Boys' growth timeline
| Age | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| 9–14 | Puberty starts (first sign: testicular growth) |
| 11–13 | Growth speeds up |
| 13–14 | Peak growth: the fastest year of growth since infancy |
| 15–16 | Growth slows; voice settles, shoulders broaden |
| 16–18 | Growth plates close; height stops |
Healthy boys can be two years either side of these ages.
Why boys finish taller than girls
Boys start their growth spurt about two years later than girls, so they get two extra years of childhood growth first, and their peak is a little faster. That is most of the 13 cm average gap between adult men and women.
How to tell how much growth is left
The surest answer comes from a doctor: a hand and wrist X-ray shows whether the growth plates are still open. Without one, a prediction from age, height, weight and parents' heights is the best estimate. Try the height predictor; if the top of your range is well above your current height, you likely have growth ahead.
Make the last growing years count
Growth hormone is released in its largest pulse early in deep sleep, and teens need 8 to 10 hours a night. Eat enough overall, with protein at each meal and enough calcium and vitamin D. These don't change your genes; they make sure you reach what they allow. More in how to grow taller.
