Average Toddler and Preschooler Height & Weight by Age
A practical reference for parents tracking growth from 12 months through age 5 — what's normal, what's not, and how percentiles really work.
What "Average" Really Means at This Age
Pediatricians use percentile charts from the World Health Organization (WHO) for children under 2 and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) charts for ages 2 and up. The 50th percentile is the median — half of healthy children are above, half below. Any value between the 3rd and 97th percentile is well within the normal range.
Parents often ask whether their child is "too short" or "too small." Usually the answer is no. A toddler in the 25th percentile is just as healthy as one in the 75th — as long as growth follows a steady curve over time. Genetics, ethnicity, parental height, and the timing of growth spurts all factor in.
Average Height by Age (50th Percentile)
| Age | Boys | Girls |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months | 29.8 in (75.7 cm) | 29.1 in (74.0 cm) |
| 18 months | 32.4 in (82.3 cm) | 31.8 in (80.7 cm) |
| 2 years | 34.6 in (87.8 cm) | 34.0 in (86.4 cm) |
| 2½ years | 36.4 in (92.4 cm) | 35.9 in (91.3 cm) |
| 3 years | 37.8 in (96.1 cm) | 37.4 in (95.1 cm) |
| 3½ years | 39.3 in (99.9 cm) | 38.9 in (98.9 cm) |
| 4 years | 40.7 in (103.3 cm) | 40.4 in (102.7 cm) |
| 4½ years | 42.0 in (106.7 cm) | 41.8 in (106.2 cm) |
| 5 years | 43.3 in (110.0 cm) | 43.1 in (109.4 cm) |
Average Weight by Age (50th Percentile)
| Age | Boys | Girls |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months | 21.3 lb (9.7 kg) | 19.7 lb (8.9 kg) |
| 18 months | 24.1 lb (10.9 kg) | 22.6 lb (10.2 kg) |
| 2 years | 26.8 lb (12.2 kg) | 25.4 lb (11.5 kg) |
| 2½ years | 29.3 lb (13.3 kg) | 28.0 lb (12.7 kg) |
| 3 years | 31.6 lb (14.3 kg) | 30.5 lb (13.9 kg) |
| 3½ years | 33.7 lb (15.3 kg) | 33.1 lb (15.0 kg) |
| 4 years | 36.0 lb (16.3 kg) | 35.6 lb (16.2 kg) |
| 4½ years | 38.1 lb (17.3 kg) | 38.2 lb (17.3 kg) |
| 5 years | 40.4 lb (18.3 kg) | 40.7 lb (18.5 kg) |
Parent takeaway: These are median values — the middle of the bell curve. A child who is consistently smaller or larger than average can still be perfectly healthy. What matters is whether they track along their own percentile band over time.
Enter your child's measurements to see their percentiles for both height and weight. Based on WHO Child Growth Standards for ages 12 to 60 months.
Enter the values above and tap Calculate Percentiles.
How Growth Changes from Toddler to Preschooler
Growth slows noticeably after the first year. In the first 12 months a baby triples their birth weight and gains about 10 inches. From 12 months on, the pace changes:
When Growth Concerns a Pediatrician
Pediatricians plot growth at every well-child visit precisely so a single low or high number isn't taken out of context. The patterns that genuinely warrant a closer look are:
What Affects Toddler and Preschooler Growth
Growth at this age is shaped by a few major factors. Most are not under a parent's control, and that's part of why pediatricians focus on the trend rather than the number:
Tips for Healthy Growth at This Age
References
Frequently Asked Questions
The average American 2-year-old boy is about 34.6 inches (87.8 cm) tall and the average girl is about 34 inches (86.4 cm). Anywhere between roughly 31.5 and 37.5 inches (3rd to 97th percentile) is considered normal at this age.
Being below the 50th percentile is not "small" — that just means below average, which by definition half of children are. A genuine concern is when a child is persistently below the 3rd percentile, has dropped two or more percentile bands between visits, or shows other signs like fatigue, illness, or feeding difficulties. Bring measurements to your pediatrician rather than judging from a single chart.
Weight concerns at this age usually come from one of three patterns: weight that has crossed two or more percentile bands upward or downward, weight that is persistently above the 97th or below the 3rd percentile, or weight changing out of proportion to height. BMI-for-age starts to be used clinically around age 2, and a pediatrician can interpret it in context. A chubby toddler who is otherwise active and growing well is rarely a clinical concern.
The average American 3-year-old boy weighs about 31.6 pounds (14.3 kg) and the average girl weighs about 30.5 pounds (13.9 kg). The normal range at this age stretches roughly from 25 to 40 pounds (3rd to 97th percentile).
From age 1 to 2, expect roughly 5 inches of growth and 5 pounds of weight gain. From age 2 to 5, the pace settles to about 2.5 to 3 inches and 4 to 5 pounds per year. Growth at this age happens in short spurts rather than steady increments, so day-to-day or week-to-week measurements aren't useful.
