# How large is the height difference between you and your partner?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [November 25, 2011, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030 "2011-11-25T10:07:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/61 "2011-11-26T22:24:08Z")
I’m 5’2" (though I think I’ve shrunk an inch, judging on how high the grocery store shelves seem lately) and he’s…I’m not sure, 5’6"? Not a lot of difference. I’ve dated taller men, of course, during my long life, but I never thought ‘being tall’ as a trait of any particular virtue. Being a short woman, I was perfectly comfortable with the ‘shorties’ discarded by giantesses…
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### Author:  [@ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryan)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/62 "2011-11-26T23:56:02Z")
My last GF was 5"3" and I’m 6’4". I’ve never dated a woman taller than 5’6"…just sort of happened that way.
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### Author:  [@Grrlbrarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrlbrarian)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/63 "2011-11-27T00:54:59Z")
I’m 4’10" and my husband’s 6’7." We also manage.😃 Although I will say that we get the looks on a consistent basis, sometimes with the accompanying head tilt as people try to work out the geometry of how we… fit!
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### Author:  [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/64 "2011-11-27T00:59:33Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#):
>
> Yeah, like a growth spurt in my 30s. 🙂
>
> Seriously though, it really became a bit of a problem for her. At first I was sympathetic. Wearing heels she towered over me, and she loved wearing heels and looked great in them. I’ve always had a surfeit of self confidence and when she realized I didn’t act self conscious when we were out at dinner, conferences, or get-togethers with my work colleagues, later, when we got home, she’d accuse me of being insensitive.
>
> She also used to do the scrunch down thing when we took photos together, or angled her head in a strange way so she wouldn’t look taller. It must have been agony for her and, like I said, I never made an issue of it, but she began to dread going out together, especially if the occasion called for formal, or semi-formal wear.
This is just so weird to me. I love being tallish for a woman (5’7") and wouldn’t mind being taller, and I love wearing heels. Hubby doesn’t care whether I wear heels or tower over him. Hell, when I’m taller, it just puts my rack that much closer to his face. 😃
About the only time the height difference has been an issue was the time we took ballroom dancing lessons. The fancy twirls and dips just don’t work if the woman is the size as (or taller than) the man. (I’ve been told that talented dancers can make it work, but talented dancers we are not.)
One time we were goofing around in the parking lot on the way out to the car, and Mr. S held the keys up high as if to hold them out of my reach. I just reached up and took them, and we both laughed.
He often asks me to get things off high shelves (I have proportionally longer arms/legs as well) so he doesn’t have to bother with a chair or ladder.
Hey, in bed all the important parts line up. 😃
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/65 "2011-11-27T01:59:29Z")
> [@jjimm](#):
>
> Bloody hell! No point in asking you how you first noticed him…
The amazing thing is that he noticed me before I noticed him.
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### Author:  [@Rala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rala)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/66 "2011-11-27T04:46:39Z")
I’m 154 cm, she’s 164 cm. She’s considered quite tall in her country, but average height in mine; whereas I’m considered quite short in my country, but average height in hers.
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### Author:  [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2011, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/67 "2011-11-27T04:49:49Z")
About a foot’s difference. I’m around 5’, he’s around 6’. The difference is definitely noticeable. I rarely wear heels, so usually he can tuck me under his armpit.
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### Author:  [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/68 "2011-11-27T04:51:36Z")
> [@Cap\_n\_Obvious](#):
>
> I don’t know her exact height, but I can comfortably rest my chin on top of her head when we’re hugging.
awww 🙂
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### Author:  [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/69 "2011-11-27T04:55:58Z")
I’m 5’ 3" and my husband is 6’ foot tall. So are both my sons. Funny thing is we all see eye to eye and I’ve never felt little.
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### Author:  [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2011, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/70 "2011-11-27T09:11:57Z")
I’m 6’, she’s 5’ 2" and that works.
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### Author:  [@CheWhat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheWhat)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/71 "2011-11-27T13:58:34Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#):
>
> Yeah, like a growth spurt in my 30s. 🙂
>
> Seriously though, it really became a bit of a problem for her. At first I was sympathetic. Wearing heels she towered over me, and she loved wearing heels and looked great in them. I’ve always had a surfeit of self confidence and when she realized I didn’t act self conscious when we were out at dinner, conferences, or get-togethers with my work colleagues, later, when we got home, she’d accuse me of being insensitive.
