How do I know puberty is over?

How Do I Know Puberty Is Over? Signs You’ve Reached the Finish Line

The Basics: What Exactly Is Puberty?

Puberty is that oh-so-awkward but crucial time in life when your body transforms from child to adult. Hormones go wild, growth spurts hit like trucks, and let’s be honest—it’s confusing as heck.

When Does It Usually Start and End?

For most people, puberty kicks in between ages 8–14 and wraps up around 16–18. But hey, bodies don’t always read the manual. Some folks finish early, some late. Totally normal.

Major Signs That Puberty Might Be Done

You’ve Stopped Growing in Height

Yep—this is a biggie. If you’ve noticed your pants haven’t gotten too short in the past year or two, chances are your growth plates have closed (they're in your long bones and once they fuse, no more vertical inches for you). For most guys, this happens around 17–18; girls often a bit earlier.

Facial and Body Hair Stabilizes

Remember when hair suddenly showed up in places you didn't expect? Once puberty ends, this hair growth slows down. You won't wake up one morning with a full beard outta nowhere—though you might still need to shave.

Oh, and that chest hair? If it’s coming in, it usually shows up in the later stages. If it’s there and not changing much anymore, it’s a decent sign you’re wrapping things up.

Voice Has Settled (Finally)

That squeaky, cracking mess you called a voice mid-puberty? Gone. If your voice is deep and stable (and doesn’t sound like a kazoo when you yell), it means your vocal cords have finished stretching and thickening. Congrats, baritone!

Skin Calms Down (A Little)

Acne might still pop up now and then—ugh, hormones—but if your skin isn’t constantly oily or breaking out the way it used to at 13 or 14, it's probably a sign your hormone levels have balanced out.

For Girls: Specific Indicators of Post-Puberty

Menstrual Cycles Become Regular

The first couple years of periods can be unpredictable. If yours have become more consistent in flow and timing, that’s a clue your reproductive system has matured.

Breasts Finish Developing

Full breast development is usually one of the last signs of puberty. If there haven't been any significant changes in breast size or shape for over a year, that phase is likely done.

For Guys: Specific Indicators of Post-Puberty

Muscle Mass Peaks Naturally

After puberty, testosterone levels stabilize. That means you’ll gain muscle more slowly unless you’re really working out. If your build’s looking more manly than lanky and it’s been steady—hello, adulthood.

Testicles and Penis Stop Growing

Kind of awkward, but hey—we’re being real here. Genital growth usually ends by 16–17. If nothing’s changed down there in a while, that’s another green light.

Psychological Signs You’re Past the Puberty Storm

Emotions Feel Less Like a Rollercoaster

Remember those random bouts of crying? The wild mood swings? If you're more emotionally stable these days (well, most of the time), your brain's likely finished reorganizing. Yes—your brain goes through puberty too!

Decision-Making Gets Sharper

As your prefrontal cortex matures (that’s the brain’s CEO), you’ll notice better control over impulses and more logical thinking. If you find yourself saying, "Wow, I would've reacted way differently to this two years ago"—that’s the brain growing up.

Wait, Can It Ever Be Fully Over?

Well… yes and no. While the physical changes mostly end by your late teens, some hormonal fluctuations can continue into your early 20s. And emotionally? Let's just say maturity is a lifelong journey (sigh).

Personal Experience: That One Day I Knew It Was Over

Funny story: I realized I was likely done with puberty the day I went to buy shoes and my size hadn’t changed in two years. My mom nearly cried with joy. No more buying new sneakers every six months. Also, my voice on voice memos didn’t sound like a cartoon character anymore. That was the cherry on top.

So… What Now?

Celebrate! Puberty ending means your body’s leveled up. You’ve survived the hormonal war zone, and now it’s time to live with this grown-up version of yourself.

Just remember: everyone’s timeline is different. Don’t sweat it if you’re still waiting on a few changes. Your body knows what it’s doing—even when it feels weird.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.