You’ve probably seen the profile. "6'0" because apparently that matters." It’s the unofficial mantra of dating apps across the country. But if you actually walk through a crowded grocery store in middle America or a subway station in New York, you start to notice something. There aren't nearly as many six-footers as the internet leads you to believe. Honestly, the gap between what we tell people and what the tape measure says is pretty massive.
So, what is the average height of a man in us?
If we look at the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), specifically the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the number sits right around 5 feet 9 inches (175.3 cm).
That’s it. Five-nine.
It hasn't really budged in decades. While we like to think we're evolving into a race of giants, the reality is that American men have hit a bit of a plateau. We aren't getting taller anymore. In fact, compared to some European nations like the Netherlands or Denmark, we’re actually falling behind in the global height rankings.
The 5'9" Reality Check
It’s kind of funny how 5'9" feels "short" in the context of modern social media, but in the real world, it’s the literal middle of the road. If you are 5'10", you are technically above average. If you are 6'1", you are taller than roughly 85% to 90% of the men in the United States.
The CDC’s data is rigorous. They don't just ask men how tall they are—because let’s be real, men lie about height like they lie about their bench press—they actually measure them using standardized equipment. The most recent comprehensive report, which tracked thousands of adults across various demographics, confirmed that the mean height for a U.S. male aged 20 and over is 69.1 inches.
Age matters too. You start to shrink. It’s a bit depressing, but after age 40 or 50, spinal compression and changes in bone density start taking their toll. A guy who was a proud 5'10" at his college graduation might be 5'8.5" by the time he’s collecting Social Security. When you look at the 20-39 age bracket specifically, the average is slightly higher than the total population average, but we’re still talking about fractions of an inch.
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Why the US Stopped Growing
For a long time, Americans were the tallest people on Earth. During the late 19th century and through much of the 20th, our better nutrition and relative wealth meant we towered over most of the world. But something shifted around the mid-20th century.
While countries in Northern and Central Europe continued to see their average heights climb, the average height of a man in us flattened out. Why?
It’s complicated. Researchers like John Komlos, an economic historian who has spent years studying human stature, suggest that it’s a mix of diet, healthcare, and socioeconomic inequality. While we have plenty of food, the quality of that food—especially the prevalence of processed items and "empty calories"—might not be doing our bones any favors during those crucial adolescent growth spurts.
Then there’s the healthcare system. In countries with universal prenatal care and robust pediatric support, children often reach their full genetic potential more consistently. In the U.S., the disparity in access to high-quality nutrition and healthcare means some segments of the population aren't reaching the height their DNA might have otherwise allowed.
Also, don't ignore the "melting pot" effect. The U.S. is a nation of immigrants. Different ethnic groups have different genetic height baselines. As the demographic makeup of the country shifts, the statistical average shifts with it. For example, men of Hispanic descent in the U.S. currently average about 5'7", while non-Hispanic white men average about 5'10". When you blend all these numbers together, you land back at that 5'9" mark.
The "Six-Foot" Obsession and the Tallness Premium
We have a weird obsession with the number six. In our heads, 5'11" is short and 6'0" is a titan. It’s a total psychological trick.
This obsession has real-world consequences. Economists have studied something called the "tallness premium." Basically, taller men tend to earn more money. A famous study by Timothy Judge at the University of Florida found that every inch of height is worth roughly $789 per year in salary. If you’re 6'0", you might be making thousands more than your 5'8" colleague just because your head is further from the floor.
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It’s not just money, either. It’s leadership. Look at U.S. Presidents. Since 1900, the taller candidate has won the popular vote the majority of the time. We associate height with authority, health, and dominance, even though there’s zero evidence that a guy who is 6'3" is any better at spreadsheets or diplomacy than a guy who is 5'7".
Common Height Myths We Need to Kill
- "Coffee stunts your growth." Total myth. There is no peer-reviewed evidence that caffeine affects bone growth in children. This was likely a marketing ploy by cereal companies decades ago.
- "Lifting weights makes you short." Nope. Unless you are doing extreme, unsupervised powerlifting that literally fractures a growth plate, lifting weights is actually great for bone density.
