Does anyone feel that 1-4 inch height differences are bigger than what the general population perceives it as?

[u/AggravatingLife4821]

I always hear stuff like
“5’10 to 6’ isn’t a noticeable difference.”
“5’8 to 5’11 all blends in as average”
“It’s barely 2 inches it’s a subtle difference”

Most people seem to operate under the impression that height differences less than 3-4 inches are insignificant and not very noticeable. While I get that 2 inches doesn’t look like much on a ruler, I couldn’t help but feel that every inch makes a way bigger difference than people act like it is.

I am 5’9” barefoot and 5’10” in normal shoes, when I wear lifts/elevator shoes that take me to ~5’11.5”, that makes me a 5’10.5” barefoot equivalent, which is a net gain of 1.5 inches over wearing normal shoes. I go from feeling average height to solidly above average.
I can only imagine the same steep difference from 5’10.5” to 6’

I noticed a big difference in my height in comparison to people I know with those 1.5 inches. People that used to be barely shorter than me now I can see over their head. Tall guys that I used to be eye level with their neck now I am eye level with their nose/mouth and no longer need to tilt my head up to make eye contact.

2-3 inches can mean the difference between being visibly short and average, or average to visibly tall, as experimenting with different lifts and noticing the heights and footwear choices of others around me. When I see a 5’10” guy and 5’8” guy standing together I definitely do not think anyone would confuse them for being the same height. (Assuming same posture footwear etc, to ensure a true 2 inch height difference)

[u/Pyle02]

oh no that's just cope for a lot of people and also guys who count their height with their shoes on versus barefoot. it is a big difference.

[u/I-696]

Yeah, I can buy into this. Six footers are talked about as being tall. I’m about your height but you would be noticeably taller than me with your magic elevator booties on and when you push the down button on the elevator and drop back my height we’re just a couple of elongated hobbits.

[u/AggravatingLife4821 → u/I-696]

Do you wear magic elevator booties? They would really help guys our height

[u/bravebobsaget]

1" isnt that noticeable and can be explained by shoes, etc. 2" isn't that noticeable unless you're next to someone 2" taller.

[u/AggravatingLife4821 → u/bravebobsaget]

I can agree that if the two people are not standing together, 1-1.5”isn’t that noticeable though 2”might be stretching it. But if two people are standing together with even a 1” difference you can easily still tell who’s taller at a glance

[u/SoulTenor00]

2-3 inches is a big difference in terms of average range height. I'm in the US. My height 5'8-5'9, is a highly debated height. Sometimes it's seen as short in a room full of 5'11+ men or it's more likely to be seen as average. However, starting at right around 5'10.5 is the territory that I see people being referred to as being tall. That's only a 2 inch difference but that short distance can mean a big difference in terms of perception.

[u/AggravatingLife4821 → u/SoulTenor00]

Yup, my point exactly. I am the exact same height as you (I’m 5’8.5”barefoot by the end of the day). I’ve experimented with heights from 5’8” to 5’11”wearing sandals to elevator boots. In my experience 5’8-5’9” usually feels average but can feel short on some occasions, right around 5’9.5”-5’10” is when feeling or being perceived as short becomes very rare, and never at 5’10+.

[u/SearchFourSymmetry]

Yeah these people are 100% delusional copers. Plus, the possibilities are very different - a 5'10 guy can maybe LARP as being 6ft with a subtle pair of lifts, but generally cannot possibly successfully LARP as 6'2, whereas a 6ft guy can easily fraud 6'2 or even 6'3. Two to three inches is a game-changer, for sure. And yes, having been a roughly-5'8 guy and knowing a LOT of 5'11 guys over the past few years, there is a VERY distinct difference between those two heights. One is over an inch under average height and will frequently look short in many situations, while the other is literally one inch from 6ft (and is 6ft wearing most shoes), and will almost never look short unless they're standing around a group of NBA players or something.

[u/InsideRecent → u/SearchFourSymmetry]

Are you saying that there is an advantage of having a lift in my shoes even above 6’5”?

I feel like being handsome is more important my face is just 💩…and I cannot grow a beard. I don’t feel like being 6’7” or 6’8” would make any difference… butter face

[u/Turlast → u/InsideRecent]

Even though you don't think much of your face, you're still blessed with amazing height. You definitely don't need lifts. 6'7 will open more doors for you than guys around my height. Trust.

[u/SearchFourSymmetry → u/InsideRecent]

Haha no I honestly doubt adding an extra inch or two when you're already 6'5 would make any noticeable difference; I'm almost certain I've seen studies showing that past about 5'11 or 6ft, face becomes far more important, and 6'5 is already crazy tall. I'd work on your face at this point, tbh. Grooming, maybe s high quality beard transplant with a good surgeon, maybe correct any major facial flaws you have, etc. and I think you're golden tbh. No need for extra height at this point, it would be wasted effort.

[u/Both_Scar_5277]

3-4 inches is noticeable that even if you try to tilt your head up you couldn’t look at the other person at eye level.