How Tall Should a 14-Year-Old Boy Be?

By Toni Kim, MD and Kelli Davis, DO, board-certified pediatric endocrinologists at LIFE Pediatric Endocrinology

The quick answer

The average 14-year-old boy is about 5 feet 4½ inches (164 cm) tall on his 14th birthday, according to CDC growth charts. By his 15th birthday, the average rises to about 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm).

That average hides a wide range. A healthy 14-year-old boy can stand anywhere from about 4'11" to 5'9½". That is a spread of more than 10 inches between the 5th and 95th percentiles, the widest of any age in childhood.

So the more useful question is not "Is my son average?" It is "Is my son growing the way he should be, at the right pace, for him?"

Height chart for 14-year-old boys

The table shows CDC height percentiles for boys at their 14th and 15th birthdays. A boy at the 50th percentile is taller than half of boys his age and shorter than the other half.

Source: CDC Growth Charts, stature-for-age, boys 2 to 20 years. Values are calculated from the CDC's published LMS reference data and rounded to the nearest half inch.

A single number on this chart tells you where your son stands today. It does not tell you where he is headed. That takes a series of measurements over time, which is why we ask every family for at least five years of growth history.

Why heights vary so much at 14

Fourteen is the age when boys are furthest apart in height because they are furthest apart in puberty. Some have nearly finished their growth spurt. Others have not started.

In a long-term study that measured the same boys year after year, the average age of peak growth was 14.0. But 95% of boys hit their peak somewhere within a four-year window, roughly ages 12 to 16. At the peak, boys grow about 9 cm, or 3½ inches, in a single year (Belgian longitudinal growth standards).

Picture a ninth-grade class. One boy grew four inches last year and is shaving. Another has barely changed since sixth grade. Both can be completely healthy. They are simply on different clocks.

That is why a 14-year-old's height on its own says so little. What matters is where he is in puberty, how fast he is growing, and how much growth his bones still have left.

Early bloomers, late bloomers, and the boys in between

Early bloomers start puberty around 9 to 11. They often look tall at 12 and 13, then stop growing earlier, so their peers catch up.

Late bloomers start puberty at 13 or 14 and may be among the shortest in their class through middle school. Doctors call this constitutional delay of growth and puberty. It often runs in families, and many of these boys catch up and reach a normal adult height.

But "late bloomer" is a diagnosis that should only be made after other causes are ruled out. Growth hormone deficiency, thyroid problems, celiac disease, and hormone conditions can all look like a late bloomer at first glance. We explain the difference in our guide to delayed puberty in boys.

The first sign of puberty in boys is testicular enlargement, which most parents never notice. Body odor, acne, and a deeper voice come later. For the full sequence, see our guide to puberty in boys.

What if my son is below average?

Being below average is not a problem by itself. Half of all healthy boys are below the 50th percentile. What deserves a closer look is the pattern, not the position.

These are the signs we take seriously in a 14-year-old boy:

• Height below the 3rd percentile, or well below where you would expect based on both parents' heights.
• Falling across percentile lines. A boy who tracked the 50th percentile for years and now sits at the 10th has slowed down. That change matters more than the number.
• Slow growth. Growing less than about 2 inches (5 cm) in a year, especially without signs of puberty.
• No signs of puberty by 14. This is the standard definition of delayed puberty in boys.
• Other symptoms alongside slow growth, such as fatigue, weight gain, frequent headaches, vision changes, or stomach problems.

If any of these sound familiar, a growth evaluation is worth doing now rather than later.

Why we don't believe in "wait and see"

Many families hear the same advice: he's probably a late bloomer, let's measure him again next year. This approach is called watchful waiting, and it is common.

Sometimes waiting is the right call. But at LIFE, we believe it should be a decision made after a full evaluation, not a substitute for one.

Here is why. A boy's growth plates close for good at the end of puberty. Treatments like growth hormone and aromatase inhibitors work only while those plates are open, and they work best when started early. At 14, a year of waiting is not a neutral choice. It can be a year of growth potential that cannot be recovered.

Most parents who come to us after being told to wait were right to trust their instincts. A clear answer, even a reassuring one, is always better than another year of wondering.

How we evaluate a 14-year-old's growth

A complete growth evaluation answers three questions: how much growth is left, what is driving or limiting it, and whether anything needs treatment. At LIFE, that evaluation has five parts.

