How tall was Tom Petty

Tom Petty's Height

5ft 8 ½ (174 cm)

American singer, best remembered for songs such as "Free Fallin" and "I Won't Back Down".

How tall is Tom Petty
Photo by PR Photos

You May Be Interested

Height of Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
5ft 10 ½ (179 cm)
Height of Jeff Lynne
Jeff Lynne
5ft 9 ½ (177 cm)
Height of Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
5ft 1 ½ (156 cm)
Height of Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
5ft 9 ½ (177 cm)

Add a Comment37 comments

Average Guess (25 Votes)
5ft 8.71in (174.5cm)
Sandy Cowell said on 17/Oct/22
I’ve also been playing the first Tom Petty album entitled ‘Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’.

In case anyone’s interested, the song ‘American Girl’ features on this album, and is the song that Catherine, the hapless victim of Hannibal Lecter, is playing and singing along to just before she’s kidnapped. At least she’s rescued though. (The Silence of the Lambs).

The album hails from the mid-70s and ‘American Girl’ is the final track.
Sandy Cowell said on 14/Oct/22
I’ve been playing the Tom Petty album ‘Into The Great Wide Open’ several times and then I decided to put some Kraftwerk on. I couldn’t work out why it wouldn’t play until I realised that my Tom Petty CD was still in my TV.

What an idiot! 😆
Sandy Cowell said on 14/Oct/22
I’m still listening to the late, great Tom Petty. To look at him in his videos, I don’t think I went too high with my 5ft8.75.
Willis Christian Macaraig said on 16/Jan/21
Tom Petty is actually 5'8 1/2".
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 20/Oct/20
Tom Petty should today be celebrating his 70th Birthday. He passed on just short of his 67th.

5ft8.75

RIP Tom 🕯️ XXX
(20/10/1950 - 2/10/2017)
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 23/Mar/20
I managed to track down the 1979 hit 'Hot Summer Nights'. It's not surprising that I couldn't find it; it was recorded by a band called Night! The year certainly fits and it sounds good. Maybe Tom Petty recorded it too?

5ft8.75.
SonnyboySlim said on 7/Feb/20
I agree with somewhere in the 5’8”-9” range. I saw him after a concert and on stage, he looked 6’ but in-person was noticeably smaller, lean and much shorter than I thought.

Amazing guitarist and songwriter.
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 3/Feb/20
I have never managed to track down the song 'Hot Summer Nights', but I have the internet now, so I'll give it a whirl. It hails from the Summer of 1979.

The great Tom Petty gets 5ft8.75.🕯️
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 20/Oct/19
Today Tom would have turned 69 years of age. He passed away in 2017.

I still enjoy this great star's fabulous music and will for the rest of my days.

5ft8.75.

RIP Tom XXX 🕯️ Always remembered; always loved.
William_O'Jell said on 12/Apr/19
I always had him as a tall guy in my mind. 6 feet plus. To find out he was 5 feet 7 or so is really strange. But its the music that matters not size.
Jan Acton said on 15/Jan/18
This gentleman will forever stand taller than measures of feet and inches. I can't imagine anyone who can top this gifted human being that millions can relate to!
ally N said on 7/Dec/17
Tom Petty looks about 1.5 inches shorter than G.Harrison and J.Lynn, fellow Wilbury's.
Anonymous said on 7/Dec/17
Goodbye to a good friend. My closest surfing partner, heartbroken to see him go. So long my surfing brother, see you in the next life.
Sandy Cowell said on 29/Nov/17
@ Jem - How great for you to have met this fantastic star!
It's too late for anyone else now; I bet you feel priveleged! 👍 Nice one! 😉
Jem said on 27/Nov/17
I've met him several times over the years and he was about 4" taller than my 5' 3" so I would put him at 5'7".

Super nice guy and gone too soon :(
MSJC said on 6/Oct/17
Gone too soon :(
Nik said on 5/Oct/17
R.I.P Tom Petty.
Sandy Cowell said on 3/Oct/17
Unbelievable. So sad to hear that this morning.