>
> She also used to do the scrunch down thing when we took photos together, or angled her head in a strange way so she wouldn’t look taller. It must have been agony for her and, like I said, I never made an issue of it, but she began to dread going out together, especially if the occasion called for formal, or semi-formal wear.
>
> One evening, after a particularly uncomfortable lunch with a new client, as I indicated in my previous post, I’d had just about enough and so we hashed it out. During our conversation, I made it clear that this was the last time I was going to discuss the issue so whatever she had to say needed to be said then. She said her piece, I listened. I gave her various options, she picked one. I asked if she was sure, she said she was. I asked if she understood that the issue was now closed, she said she did. We hugged …and stuff, and that was it.
>
> We haven’t discussed it since, and she no longer does the weird scrunching down thing when we take photos.
It goes the other way, too. My neck hurts if the guy is over 6’5". The tallest guy I dated was 6’8".
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### Author:  [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/72 "2011-11-27T15:06:25Z")
I am 5’1" and married the shortest guy I have dated. My husband is 6’.
The only times I wished I were taller is when I gain weight: “If I could just grow another 4 inches I wouldn’t need to loose weight. Dammit!”
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### Author:  [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/73 "2011-11-27T16:59:06Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#):
>
> This is just so weird to me. I love being tallish for a woman (5’7") and wouldn’t mind being taller, and I love wearing heels. Hubby doesn’t care whether I wear heels or tower over him. Hell, when I’m taller, it just puts my rack that much closer to his face. 😃
> [@CheWhat](#):
>
> It goes the other way, too. My neck hurts if the guy is over 6’5". The tallest guy I dated was 6’8".
My wife’s only about 2.5 inches taller than I, maybe a little more, so it’s not a remarkable difference. I’ve never dated anyone 6’ or taller. Now that would be weird. Heh.
I’ve never been attracted to girls or women who I consider diminutive, say 5’3" or shorter and have never dated anyone shorter than 5’8". I’m drawn to women my height. In fact, I didn’t realize my wife was as tall as she is until she first walked up and introduced herself, even though I’d seen her on other occasions before then.
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### Author:  [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/74 "2011-11-27T17:07:13Z")
I’m 6’3", my wife is 5’7". We’re both quite comfortable with that difference.
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### Author:  [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/75 "2011-11-27T17:38:59Z")
Full foot difference in height. He’s 6’4", and I’m 5’4", though to be fair, I do round mine up!
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### Author:  [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/76 "2011-11-28T19:58:19Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#):
>
> About a foot’s difference. I’m around 5’, he’s around 6’. The difference is definitely noticeable. I rarely wear heels, so usually he can tuck me under his armpit.
This is us except that I’m the “him”.
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### Author:  [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/77 "2011-11-28T20:41:41Z")
I’m somewhere between 5’10" and 5’11" depending on my posture, and he’s a bit over 6’3".
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### Author:  [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/78 "2011-11-28T21:11:54Z")
6 inches difference; I’m 5’2" and he’s 5’8" or 5’9", I forget, which is a perfectly convenient height difference. I might find it odd if he were 6 inches shorter than me, because that’s way out of normal-man-height range, or if he were so tall that I had to stand on a chair to kiss him, because that’s bloody inconvenient, but I have certainly been attracted to both short and tall men.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/79 "2011-11-28T21:48:06Z")
I’m 5’ 10 1/2"; my wife is 5’ 7". OTOH, I did date two different women who were both 5’ 2", a height difference which still didn’t seem to be a problem.
A friend of mine is 6’ 8"; his wife is 4’ 11". That must be awkward. 😃
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### Author:  [@Minnie\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minnie_Luna)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-large-is-the-height-difference-between-you-and-your-partner/604030/80 "2011-11-29T16:35:05Z")
A foot exactly. I’m 5’2", he’s 6’2". I usually wear a shoe with a bit of a heel, so it doesn’t seem so bad until I take my shoes off.
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