age 18,” explains pediatrician Joshua Coleman, MD. “But in rare cases, guys can grow a little more into their early 20s.”
For most individuals, though, height is controlled largely by a combination of genetic variants that each have more modest effects on height, plus a smaller contribution from environmental factors (such as nutrition). More than 700 such gene variants have been discovered and many more are expected to be identified.
A single night of no sleep will not stunt growth. But over the long term, a person's growth may be affected by not getting enough sleep. That's because growth hormone is normally released during sleep. If someone consistently gets too little sleep (known as "sleep deprivation"), growth hormone is suppressed.
A good measure of whether you are a healthy weight is the body mass index (BMI). This is calculated using your weight (in kilograms) and your height (in meters squared). For most adults, a healthy weight range is a BMI of 18.5kg/m2 to 24.9kg/m2. If your BMI is under 18.5kg/m2 then you would be considered underweight.
A BMI of 17, preferred in several studies (Fan, Liu, & Dai, 2004; Grillot, Simmons, Lukaszewski, & Roney, 2014; Lassek & Gaulin, 2016; Stephen & Perera, 2014), is 3 SDs below the college women's mean of 22.
Can You Reopen Growth Plates? Once growth plates close, reopening them naturally is highly unlikely. However, some individuals consider advanced treatments, such as height-increasing surgeries or hormonal therapies. It's essential to consult a specialist for accurate advice tailored to your body type and health.
11 Foods That Can Promote Height Increase
They knew that about 80 to 90 percent of height is shaped by genetics, with environmental factors playing a smaller role. And by studying family histories, they'd identified hundreds of monogenic traits: single, rare genetic variants that can have large effects on height.
Roughly 1% of US women are 6 feet tall or taller. The equivalent height cutoff for US men (only 1% of population taller) is about 6ʹ4″.
Add the mother's height to the father's height in either inches or centimeters. Add 5 inches (13 centimeters) for boys or subtract 5 inches (13 centimeters) for girls.