- "You can grow taller after 21." Usually not. Once your epiphyseal plates (growth plates) fuse, you are done. No amount of "stretching exercises" or expensive supplements from Instagram ads will change your bone length.
How Your Height Compares Locally
Where you live in the U.S. might actually change your perception of what "average" looks like. If you’re hanging out in the Midwest—think Iowa, Nebraska, or the Dakotas—you’re going to see a lot of tall guys. This is often attributed to the Northern European ancestry (German, Scandinavian) that is prevalent in those states.
Head over to a diverse urban center like Los Angeles or Miami, and the average height you see on the street will be lower because of the broader mix of global ancestries.
- Midwest: Higher concentrations of taller-than-average men.
- Northeast: Closely mirrors the national average.
- Southeast: Varies wildly but often slightly shorter than the northern plains.
- West Coast: High variability due to massive immigrant populations.
Measuring Yourself Properly (Because You’re Probably Doing It Wrong)
Most guys measure their height while wearing sneakers, or they do the "book on the head" trick against a door frame that isn't perfectly level. If you want to know if you actually hit the average height of a man in us, you need a real measurement.
First, do it in the morning. You are actually tallest right when you wake up because your spinal discs haven't been compressed by gravity all day. By 8:00 PM, you might be half an inch shorter than you were at 8:00 AM.
Second, lose the shoes. Stand on a hard, flat floor—not a carpet. Your heels, buttocks, shoulders, and the back of your head should all be touching the wall. Look straight ahead (don't tilt your chin up, as that actually lowers the top point of your skull). Have someone else mark the wall with a flat object like a level or a hardback book kept perfectly horizontal.
Genetics vs. Environment: The 80/20 Rule
Scientists generally agree that about 80% of your height is determined by your DNA. You have your parents to thank (or blame) for that. There are hundreds of genetic variants that influence how long your femurs grow.
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The other 20% is environmental. This is the "nurture" part of the equation. If you didn't get enough protein or certain micronutrients like Vitamin D and Calcium during your formative years, you might have missed out on an inch or two. Sleep is another big one. Growth hormone is primarily released during deep sleep. If you were a teenager staying up until 3:00 AM every night playing video games on four hours of sleep, you might have inadvertently capped your own growth.
It’s also worth noting that the U.S. is seeing an increase in childhood obesity. While extra calories can sometimes lead to an early growth spurt, it often leads to earlier puberty, which can cause growth plates to fuse sooner than they otherwise would. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword.
Moving Beyond the Number
While the average height of a man in us is a fascinating statistic, it’s just that—a statistic. It doesn't account for individual health, athleticism, or presence.
If you find yourself obsessing over the fact that you’re 5'8" in a world that seems to worship 6'0", remember that some of the most influential men in history would be considered "short" by modern American standards.
The focus shouldn't be on the raw number, but on optimizing the body you have. Posture is the biggest "cheat code" in the world. Most men walk around with a slight slouch or "nerd neck" from looking at phones. Fixing your spinal alignment can instantly make you look an inch taller and ten times more confident.
Actionable Steps for Height-Related Health
- Check your Vitamin D levels: A huge portion of the US population is deficient. Vitamin D is critical for bone health, and if you're older, it helps prevent the "shrinking" that comes with age.
- Invest in Posture: Work on your posterior chain. Strengthening your upper back and rear deltoids prevents the rounded-shoulder look that kills your height.
- Stop Comparing to Celebs: Remember that "movie magic" is real. Tom Cruise is famously around 5'7", yet he looks like a giant on screen because of camera angles and lifts.
- Focus on Proportions: If you’re on the shorter side, well-tailored clothes that don't have excess fabric will make you look taller. Baggy jeans and oversized shirts make you look shorter than you actually are.
The data is clear. 5'9" is the mark. If you're there, you're exactly where you're supposed to be. If you're not, you're in good company with millions of others. Height is a static number, but how you carry that height is entirely up to you.
Keep an eye on the CDC’s biennial reports if you want to see how these trends shift. As nutrition science and demographics continue to evolve, we might eventually see the U.S. start to climb back up the global charts, but for now, 5'9" remains the definitive American standard.