1. Growth history. We review at least five years of measurements from your pediatrician. One height is a snapshot. Five years of heights show the trend, which is where most answers are found. We also calculate your son's genetic target from both parents' heights.

2. Physical exam and puberty staging. We examine your son and determine exactly where he is in puberty. A 14-year-old who has not started puberty and one in the middle of it need very different plans.

3. Bone age X-ray. A single X-ray of the left hand and wrist shows how mature your son's bones are compared with his actual age. If a 14-year-old has a bone age of 12, he likely has more growth ahead than his height suggests. If his bone age is 16, his growth plates are closer to closing. Bone age is the single most useful tool for predicting adult height and for timing treatment.

4. Labs. Blood work looks for hidden causes of slow growth. A typical panel includes:

• IGF-1 and IGFBP-3, which screen for growth hormone deficiency
• Thyroid function (TSH and free T4)
• A celiac disease screen, since celiac can slow growth with few stomach symptoms
• A complete blood count, metabolic panel, and markers of inflammation
• Puberty hormones (LH, FSH, and testosterone) when puberty seems delayed

Because we take an integrative approach, we also look at nutrition, sleep, and metabolic health. A boy who isn't eating enough to fuel his growth, or who sleeps six hours a night, may not be reaching his potential even with normal labs.

5. Growth hormone deficiency testing, when needed. If labs and growth patterns point toward growth hormone deficiency, the next step is a growth hormone stimulation test. Your son receives medications that normally trigger growth hormone release, and we measure how his body responds over a few hours. Pediatric Endocrine Society guidelines advise against relying on this test alone, so we interpret it alongside his growth pattern, bone age, and IGF-1 (Grimberg et al., 2016). If deficiency is confirmed, an MRI of the pituitary gland usually follows.

Treatment options for boys who aren't growing as expected

Treatment depends on the cause, your son's bone age, and your family's goals. Not every boy needs medication, and the right plan for one boy can be wrong for another.

Growth hormone (HGH)

Growth hormone is the most established treatment for boys who are not growing well. The FDA has approved it for children with growth hormone deficiency since 1985, and for idiopathic short stature, meaning very short height with no identified cause, since 2003 (Grimberg & Allen, 2017).

For boys with true growth hormone deficiency, treatment does more than add height. It supports healthy body composition, bone strength, and energy. Treatment is given as a small injection under the skin, either daily or, for many children with deficiency, once a week with newer long-acting forms.

Timing matters. Growth hormone can only add height while the growth plates are open. At 14, a boy may have only a few years of growth left, which is why we move from evaluation to a decision without delay.

Aromatase inhibitors

In boys, estrogen made from testosterone is what eventually closes the growth plates. Aromatase inhibitors, such as anastrozole and letrozole, lower estrogen production. This can slow bone maturation and give a boy more time to grow.

These medications are used off-label for height, so they are prescribed only for carefully selected boys who are already in puberty. That often means boys whose bone age is advancing quickly or whose predicted adult height falls well short of their genetic target. They are frequently combined with growth hormone. The research is still developing, and results vary from boy to boy, so treatment requires close monitoring of bone age, hormone levels, and side effects (Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2024).

Used thoughtfully, aromatase inhibitors give us another tool during the narrow window when it can still make a difference.

Nutrition, sleep, and lifestyle

Medication works best on a strong foundation. Growth hormone is released mainly during deep sleep, so a teenager who stays up late on his phone may be shortchanging his growth. A boy who doesn't eat enough protein and calories for a growing body, or who is low in iron, zinc, or vitamin D, may not respond as well to any treatment.

Our physicians hold nutrition certifications and address food, sleep, and activity inside the medical visit. We treat to your family's goals and values, whether that means medication, lifestyle changes alone, or both.

When reassurance is the right answer

Sometimes a full evaluation shows a healthy late bloomer with a delayed bone age and plenty of growth ahead. In that case, the plan may be monitoring, with a clear timeline and specific checkpoints. The difference is that you will know why you are waiting, what we are watching for, and when we will act.

The LIFE approach: built around the window

Every growth decision has a deadline set by the growth plates. Our entire approach is designed so that families never lose time they cannot get back.