A big part of my Musical life.
(I'll be playing his music later today, reminiscing.)

RIP Tom xxx 😢
Paul said on 3/Oct/17
Sad to hear he's passed (for real this time), RIP.
Coldplay lover said on 2/Oct/17
Sad news out of California today. RIP Tom Petty
Sandy Cowell said on 12/Dec/16
I've been trying to track down one of Tom's songs called 'Hot Summer Nights' for years! It was from the Summer of '79, when I was on the verge of leaving school and also about to see Led Zeppelin at Knebworth! Happy memories!
I have never really taken in Tom Petty's height, not even when he was playing with the Travelling Wilburies, but I have always liked him and respected his music enormously. I'll go for an average 5ft9! Anything drastically either way, I'm bound to have noticed by now!
6'1 Julian said on 24/Dec/14
Does anyone have info on the other Heartbreakers? I've heard people claiming that Stan Lynch (drummer from '76 through '93) was 6'6, and I know the current drummer Steve Ferrone is 6' even, but I wonder about the others. Mike Campbell always looks closer to 5'11 to me, just because he has a couple inches on Tom while wearing normal dress shoes. The other guys I have no idea, all I can really say is Howie Epstein appeared to be a pretty short man.
Sam said on 11/Aug/14
Yeah, Petty often looks barely an inch taller than Bob Dylan, at times Dylan can even seem taller in photos! I don't see anyway the difference between them could be 2 inches as listed unless Dylan's wearing platform shoes.
Click Here
Mark said on 28/Jan/13
I thought he was around 5'7 height myself, judging from the video for 'Handle With Care' next to Bob Dylan.
Ian said on 28/Jan/09
Looks the same height as Glenn but big hat.
Cinzia said on 3/Sep/08
Men always mean 5'6" when they say 5'9". He was little and had a lift on his boots. Still good looking!
MikeM said on 7/Jul/08
5'9 would be accurate
Johnny said on 2/May/08
I kind of always thought 5'8 because when he is with others it seems to fit more. Look at the traveling wilburys he looks only slightly taller then bob dylan and around 2 inches shorter then george harrison moby 5'8.5. I know the footwear but he wears cowboy boots and bob does too, but not enough to make him look the same height if Petty really is 5'9 but maybe enough if Petty is 5'8, Because the do look the same height.
Minstrel Man said on 1/Jan/08
I think 5'9.5" (at least 5'9")

I used to believe a 5'10.5" listing I saw, he can look that with cowboy boots.
cindy said on 21/Dec/06
i met him about a little over a month ago at the end of their 06 tour. TP was in cowboy boots, but they seemed pretty low. Not like youre average cowboy boots. I stood right next to him (i'm 5'4 in the shoes I was wearing) and he was about 5 or 5 1/2 inches taller than me. 5-9 or maybe 5-9 1/2 seems right, in my opinion. really nice guy though!
Glenn said on 10/Nov/06
5-9.I see him very often.
sam said on 9/Nov/06
Glenn, what was your estimate of Petty?
Brad said on 19/Sep/06
With those boots & hats he always wears, he always looks taller than he is.
Chaplyn said on 13/Apr/06
So how tall is Tom barefoot?
CelebHeights Editor said on 5/Feb/06
Pic of Petty and Glenn up.
mcFan said on 22/Aug/05
Tom Petty wasn't as tall as George Harrison in Traveling Wilburys. George looked 1.5 inches taller than Tom and I think George Harrison was at the most 5'9.5 during Beatle days. I would give Tom a max of 5'8.
Trey61 said on 10/Jul/05
I think 5'-9" could be right, but only in his cowboy boots. I stood backstage at a TP concert in the early '80's and Petty was shorter than my 5'-8" with both of us in western boots. I'd put him more at 5'-7".

Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films.

Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media.

Celebrity Fan Photos and Agency Pictures of stars are © to their respective owners.