Is Sleeping With Straight Legs Make You Taller? Not What You Think

The tall tale about sleep and leg position

Alright, let’s get this out of the way first: sleeping with your legs straight will not magically make you taller. I know, I know — I also saw that random TikTok where some guy claimed his height “increased by 2 inches” just by changing his sleeping posture. But come on... if it were that easy, we’d all be doing it.

That said, posture during sleep can influence how your body decompresses — which is kinda cool and worth understanding. Just don’t expect to wake up one day like, bam, you’re 6'2 now. (If only.)

How your body actually “grows” overnight

Gravity takes a break while you sleep

During the day, gravity compresses your spine. Discs between your vertebrae lose a little fluid, your joints get slightly squished... so by nighttime, you’re actually shorter than you were in the morning. Seriously.

But when you lie down — straight legs or not — your spine decompresses. The discs rehydrate. And you “regain” that little lost height. We’re talking about 1–2 cm at most, and it’s temporary.

I used to check my height at night and again in the morning. (Yeah, I was obsessed for a bit.) And guess what? Always taller in the morning. But by evening — poof, back to short-me again.

Straight legs can help alignment, but...

Sleeping with straight legs might support better spinal alignment, especially if you sleep on your back with a supportive pillow. But it won’t stretch your bones or make your growth plates reactivate (unless you're, like, 13).

My chiropractor, Dr. Jensen, once told me:
"Your sleeping position helps recovery, not height. But if your spine is under less strain, your posture can improve — and that might look like growing taller."

Which honestly makes sense. Standing tall makes a big visual difference. But it's not the same as actually gaining height.

Can posture or stretching make you taller?

Only in specific cases

Okay — technically — if you have terrible posture (like the hunched-over-computer type) and you start doing stretches, yoga, or sleeping in a position that elongates your spine, you might see a slight increase in apparent height.

But that's not growing. That’s more like... uncurling. Big difference.

I tried this posture program once — lots of wall stretches, core exercises, and yes, sleep position changes. Did I get taller? Nope. But I looked more upright, and honestly, people thought I was taller. I’ll take it.

What about during puberty?

Totally different story. If you’re still in your teens, sleep matters A LOT. Growth hormone is released mostly during deep sleep. So yeah — sleeping well (and long enough) can support growth.

Straight legs or not? Doesn’t really matter. What matters is deep, uninterrupted sleep, good nutrition, and not slouching in front of screens all day. (Easier said than done, I know.)

The myths and the madness: Why this idea sticks around

Viral content and wishful thinking

Let’s be real: most of us wouldn’t mind being a little taller. So when some influencer or Reddit post says, “Bro just sleep like a soldier and you’ll gain 3 inches,” people jump on it.

I did too, once. I slept on the floor, legs completely straight, arms by my sides... for two weeks. My back hurt. I looked like I was prepping for a vampire role. Zero height change.

Turns out, comfort matters more than perfect leg alignment.

What actually helps you look taller?

• Good posture (seriously, shoulders back, chin up — it works)

• Strengthening your core and back muscles

• Wearing better shoes (no shame)

• Confidence — no joke, it changes how people see you

And if you’re still growing? Get that sleep. Eat well. Don’t overthink your leg position.

Final thoughts: sleep straight if you like — but don’t expect miracles

So, does sleeping with straight legs make you taller?
→ No. Not in the literal sense.

But can better posture, good rest, and spine decompression help you look and feel taller?
→ Absolutely.

Sleep in the way that helps your body recover best. If straight legs help your back? Cool. If curling up feels better? Also fine. Just don’t fall for the hype — trust your body, not clickbait.

And hey, even if you don't grow taller, you can still stand taller. That counts for something, right?

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.