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

by

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.

Popular Stories

iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Thursday January 15, 2026 10:56 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another eight months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of January 2026: The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID...
Read Full Article • 73 comments
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

These 5 Apple Products Will Reportedly Be Upgraded With OLED Displays

Friday January 16, 2026 7:07 pm PST by
Apple plans to upgrade the iPad mini, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, iMac, and MacBook Air with OLED displays between 2026 and 2028, according to DigiTimes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that the iPad mini and MacBook Pro will receive an OLED display as early as this year, but he does not expect the MacBook Air to adopt the technology until 2028 at the earliest. A new iPad Air is...
Read Full Article • 77 comments
iOS 27 Mock Quick

iOS 27 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Sunday January 18, 2026 3:51 pm PST by
iOS 27 is still many months away, but there are already plenty of rumors about new features that will be included in the software update. The first beta of iOS 27 will be released during WWDC 2026 in June, and the update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in September. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that iOS 27 will be similar to Mac OS X Snow Leopard, in the sense...
Read Full Article • 94 comments
Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Friday January 16, 2026 12:12 pm PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
Read Full Article
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

MacBook Pro Buyers Now Facing Up to a Two-Month Wait Ahead of New Models

Sunday January 18, 2026 6:50 pm PST by
MacBook Pro availability is tightening on Apple's online store, with select configurations facing up to a two-month delivery timeframe in the United States. A few 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro configurations with an M4 Pro chip are not facing any shipping delay, but estimated delivery dates for many configurations with an M4 Max chip range from February 6 to February 24 or even later. At...
Read Full Article • 79 comments

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)
Read All Comments