He stands on a stage in front of eighty thousand screaming fans, draped in a custom Givenchy coat or a slim-fit red blazer, and somehow, he looks like a giant. It's the hair. Or maybe the stage presence. But when you see him standing next to Bella Hadid or even a normal-sized security guard, you start to wonder. How tall is The Weeknd, really? It’s one of those things people argue about on Reddit until three in the morning.
The short answer is 5 feet 8 inches.
But height in Hollywood is never just about the tape measure. It's about optics. It’s about the boots he chooses to wear during a world tour. Abel Makkonen Tesfaye has a way of commanding a room—or an entire stadium—that makes his physical stature feel irrelevant, yet the internet remains obsessed with the numbers.
The Official Measurements: 5’8” and Why It Matters
Most reputable sources, including IMDb and various talent agency profiles from early in his career, peg him at 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm). He’s basically the average height for an American male. He isn't "short," but in an industry where leading men are often expected to be 6-foot-plus, he doesn't quite hit that towering mark.
Does he care? Probably not.
He's too busy breaking streaming records. However, fans have spent years analyzing photos of him next to other A-listers to see if that 5'8" claim actually holds water. When you look at him standing next to someone like Drake, who is a solid 6 feet tall, the four-inch difference is pretty clear. It isn't a massive gap, but it’s there.
Height often becomes a talking point for Abel because he frequently dates women who are notably tall. When he was with supermodel Bella Hadid, who is officially listed at 5’9”, they looked almost exactly the same height on the red carpet. If she wore heels? She had an inch or two on him. He never seemed to mind. In fact, he leaned into it. There’s a certain confidence in being a "short king" (though 5’8” is barely that) while dating the most famous models on the planet.
The "Starboy" Silhouette and Visual Illusions
Fashion plays a huge role in how we perceive his height. If you look back at the Beauty Behind the Madness era, his hair added a significant amount of "visual height." That freeform loc style wasn't just a signature look; it literally added three to four inches to his silhouette. It made him look taller on album covers and in music videos.
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Then came the After Hours era.
The slim-cut trousers. The pointed-toe boots with a slight Cuban heel. These are classic style moves used to elongate the frame. By wearing monochromatic outfits—like the iconic red suit—he creates a single vertical line for the eye to follow. It’s a smart move. It makes him look leaner and taller than a baggy streetwear look would.
Honestly, the camera loves him because he knows his angles. In his music videos, directors often use low-angle shots. When the camera is looking up at a performer, they appear more powerful, more imposing. It’s a trick as old as cinema itself. When you watch the "Blinding Lights" video, you aren't thinking about his height. You’re thinking about the energy.
Comparing The Weeknd to Other Pop Icons
To get a real sense of where he stands, you have to look at his peers. The music industry is full of guys who are surprisingly smaller than you’d think.
- Bruno Mars: Stands at about 5’5”. Compared to Bruno, The Weeknd looks quite tall.
- Justin Bieber: Often cited at 5’9”. When the two have been photographed near each other, they look nearly identical in stature.
- Ariana Grande: She’s about 5’0”. In the "Save Your Tears" remix video or their live performances of "Love Me Harder," Abel looks like a literal giant next to her.
It's all about context. If he's performing with a group of six-foot-tall backup dancers, he looks smaller. If he's solo on a massive stage with nothing but pyrotechnics behind him, he owns the entire space.
People always bring up the Super Bowl LV halftime show. He was weaving through that golden hall of mirrors, surrounded by dancers with bandaged faces. Because the dancers were all roughly his height or shorter, he maintained the "lead man" presence effortlessly.
Why We Are So Obsessed With Celebrity Height
Let's be real. We're a bit weird about height. There is this strange "heightism" in pop culture where fans want their idols to be larger than life in every literal sense. When we find out a superstar is "normal" height, it almost makes them feel more human.
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For The Weeknd, his height actually fits his "Starboy" persona. He’s the mysterious, late-night crooner. He doesn't need to be a 6'4" powerhouse. His power comes from his vocal range—that incredible falsetto that draws comparisons to Michael Jackson (who, for the record, was also about 5’9”).
There have been rumors—as there are with every male celebrity—that he uses shoe lifts. Some "height enthusiasts" on forums like CelebHeights analyze the heel thickness of his boots in every paparazzi shot. While he definitely wears boots with a standard 1-inch to 1.5-inch heel, there's no concrete evidence he's using hidden lifts. He seems pretty comfortable in his own skin.
The Evolution of Abel’s Image
As he’s transitioned from the underground "House of Balloons" mixtape era to being a global brand, his image has become more refined. In the early days, he was often seen in oversized hoodies and camo jackets, which tended to swallow his frame. Now, he embraces high-fashion tailoring.
Working with brands like Prada and Valentino, he’s learned that fit is everything. A well-tailored suit can make a 5'8" man look like he's 5'11". It's all about where the jacket hits the hip and how the trousers break over the shoe.
If you’re ever lucky enough to see him in person, don't expect a mountain of a man. Expect someone who carries himself with an intensity that fills the room. He has a presence that isn't tied to his vertical inches.
Summary of the Facts
If you need the quick hits for your next trivia night or a heated debate with a friend, here is the breakdown of the measurements.
The Weeknd's height is widely accepted as 5’8” (173 cm). His weight fluctuates, as it does for everyone, but he generally maintains a lean build around 160 lbs (72 kg). This combination of height and build allows him to pull off the high-fashion, avant-garde looks he’s become known for in recent years.
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While some fans might insist he looks taller, remember the "three H's" of celebrity height:
- Hair (Volume adds inches).
- Heels (Boots are a staple).
- Hemlines (Tailoring creates length).
Abel uses all three to perfection.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Fashion Enthusiasts
If you’re looking to emulate The Weeknd’s style or just want to understand the "Starboy" aesthetic better, here’s what you can take away from his approach to height and presence.
Embrace the Cuban Heel
You don't need "lifts" to add height. A quality Chelsea boot or a dress boot with a slight heel is a classic masculine look that adds an inch of height and improves posture. Abel is rarely seen in flat sneakers on the red carpet for this exact reason.
The Power of Monochromatic Outfits
If you want to look taller, stop breaking up your body with different colors. Wearing black on black, or even that famous all-red suit, prevents the "shortening" effect that happens when your torso and legs are visually separated by high-contrast colors.
Focus on Fit, Not Size
The Weeknd’s shift from baggy streetwear to slim-fit tailoring transformed his public image. For guys who aren't exceptionally tall, oversized clothing often makes them look shorter than they actually are. Proper tailoring ensures your clothes don't "wear" you.
Confidence Trumps the Tape Measure
The biggest takeaway from Abel Tesfaye isn't his height; it's his aura. He dates who he wants, wears what he wants, and performs on the world's biggest stages without ever looking like he's trying to overcompensate.
Ultimately, his 5’8” stature hasn't stopped him from becoming one of the most successful artists of the 21st century. Whether he's standing on a stage or a red carpet, he proves that how you carry yourself matters infinitely more than the number on a ruler.