Most girls hit their final height between the ages of 14 and 16, but the timeline isn’t carved in stone. The key milestone that marks the slowdown in growth is menarche—that first menstrual cycle. On average, a girl grows about 3 inches after her first period before her growth plates begin to close. Once those plates fuse—usually by age 16—gaining any more height naturally is extremely rare.
That said, your personal growth story could be different, especially if puberty started earlier or later than average. For instance, some girls hit their peak height velocity around 11, while others are still growing at 15 or 16. Genetics play a big role here, but so do things like diet, physical activity, and even sleep quality during the growth years. There’s no one-size-fits-all, which is why many parents (and teens) get confused watching peers shoot up while they seem stuck.
At What Age Do Females Start Puberty?
Most girls start puberty between the ages of 8 and 13, with the average age landing around 10 and a half. That’s when things begin to shift inside the body — the hypothalamus kicks in and sends signals to the pituitary gland, starting a surge in hormone production. These hormones (mainly estrogen) jumpstart visible changes like breast development, growth spurts, and eventually menarche, or the first period.
But here’s the catch: the earlier puberty begins, the sooner growth plates start closing. That means less time to grow taller. While early developers might be the tallest in elementary school, by high school, their growth may have already stopped. That’s why understanding the age girls enter puberty isn’t just about biology — it’s directly tied to final adult height.
What’s Happening Behind the Scenes?
When puberty kicks off, the body is running on a tightly coordinated schedule — but that schedule can vary. Here’s a clearer picture:
- Hormonal Switch-On: The HPG axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal system) activates, releasing growth and sex hormones.
- The Big Spurt: Most girls gain around 3 to 3.5 inches per year during peak growth, which usually happens early in puberty.
- Growth Plate Fusion: Once estrogen rises consistently, it signals the growth plates to start closing. Once closed, no more vertical growth is possible.
You might be surprised how much puberty timing can influence final height — even by as much as 2 inches. And it’s not always predictable. Genetics matter, but so do body weight, sleep quality, and even light exposure. Girls who go through early puberty (before age 8) are often done growing by age 14, while late bloomers can keep adding height into their later teens.
Peak Growth Period in Females
The biggest height surge in girls happens just before their first period—usually between ages 10 and 12. This phase, known as peak height velocity (PHV), isn’t just a growth spurt; it’s the body’s final full-throttle sprint before things start slowing down. During this window, driven by a spike in growth hormone and estrogen, most girls can grow up to 3.5 inches (about 9 cm) in a single year.
You might notice longer legs seemingly overnight or a sudden need to size up in jeans and shoes. What’s tricky is that this sprint happens quietly, often before full physical maturity kicks in. In fact, about 95% of final height is reached before or shortly after menarche. Once the first period arrives, that growth curve flattens fast—usually leaving only an inch or two of height potential before skeletal maturity sets in and growth plates close.
How to Tell If a Growth Spurt Is Underway
If you’re not sure when this peak is happening, these signs can help you spot it:
- Tanner Stage 2–3: Look for breast budding and the start of pubic hair. These stages signal the body is preparing for acceleration.
- Increased appetite: Often tied to the body fueling rapid bone growth and cell division.
- Leg and spine elongation: Girls may shoot up in height before their upper body “catches up.”
Most important: This spike usually happens before parents even notice the changes.
When Do Females Typically Stop Growing in Height?
Most girls stop growing in height between the ages of 14 and 16, though this range can shift slightly depending on when puberty starts. A major turning point is menarche—a girl’s first period. On average, girls gain about 2 to 3 more inches after that milestone. This post-menarche growth is limited, though, because it’s around this time that the epiphyseal plates (also called growth plates) begin to close. Once these soft ends of the bones go through bone ossification and fuse completely, height growth stops for good.
