It is one of those questions that has haunted the internet since 2009. You see him on stage, usually in oversized Balenciaga or a baggy hoodie from Drew House, and it's hard to tell where the fabric ends and the man begins. The internet is obsessed with the "Short King" narrative, but is he actually short?
People love to debate this. If you look at his 2014 police report from that infamous Miami drag racing arrest, the official record says 5 feet 9 inches. That’s roughly 175 cm. Case closed, right?
Not exactly.
The thing is, celebrities lie about their height all the time. It’s basically a Hollywood tradition at this point. Some fans swear they've seen him in person and he barely cleared 5'7". Others look at him standing next to Hailey and get even more confused.
The Hailey Comparison: A Real Reality Check
Comparing Justin to his wife, Hailey Bieber, is the most common way people try to "expose" his true height. Hailey is a professional model. Her height is listed by her agencies as 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm).
When they walk down the street together in flat sneakers, Justin is clearly taller than her. It isn't a massive gap, but there is a visible two-inch difference. This supports the 5'9" claim.
However, things get messy at red carpets.
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Hailey loves a high heel. When she throws on four-inch stilettos, she often looks slightly taller than Justin, or at least eye-to-eye. This is where the "he's wearing lifts" rumors come from. If she’s 5'7" plus 4 inches of heel, she's hitting 5'11". If Justin is 5'9" and wearing standard dress shoes, he’s going to look shorter.
He doesn't seem to care, though. Honestly, that's the most "big person energy" you can have—not worrying if your wife towers over you in her Saint Laurent heels.
Why the Internet Thinks He's Shorter
The main reason people doubt his 5'9" stature is his style. Justin Bieber is the king of the "baggy" silhouette.
He wears:
- Dropped-crotch sweatpants
- Oversized t-shirts that hit mid-thigh
- Massive puffer jackets
- Heavily layered streetstyle
All of these style choices visually compress a person. If you wear clothes that are three sizes too big, you’re going to look shorter than you actually are. It’s just physics. When he wears tailored suits—which is rare—he suddenly looks much closer to that average male height.
There’s also the "Early Bieber" effect. We all remember him as the 15-year-old kid with the purple hoodie and the hair flip. He was tiny back then. It is hard for some fans to overwrite that image of a small teenager with the image of a fully grown, 30-something-old man.
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The CelebHeight Analysis
If you really want to get into the weeds, you go to CelebHeights.com. This is where people spend hours analyzing the thickness of a shoe sole. The consensus on that site—which is notoriously harsh—is that Justin is actually closer to 5 feet 7.5 inches or 5 feet 8 inches.
They point to photos of him next to Usher. Usher is widely believed to be about 5'7". In most photos where their footwear is similar, they look nearly identical in height. Then there’s the Ludacris factor. Luda is about 5'8", and Justin usually looks right on par with him.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Let's look at the "official" versus "observed" measurements.
The Official Stats:
- Police Report (2014): 5'9"
- Agency listings: 5'9" (175 cm)
- His own past claims: 5'9"
The "Real World" Observations:
- Next to Hailey (5'7"): Looks about 5'9" in flats.
- Next to Selena Gomez (5'5"): Looked significantly taller even when she wore moderate heels.
- Next to Shawn Mendes (6'2"): Looks absolutely tiny. But then again, everyone looks tiny next to Shawn Mendes.
Height Doesn't Hit the High Notes
At the end of the day, whether he's 5'7" or 5'9" doesn't change the fact that he has sold over 150 million records.
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In the music industry, "stage presence" is a different kind of height. When he’s performing, he feels like a giant. It’s only when he’s caught by a paparazzi lens standing next to a 6'3" bodyguard that the "Short King" comments start rolling in.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. He is likely a solid 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) barefoot. With his usual Nike Dunks or New Balance sneakers, he hits that 5'9" mark easily.
How to Tell for Yourself
If you're still skeptical, the best way to judge a celebrity's height is to look at their posture. Justin often hunches. He has that "skater slouch" that shaves an inch or two off his frame.
Check out photos from his more recent "Justice" era where he's standing straight. You'll see a man who is very much "average" height. Not a giant, but certainly not the tiny kid the internet tries to make him out to be.
Actionable Insights:
- Ignore the Red Carpet: Never judge a celebrity’s height when they are on a red carpet. Between heels, hidden shoe lifts, and uneven flooring, those photos are useless for measurement.
- Look at the Shoulders: When comparing two people, look at where their shoulders line up, not their heads. Hair and hats can be deceptive.
- Check the Footwear: If you see a photo of Bieber looking 6 feet tall, look at his shoes. He’s a big fan of chunky-soled sneakers which can add over an inch of height instantly.
The obsession with his height is really just a testament to how much people still care about him. Whether he's 5'7" or 5'9", he remains one of the most successful artists of the century.