That shapes how we practice:

• We evaluate first. Every boy with a growth concern gets a full workup before anyone decides to wait. Watching is a choice we make with data, never a default.
• We look at the whole history. We gather years of growth data, not a single height, because the trend reveals what one visit can miss.
• We move quickly. When a boy needs treatment, we don't schedule the next step six months out. Families have direct access to their physician, and plans move at the pace a closing window requires.
• We follow closely. Bone age, labs, and growth are rechecked on a set schedule, so the plan adjusts as your son changes.
• We treat the whole child. Medication, nutrition, sleep, and your family's values are part of every plan.

Why families come to us from across the country

LIFE is the first national concierge pediatric endocrinology practice. We see families in person at our offices in Atlanta, Austin, Nashville, Beverly Hills, and Newport Beach, and through telemedicine nationwide. Many families travel to establish care with us, often after being told to wait and feeling that their child was being overlooked.

What they are looking for is simple: a physician who takes the time to listen, looks at the full picture, and acts while action still matters. Many come to us for a second opinion and stay because they finally have a clear plan.

Get a clear answer about your son's growth

If your son is below the 3rd percentile, has slowed down, or shows no signs of puberty at 14, an evaluation now gives you the most options. Our physicians will review his full growth history, explain exactly where he stands, and build a plan around your family's goals.

Schedule a growth consultation with LIFE

Curious how tall your son may be as an adult? Try our child height calculator for an estimate based on his height and both parents' heights.

Related reading: Puberty in boys: what parents should know · Delayed puberty in boys

Frequently asked questions

What is the average height for a 14-year-old boy?

The average 14-year-old boy is about 5 feet 4½ inches (164 cm) tall at his 14th birthday and about 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) at his 15th, based on CDC growth charts. Healthy boys this age range from about 4'11" to 5'9½".

How much will a 14-year-old boy still grow?

It depends on where he is in puberty. On average, boys grow about 2½ inches between ages 14 and 15 and about 5 inches between 14 and adulthood. A late bloomer may have much more growth ahead. A bone age X-ray gives the most accurate estimate.

Is 5 feet short for a 14-year-old boy?

A 14-year-old boy who is 5 feet tall is around the 8th percentile, which is shorter than average but within the normal range. The more important question is whether he is growing at a healthy rate and following his own curve. An evaluation can tell you whether he is a late bloomer or whether something is slowing his growth.

When do boys stop growing?

Most boys reach their adult height between 16 and 18, when their growth plates close. Boys who start puberty late may keep growing into their late teens.

Can a 14-year-old still benefit from growth hormone?

Yes, if his growth plates are still open and he has a condition that growth hormone treats, such as growth hormone deficiency. Because the window narrows each year, early evaluation gives him the most benefit.

What is a bone age X-ray?

A bone age X-ray is a single image of the left hand and wrist. It shows how mature a child's bones are compared with his actual age, which helps predict adult height and how much growth is left. It uses a very small amount of radiation.

Should we wait and see if he's a late bloomer?

We recommend an evaluation first. Many boys are healthy late bloomers, but conditions like growth hormone deficiency, thyroid disease, and celiac disease can look the same at first. A bone age and labs can tell the difference, and waiting can cost growth time that cannot be recovered.

About the authors

Toni Kim, MD, is the founder of LIFE Pediatric Endocrinology and a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist with more than 20 years of experience. Her focus is growth and puberty, and she is known for an integrative approach that pairs medications such as growth hormone and aromatase inhibitors with nutrition and lifestyle medicine.

Kelli Davis, DO, is board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology. She trained in Vanderbilt's Program for Pediatric Metabolic Bone Disorders and focuses on growth disorders and bone health, continuing LIFE's integrative approach to growth and puberty.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Growth Charts: stature-for-age, boys 2 to 20 years.
2. Clinical standards for growth velocity in height of Belgian boys and girls, aged 2 to 18 years. International Journal of Anthropology.
3. Grimberg A, DiVall SA, Polychronakos C, et al. Guidelines for growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I treatment in children and adolescents. Pediatric Endocrine Society; Hormone Research in Paediatrics, 2016.
4. Grimberg A, Allen DB. Growth hormone treatment for growth hormone deficiency and idiopathic short stature: new guidelines shaped by the presence and absence of evidence. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 2017.
5. Aromatase inhibitor monotherapy to augment height in boys: does it work and is it safe? Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2024.
6. The use of aromatase inhibitors in boys with short stature: what to know before prescribing? Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child's growth is different. Talk with a qualified physician about your child's specific situation before making any treatment decisions.