Ever watch How I Met Your Mother and wonder if Barney Stinson is actually as "legendary" in stature as he is in personality? It's a weird thing about Hollywood. Camera angles, lifts in shoes, and even the height of co-stars can totally mess with your perception.
When it comes to neil patrick harris height, the internet is surprisingly divided for such a specific number. You'll see 5'11" on some sites. Others swear he’s a solid 6 feet. Honestly, the difference might seem small, but in the world of celebrity measurements, an inch is basically a mile.
The Official Number vs. The Eye Test
Most official casting agencies and talent databases, like RB Casting, list Neil Patrick Harris at 183 cm. If you're doing the math in your head, that's almost exactly 6 feet tall.
But here’s the thing.
Fans who have met him in person—especially at Broadway stage doors or during his various hosting gigs—often report that he feels just a hair shorter than that. Maybe 5'11" or 5'11.5". It’s not that he’s short by any means. It’s just that Hollywood has a funny habit of rounding up. If you're 5'11", your agent is definitely putting 6'0" on your resume. That's just how the business works.
He has a very lean, slender build. This often makes people look taller than they actually are. Because he’s fit and has great posture—likely from years of theater and dance training—he carries himself with a presence that commands the room.
How He Measures Up to Co-Stars
To really get a feel for neil patrick harris height, you have to look at him standing next to people we know the measurements of.
Take Jason Segel, who played Marshall Eriksen. Segel is a verified giant at 6'4". Whenever Barney and Marshall stood side-by-side, the height difference was pretty obvious, but Harris didn't exactly look tiny. If Harris were actually "short," Segel would have towered over him way more than he did.
Then you have his husband, David Burtka. Burtka is reportedly around 5'10". When they walk red carpets together, they look remarkably similar in height, though Harris usually has about an inch or two on him.
- Jason Segel: 6'4" (Towering over NPH)
- Josh Radnor: 6'0" (Virtually identical to NPH)
- Cobie Smulders: 5'8" (NPH is clearly taller, even when she wears heels)
Basically, if Neil Patrick Harris isn't a full 6 feet, he's so close to it that the distinction barely matters. He's firmly in that "tall-average" range for American men.
💡 You might also like: The Leonardo DiCaprio Diddy Party Photos: What’s Actually Real and What’s Just Internet Noise
Why Do People Care About His Height Anyway?
It’s kind of a weird obsession, right?
But for NPH, his physical presence is a huge part of his career. Think about Count Olaf in A Series of Unfortunate Events. He had to be imposing, creepy, and physically lanky. His height helped him pull off those bizarre, spindly costumes.
In Hedwig and the Angry Inch, he had to dominate a stage while wearing massive heels. If he were actually a short guy, the "rock goddess" persona might have felt different. Instead, he looked like a long-limbed, powerful force of nature.
He's not a "short king" and he's not a "huge guy." He's just... Neil.
The Magic of Proportions
One reason for the confusion is that Neil Patrick Harris is a magician. No, really—he’s a former President of the Board of Directors of Hollywood’s Magic Castle.
💡 You might also like: Peyton List Bra Size: Why Celeb Measurement Rumors Are Usually Total Guesswork
Magicians know everything about misdirection and how to control how people see them. While he probably isn't using "magic" to look taller, he certainly knows how to use his body. He wears well-tailored suits that create a long vertical line. He doesn't slouch.
If you see him in baggy clothes or a casual hoodie, he might look "shorter" simply because his frame is so thin. But put him in a tuxedo for the Oscars, and he looks like he's 6'2". It's all about the presentation.
Facts You Can Rely On
If you need the hard data for your next trivia night or just to settle a bet with your roommate, here it is:
- IMDb and Agency Stats: Consistently list him at 6'0" (1.83m).
- Real-World Comparisons: He stands level with 6-foot actors and is noticeably taller than his 5'10" husband.
- Physical Build: His 170-175 lb frame makes him appear lanky and taller than a stockier person of the same height.
There’s no evidence he uses lifts or any "short actor" tricks. He just happens to be a naturally tall-ish guy who knows how to dress.
What We Can Learn From NPH's Stature
Height is just one of those things we use to categorize people, but Neil Patrick Harris has spent his whole career breaking categories. He was a child star who actually stayed famous. He's a comedic actor who can do gritty drama. He's a Broadway legend who can host a game show.
Whether he's exactly 72 inches or 71.5 inches doesn't change the fact that he has a massive professional footprint.
If you're looking to match his style, pay attention to his tailoring. He favors slim-cut suits with narrow lapels. This is a classic trick for anyone—at any height—to look more streamlined and tall. He also sticks to monochromatic looks or dark colors that don't "break up" his frame.
Actionable Insights for the Curious:
Check out his red carpet appearances from the 2024-2025 season. You'll notice he’s leaning into more structured silhouettes that emphasize his shoulders. If you're trying to gauge his height for a costume or a creative project, use 183 cm as your baseline for scaling. Most importantly, remember that "stage presence" has nothing to do with how many inches you are from the floor. It’s about how you hold the space you’re in.