Height Weight Percentile Calculator (Age 2-20)
Determine height, weight, and BMI percentiles relative to standard growth charts. Monitor your child's development against global standards.
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Calculated Percentiles
Height Percentile
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Weight Percentile
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BMI Percentile
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What Percentiles Tell You About Growth
Growth percentiles are a fundamental tool in pediatric health used to assess a child's physical development. They are calculated by comparing a child's measurements (height, weight, or Body Mass Index/BMI) to standardized reference data compiled from thousands of healthy children of the same age and sex.
A child's percentile score indicates the percentage of children of the same age and sex who are smaller (or lighter) than them. For example, a child in the **75th percentile for weight** means they weigh more than 75% of their peers. Scores typically considered normal or healthy fall between the **5th and 95th percentiles**.
The **BMI percentile** is particularly important. Unlike standard adult BMI, which uses static cut-offs, BMI percentile accounts for the natural changes in body composition that occur as a child grows. It is the best way to screen for overweight, obesity, and underweight in children and adolescents, guiding pediatricians to potentially recommend nutritional or activity changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Growth percentiles are measurements used to compare a child's size (height, weight, or BMI) to the average for children of the same age and sex. For instance, being in the 50th percentile for height means a child is taller than 50% of their peers.
BMI percentile is the most common tool used to screen children for potential weight issues (underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obesity) because it accounts for both height and weight relative to age and sex, which simple adult BMI does not.
In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) charts are commonly used for children aged 2 years and older. For infants and children under 2 years old, the World Health Organization (WHO) charts are often preferred as they better reflect optimal growth patterns.
A score below the 5th percentile (like 3rd percentile) often suggests that the child is below the typically accepted range for that measure, potentially indicating underweight or stunted growth, and should be discussed with a pediatrician.