Children's Height and Weight Chart
This page provides children’s height and weight charts to help parents and carers understand typical growth patterns for school-aged children and adolescents.
Written by: Dr Vivek Akkera, Paediatrician, MBBS, MD, FRACP
Published: 04 February 2026
Summary
- Children’s height and weight charts are reference tools that help track growth patterns over time, not measures of what is ideal or normal.
- Every child grows at their own pace based on genetics, nutrition, overall health, and developmental timing.
- Percentiles show where a child’s measurements sit within the population range, and healthy children can fall anywhere across these percentiles.
- What matters most is consistency in a child’s own growth pattern over months and years, rather than any single measurement.
- Growth charts are screening tools only and should always be interpreted by a qualified healthcare professional.
- Parents and carers with concerns about their child’s growth should speak with their paediatrician for proper assessment.
DISCLAIMER: This article is for general information only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have concerns about your child’s development, behaviour, or learning, speak with a paediatrician or a qualified healthcare professional.
What Is the Ideal Height and Weight for a Child?
There is no single ideal height or weight for a child. Growth is influenced by factors such as genetics, nutrition, physical activity, overall health, and development, which means healthy children of the same age can vary considerably in size. What matters most is that a child follows a consistent growth pattern over time.
Children’s height and weight charts help track this growth by comparing a child’s measurements with those of other children of the same age and sex. Rather than defining a perfect height or weight, these charts use percentiles to monitor whether growth is progressing as expected and identify any changes that may warrant further assessment.
CDC Children's Height and Weight Charts
The children’s height and weight chart information on this page uses data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These charts cover ages 2 to 20 years and are among the most widely used growth references for school-aged children and adolescents in clinical and educational settings.
The CDC charts are based on large-scale population studies and provide age- and sex-specific percentile curves. Healthcare providers use these charts to track whether a child’s growth pattern falls within expected ranges and to identify any significant changes over time. The charts are designed for ongoing monitoring rather than one-off assessments.
Weight-for-Age and Height-for-Age Charts
Weight-for-age and height-for-age charts track two separate growth measures over time. Weight-for-age shows how a child’s weight compares to other children of the same age and sex. Height-for-age shows how a child’s height (or length, for younger children measured lying down) compares to peers.
These charts use percentiles to represent where a child’s measurement sits within the population distribution. For example, a child at the 50th percentile is at the midpoint, with half of children heavier or taller and half lighter or shorter. A child at the 10th percentile or the 90th percentile may both be growing healthily, as long as they follow a consistent pattern over time.
Individual measurements vary, and percentiles are not grades or scores. Children naturally fall across the full range of percentiles. What health professionals look for is consistency in a child’s growth curve and whether any significant changes occur that might warrant further review.
Weight-for-Age and Height-for-Age (Girls)
Weight-for-age indicates how a girl’s weight compares to other girls of the same age. Height-for-age shows her height relative to peers. Both measures help track whether physical growth is progressing as expected over the years.
Percentiles should be understood as reference points, not targets. A girl tracking along the 25th percentile throughout childhood is following her own healthy growth pattern. Concern arises only if there are sudden or sustained changes, such as crossing multiple percentile lines upward or downward without clear explanation.
Growth patterns for girls often change during puberty, typically between ages 8 and 13. Height and weight may increase rapidly during this period, which is a normal part of development.
PDF: Girls CDC charts 2–20 year olds Weight for age and Height for age
Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov)
Weight-for-Age and Height-for-Age (Boys)
Weight-for-age and height-for-age charts for boys function the same way as those for girls, tracking how a boy’s measurements compare to others his age. Boys typically experience puberty slightly later than girls, often between ages 9 and 14, with corresponding changes in growth velocity.
A boy’s position on the growth chart is less important than the consistency of his growth over time. Whether he tracks along the 15th percentile or the 85th percentile, steady progress within his own range is what matters. Significant deviations from an established pattern are what healthcare professionals assess during routine check-ups.
PDF: Boys CDC charts 2–20 year olds Weight for age and Height for age
Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov)
BMI-for-Age Charts
BMI-for-age is a calculated measure that relates weight to height, adjusted for age and sex. It is used alongside height and weight charts to provide a more complete picture of a child’s growth and body composition. Unlike adult BMI, which uses fixed thresholds, BMI-for-age in children and adolescents is interpreted using percentile curves because body composition changes significantly during development.
BMI-for-age helps health professionals identify children who may be underweight or overweight relative to their height and age. However, it is a screening tool only and does not account for individual factors such as muscle mass, bone density, or natural body type. A single BMI-for-age measurement should never be used in isolation to make health decisions.
Age- and sex-specific interpretation is essential because children’s bodies change dramatically as they grow. A BMI value that might be typical for a 6-year-old could be quite different for a 14-year-old, even if both are developing healthily.
BMI-for-Age (Girls)
BMI-for-age for girls tracks the relationship between weight and height throughout childhood and adolescence. Percentiles indicate where a girl’s BMI sits compared to other girls of the same age. Like other growth measures, consistent tracking within a percentile range is more important than the specific percentile itself.
BMI-for-age should be interpreted cautiously. It does not distinguish between weight from muscle, bone, or fat, and it does not reflect fitness, health behaviours, or overall wellbeing. Healthcare professionals use it as one piece of information alongside other assessments.
PDF: Girls CDC charts 2 – 20 year olds BMI for age
Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov)
BMI-for-Age (Boys)
BMI-for-age for boys follows the same principles as for girls, with percentile curves adjusted to reflect male growth patterns. Boys often experience changes in muscle mass and body composition during puberty that affect BMI, particularly between ages 12 and 16.
As with all growth measures, BMI-for-age is most useful when tracked over time. A single measurement provides limited insight. Healthcare professionals look at trends, consistency, and any significant shifts that might suggest a need for further review.
PDF: Boys CDC charts 2 – 20 year olds BMI for age
Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov)
When Growth Charts May Need Further Review
Certain patterns may prompt healthcare providers to take a closer look at a child’s growth. These include noticeable changes in trajectory, such as a child who has been tracking steadily along one percentile curve for years and then begins crossing multiple percentile lines upward or downward.
Other situations that might warrant review include persistent concerns about weight gain or loss, significant changes in eating or activity patterns, or growth that appears markedly different from family patterns. If weight concerns arise, a healthcare provider may discuss child weight management as part of a broader assessment of health and development.
It is important to remember that growth charts are screening tools, not diagnostic instruments. Only a qualified health professional can assess whether a child’s growth pattern reflects healthy development or requires further investigation. Parents and carers with ongoing concerns should seek guidance from their paediatrician.
Paediatrician, MBBS, MD, FRACP
Dr Vivek Akkera is a Consultant General Paediatrician and Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP), with over 16 years of clinical experience in paediatric care across India, the United Kingdom, and Australia. He has worked extensively within the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, managing a broad range of general paediatric, neonatal, and developmental presentations. Dr Akkera has a particular clinical interest in neonatology, developmental and behavioural paediatrics, and autism assessment, and holds specialised training in ADOS-2. His practice focuses on evidence-based care tailored to the individual needs of children and families.