Lifestyle and Preventive Health
Average Height by State 2026
Montana 70.7
Highest
Hawaii 69.0
Lowest
Men's Avg Height (in)
69.0
69.5
70.0
70.5
States Ranked by Average Height
State | Men's Avg Height 2017 (in)↓ | Men's Avg Height 2017 (ft) | Men's Avg Height 2017 (ft'in") | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Montana | 70.7 | 5.889 | 5'10.7" |
 | South Dakota | 70.7 | 5.888 | 5'10.5" |
 | Utah | 70.6 | 5.886 | 5'10.4" |
 | Nebraska | 70.6 | 5.884 | 5'10.6" |
 | Iowa | 70.6 | 5.883 | 5'10.6" |
 | Kansas | 70.6 | 5.881 | 5'10.6" |
 | Alabama | 70.5 | 5.878 | 5'10.5" |
 | Idaho | 70.5 | 5.877 | 5'10.5" |
 | Wyoming | 70.5 | 5.872 | 5'10.4" |
 | Minnesota | 70.5 | 5.871 | 5'10.4" |
 | North Dakota | 70.5 | 5.871 | 5'10.4" |
 | Mississippi | 70.4 | 5.867 | 5'10.4" |
 | Kentucky | 70.4 | 5.866 | 5'10.4" |
 | Tennessee | 70.4 | 5.866 | 5'10.4" |
 | Missouri | 70.4 | 5.865 | 5'10.4" |
 | Nevada | 70.4 | 5.864 | 5'10.3" |
 | Oklahoma | 70.4 | 5.864 | 5'10.3" |
 | Washington | 70.4 | 5.863 | 5'10.3" |
 | Colorado | 70.3 | 5.861 | 5'10.3" |
 | Oregon | 70.3 | 5.860 | 5'10.3" |
 | Wisconsin | 70.3 | 5.860 | 5'10.3" |
 | South Carolina | 70.3 | 5.859 | 5'10.3" |
 | Illinois | 70.3 | 5.858 | 5'10.3" |
 | West Virginia | 70.3 | 5.858 | 5'10.3" |
 | Michigan | 70.3 | 5.856 | 5'10.3" |
 | Indiana | 70.3 | 5.855 | 5'10.3" |
 | Ohio | 70.3 | 5.855 | 5'10.3" |
 | Virginia | 70.2 | 5.853 | 5'10.2" |
 | Georgia | 70.2 | 5.852 | 5'10.2" |
 | Pennsylvania | 70.2 | 5.851 | 5'10.2" |
 | District of Columbia | 70.2 | 5.850 | 5'10.2" |
 | Arkansas | 70.2 | 5.848 | 5'10.2" |
 | North Carolina | 70.2 | 5.847 | 5'10.2" |
 | Maryland | 70.2 | 5.846 | 5'10.1" |
 | Arizona | 70.1 | 5.842 | 5'10.1" |
 | Louisiana | 70.1 | 5.841 | 5'10.1" |
 | Maine | 70.0 | 5.837 | 5'10.0" |
 | Alaska | 70.0 | 5.836 | 5'10.0" |
 | Vermont | 70.0 | 5.836 | 5'10.0" |
 | New Hampshire | 70.0 | 5.833 | 5'10.0" |
 | Delaware | 70.0 | 5.832 | 5'10.0" |
 | Florida | 70.0 | 5.832 | 5'10.0" |
 | Massachusetts | 69.9 | 5.829 | 5'10.0" |
 | Connecticut | 69.8 | 5.814 | 5'9.8" |
 | Texas | 69.8 | 5.814 | 5'9.8" |
 | New Jersey | 69.8 | 5.813 | 5'9.8" |
 | New York | 69.7 | 5.811 | 5'9.9" |
 | Rhode Island | 69.7 | 5.810 | 5'9.7" |
 | New Mexico | 69.7 | 5.808 | 5'9.8" |
 | California | 69.6 | 5.799 | 5'9.6" |
 | Hawaii | 69.0 | 5.748 | 5'9.0" |
- Data comes from the CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2017 report. The CDC surveyed 450,000 people, asking them an array of questions including height, weight, eating habits, and physical activity level to track state level trends.
- Note that height was a self-reported category rather than clinically measured data. Given the tendency for resopndents to overestimate their height, the average totals shown may vary from actual real-world average heights.
Key Findings
Average Height for Men in America
-
The average height for men in America is approximately 5 feet 9 inches (175.3 cm), though average male height varies by state.
-
The tallest and shortest states for men differ from those for women.
Average Height for Women in America
-
The average height for women in America is approximately 5 feet 4 inches (162.6 cm).
-
The tallest women tend to be clustered in the northern plains states.
Tallest States in the US
-
Montana has the tallest average height at 70.7 inches. The three tallest states are Montana (70.7), South Dakota (70.7), and Utah (70.6).
-
States with the tallest average heights tend to have larger populations of Northern European and Scandinavian descent, where genetic factors contribute to taller stature.
Shortest States in the US
-
Hawaii has the shortest average height at 69.0 inches. The three shortest states are New Mexico (69.7), California (69.6), and Hawaii (69.0).
-
States with shorter average heights tend to have more ethnically diverse populations, as average height varies across racial and ethnic groups worldwide.
States Ranked by Average Height
State Comparison
Average height varies across states within a relatively narrow range, driven primarily by demographic composition, genetics, and childhood nutrition. Genetics account for an estimated 60-80% of a person's height, with nutrition and physical activity during childhood influencing the remainder.
Definitions & Methodology
How Is Average Height by State Measured? State-level height data comes from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), an annual survey of more than 450,000 adults that tracks health-related behaviors including height, weight, and physical activity. Height data is self-reported, meaning actual averages may be slightly lower, as men tend to over-report by about 1 inch and women by about 0.6 inches.
What Factors Affect Average Height? Genetics account for an estimated 60-80% of a person's height, with the remaining percentage influenced by childhood nutrition, healthcare access, and physical activity. Populations with better childhood nutrition and healthcare access tend to be taller on average.
Average Height for Men vs Women Men are on average about 5 inches (13 cm) taller than women in the United States. The average American man is approximately 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) and the average American woman is approximately 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm). The tallest states for men and for women are not identical, as demographic composition varies by state.
Last Updated: May 29, 2026