That process—skeletal closure—usually wraps up within one to two years after puberty hits full stride. For most girls, that means growth cessation happens before their 17th birthday. Of course, there are exceptions. Some girls grow a little longer, especially if their puberty started late. But the window is narrow. Once those growth plates close, no method, supplement, or routine can unlock them again. It’s biology’s shut-off switch.
Role of Hormones in Female Growth
When it comes to female height growth, estrogen is both a trigger and a stop signal. It kicks off that rapid growth spurt during puberty, but here’s the kicker—it’s also what shuts the whole process down. Estrogen causes the growth plates in your bones to fuse, which means once that happens, getting taller is basically off the table. This is why timing is everything. Girls who enter puberty early often grow fast initially but end up shorter overall because their growth plates close sooner than average. It’s a perfect example of how hormones and growth in girls are tightly linked.
But estrogen doesn’t run the show alone. You’ve also got growth hormone (GH) and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1)—both critical players. GH signals the liver to produce IGF-1, which fuels cell division in those growth plates. Early on, estrogen actually helps boost IGF-1 activity, driving bone growth. But later, it flips the switch and tells the plates it’s time to close. And let’s not forget progesterone. It doesn’t directly impact height, but it supports bone density and helps regulate other puberty hormones in the background. The balance between these hormones is everything.
Here’s what you need to watch for:
- Too much estrogen too early? Expect shorter final height.
- Delayed puberty with low estrogen? More time to grow.
- High IGF-1 levels? Better odds for longer bones—naturally or with support.
How Menarche Signals Growth Plate Closure
When a girl gets her first period—menarche—it’s not just a milestone in puberty; it’s a major indicator that her vertical growth is nearing its final stage. In most cases, the growth plates (the cartilage zones at the ends of long bones) begin to harden, or “close,” shortly after menstruation starts. This natural shift can quietly bring an end to what many call the “height window.”
Why Growth After Menarche Is So Limited
Here’s the part few people talk about plainly: once a girl hits menarche, her height potential takes a steep drop. Sure, there may still be some height gain—on average, about 2 to 3 inches—but that window typically closes within 6 to 12 months. The driver? A spike in estrogen. This hormone speeds up bone maturity, and when bones mature faster than the body grows, the growth spurt stops.
A 2023 clinical study from the Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology found that 93% of girls gained less than 2 inches after their first period.
Let me break this down in real terms:
- Estrogen surges → bone age leaps ahead.
- Growth plates begin sealing.
- Height increase slows to under 1 inch per year—often less.
Most parents and teens don’t realize that bone age, not calendar age, determines how much growth is left. A 13-year-old girl with a bone age of 15? Her height journey is almost over. That’s why pediatricians often recommend a bone age X-ray as soon as menarche happens—timing is everything.
If you’re asking, “How long do girls grow after their period?”—the honest answer is: not long, and certainly not without a biological fight.
What You Can Still Do—But You Have to Act Fast
In some cases, especially when menarche hits early (say, age 10 or 11), there may still be room to extend the growth window. But this has to be done before growth plate closure, which is why immediate action post-menarche matters. I’ve seen girls gain a critical extra inch or two—simply because their parents acted right after that first period.
Here’s what to do:
- Request a bone age test immediately after menarche.
- Track growth monthly—don’t rely on yearly checkups.
- Explore safe, non-invasive height optimization protocols that work while plates are still open (sleep, diet, growth-centric training, etc.).
Joy Bauer
- Related post: Does yogurt make you taller?
Hi there! My name is Erika Gina, and I am the author of Choose Supplement, a website dedicated to helping people achieve their height goals naturally and effectively. With over 10 years of experience as a height increase expert, I have helped countless individuals increase their height through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
My passion for this field stems from my own struggles with being short, and I am committed to sharing my knowledge and experience to help others overcome similar challenges. On my website, you will find a wealth of information and resources, including tips, exercises, and product reviews, all designed to help you grow taller and improve your confidence and overall well-being. I am excited to be a part of your height journey and look forward to supporting you every step of the way.
Name: Erika Gina
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