About 16% of adult men in the United States are 6’0″ (72 inches) or taller, based on measured height data from the CDC. The average American man is 68.9 inches, or just under 5’9″. Below is how common each height is, and how it compares with women.
Share of US men at or above each height
| Height | Share of men at or above this height (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 5’6″ | 84% |
| 5’8″ | 62% |
| 5’10” | 37% |
| 6’0″ | 16% |
| 6’2″ | 4% |
Shares are interpolated from the CDC’s published percentile table for men 20 and older and rounded. The published 85th percentile is 72.1 inches, which is why about 15% to 16% of men reach 6’0″.
For comparison: US women
The average American woman is 63.5 inches (5’3.5″). Roughly 43% of women are 5’4″ or taller, about 19% are 5’6″ or taller, and about 5% are 5’8″ or taller, using the same method.
Why published figures differ
Surveys that ask people their height often report higher numbers than measured data, because people tend to round up. The CDC’s NHANES survey measures participants with a stadiometer, which is why we use it. Averages also vary slightly between survey years and by age group, since older adults tend to be shorter.
Frequently asked questions
Is 6 feet tall for a man in the US?
Yes. At 6’0″ a man is taller than roughly 84% of adult US men, which puts him around the 84th percentile.
What is the average height of an American man?
68.9 inches (about 5’9″) for men 20 and older, according to the CDC’s 2021 to 2023 measurements.
See how height affects your pool
Height is one of several traits that shrink the group of people who match your preferences. Use our dating standards calculator to see how it combines with age, income and education, and read the methodology for how the numbers work.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Anthropometric Reference Data, August 2021 to August 2023, Table 8.