Did You Know iPhones Can Measure a Person's Height? Here's How

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iPhones equipped with a LiDAR Scanner have a useful trick: they can be used to measure a person's height. In order to take advantage of this feature, you will need an iPhone Pro or Pro Max model released in 2020 or later.

iPhone Measure Height Contact Shadow
Below, we outline how to measure a person's height with an iPhone.

How to Measure

The ability to measure a person's height is built into Apple's pre-installed Measure app.

  1. Open the Measure app on a compatible iPhone (see list below).
  2. Make sure the person is visible on your iPhone's screen from head to toe.
  3. Wait a moment, and a line should appear at the top of the person's head with their height measurement.
  4. To take a photo of the measurement, tap the shutter button (filled-in white circle) in the bottom-right corner of the app.
  5. To save the photo, tap the screenshot in the bottom-left corner of the screen, tap Done at the top, and tap Save to Photos.

Tips

  • The app measures a person's height from the ground to the top of their head or hair. However, if the person is wearing a hat, the height measurement will be from the ground to the top of the hat.
  • You can also measure a person's seated height.
  • You can switch between imperial (feet and inches) and metric (centimeters) in the Settings app under Measure → Measure Units.

Here are some additional tips from Apple's website:

  • Make sure that you're in a place with good lighting.
  • Avoid dark backgrounds and reflective surfaces.
  • Check that the person you're measuring has nothing covering their face or head, like a face mask or sunglasses.
  • Try to step back from the person you're measuring. You might be standing too close.

Compatible iPhones

The feature requires an iPhone with a LiDAR Scanner next to the rear camera. This sensor is typically used for augmented reality purposes, but its ability to measure a person's height is a useful bonus that many people don't know about.

  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 14 Pro
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • iPhone 15 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 16 Pro
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

The feature is not available on any other iPhone models.

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Top Rated Comments

arkitect Avatar
arkitect
13 months ago
Thanks…

But your heading should probably read:

Did You Know iPhones Pro Can Measure a Person's Height?
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Morgenland Avatar
Morgenland
13 months ago
Great article, well-written, thank you!

Macrumors should do this more often. There are so many iPhone details that most people don’t know about.
America can still be proud of companies like Apple.

If MR wants to showcase how impressive and sometimes superior Apple devices are, articles like this are the way to go. It would also help MR retain more visitors, especially those who enjoy learning about the amazing features of Apple products in a way that makes them feel informed and connected.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jayducharme Avatar
jayducharme
13 months ago
Fun fact: did you know an iPhone Pro Max is almost as tall as an average person? :p
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
turbineseaplane
13 months ago
This is one where I prefer a non tech approach

Measure yourself on the wall ... keep an area to measure the whole family as folks grow

It's a fun thing to do and look back on

I love looking at those walls in homes to see the hand writing and dates and when the big jumps happen for growing kids. It's a small little pleasure in life that shows some visual history

In the house I grew up in we even had guests added to the wall sometimes - ha!
A fun conversation starter and activity when they'd come over for dinner

A visual journal of sorts
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThomasJL Avatar
ThomasJL
13 months ago
Has anyone tested the accuracy of this feature? If so, what is the margin of error?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dz5b609 Avatar
dz5b609
13 months ago
RIP all the 6 feet guys.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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