Yes. Most people begin to lose a little height from around age 40, at roughly a little under half an inch (about 1.2cm) per decade, according to Harvard Health, and the loss often speeds up later. It happens mainly in the spine. A small, steady loss is common, but a fast or large one is worth discussing with a doctor.
How much height do people lose?
There is no single number, because the evidence comes from different groups and measures. The most quoted rule of thumb, from Harvard Health, is that after 40 people lose a little less than half an inch with each decade. Other published figures come from specific studies.
| Source | Group | What it reports |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard Health | Adults after 40 | A little less than 0.5 inch (about 1.2cm) lost per decade |
| Harvard Health | Adults in general | “Around age 40, most people lose some height”; the decline often accelerates in later decades |
| Buffalo OsteoPerio study (PMC) | 1,024 postmenopausal women, mean age 65.9 | Average loss of 0.4 inches (about 1cm) over an average of 5.1 years |
| Same study | Same women | 6.8% (70 women) lost at least 1 inch (2.5cm) in that period |
The study reports that height loss is more marked in women than in men and cites research placing the start at around age 43 in women. It also notes that the rate accelerates with age.
What this looks like over a lifetime
A simple sum on the Harvard rule of thumb gives the scale. Four decades from 40 to 80 at a little under half an inch each would total a little under two inches, or roughly 4 to 5cm. That is arithmetic on a rule of thumb, not a measured result, and because the loss often speeds up, some people lose more and others less.
| Name | Height |
|---|---|
| Age 40 | 175.1 cm |
| Age 80 (illustrative, 4cm lost) | 171.1 cm |
To work out the exact difference between your height now and in the past, the height difference calculator shows the gap in centimetres, inches and as a percentage.
Why do we get shorter?
Harvard Health says the loss happens mainly in the spine, and that several factors contribute. Two are named:
Bone loss and osteoporosis. When bones thin, the vertebrae can be crushed in what are called compression fractures, which shorten the spine. Harvard notes that most of these happen without a known injury or obvious symptoms, so a gradual loss of height can be the first sign.
Posture. Stooping, for instance after long periods at a computer, and weak back and abdominal muscles can make you look and measure shorter.
The article does not break down how much each factor contributes, and neither does this page. What it supports is a general picture: some of the loss is structural, and some can be influenced by posture and strength.
Can you slow it down?
Harvard Health’s suggestions are to eat calcium-rich foods, get enough vitamin D, stay physically active, and ask your doctor about a bone density test if you have not had one. A bone density scan can show whether you need medication for thinning bones, and a daily vitamin D supplement may be worth asking about. These are general suggestions, and a doctor can advise on what suits you.
Nothing here can reverse structural loss, and this site does not promote any product that claims to. If you are curious about the other end of the age range, see can you grow taller after 18.
How to track your own height
A yearly measurement taken the same way is the best way to spot a real change. Measure barefoot against a flat wall, at the same time of day, because height varies slightly across the day: you measure a little taller in the morning than at night, as explained in why you are shorter in the evening. Our guide to measuring your height accurately at home covers the method.
A one-off reading that is 1cm lower than last time is within normal measurement error. A pattern across several years, or a drop of an inch or more, is more meaningful.
When to see a doctor
Mention height loss to a GP if it is quick, if it comes with sudden or severe back pain, or if you have other reasons to be concerned about your bones, such as being post-menopausal. Harvard Health notes that a vertebra can sometimes collapse suddenly and be painful. A doctor can arrange a bone density scan if it is appropriate. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Does the percentile calculator account for this?
Not by age within adulthood. The CDC/NHANES adult reference used on this site is a single aggregate for everyone aged 20 and over, so an 80-year-old is compared with the same adult median as a 30-year-old. If an older person’s height looks low on the calculator, part of the reason may be height loss and part may be that older generations were on average shorter.
Method and sources
All quantities on this page come from the three linked sources. Harvard Health provides the “a little less than half an inch per decade” figure, the “around age 40” onset, the spine as the main site, and the named causes. The Buffalo OsteoPerio analysis provides the sample, the 0.4-inch mean loss over 5.1 years and the 6.8% who lost at least an inch. The 4 to 5cm lifetime figure is this site’s own arithmetic on the Harvard rule of thumb (four decades at about 1.2cm). Inches convert at 2.54cm. Last reviewed 25 October 2026.
Open the comparison board to stand two heights side by side, or use the height converter to switch between centimetres and inches.