Martin Luther King Jr's Height
5ft 6 ½ (168.9 cm)
American Minister and Civil Rights leader. In the Ralph Keyes book on Height, he mentioned Luther's waxwork measured at 5ft 6.5. Other authors typically described him as being around 5ft 7: "five feet seven inches tall, broad shoulders, muscular neck, tipping the scales at "...173 lbs".
In his autopsy, he was described as a "69 1/2 inches...and weighing approximately 140 pounds"
In his autopsy, he was described as a "69 1/2 inches...and weighing approximately 140 pounds"
You May Be Interested
Malcolm X
6ft 3 (191 cm)
6ft 3 (191 cm)
John F Kennedy
5ft 11 ½ (182 cm)
5ft 11 ½ (182 cm)
Nelson Mandela
6ft ¼ in (184 cm)
6ft ¼ in (184 cm)
Abraham Lincoln
6ft 3 ¾ (192 cm)
6ft 3 ¾ (192 cm)
Add a Comment15 comments
Average Guess (28 Votes)
5ft 6.77in (169.6cm)
5ft 6.77in (169.6cm)
Morten said on 5/Mar/23
There is a picture of him Standing next to Robert Kennedy - 5ft 9in. Kennedy is at least 3 inches taller.
There is a picture of him Standing next to Robert Kennedy - 5ft 9in. Kennedy is at least 3 inches taller.
Morten said on 5/Mar/23
I think he was 5ft 6in.
I think he was 5ft 6in.
Histhename said on 17/Dec/22
Hi Rob
Was Martin measured before they created his waxwork or was it just a guess?
Editor Rob
Hi Rob
Was Martin measured before they created his waxwork or was it just a guess?
Editor RobI don't know.
Miles Yeargain said on 23/Jan/20
He was 5'7
He was 5'7
ArjunaKorale said on 10/Jan/18
A big-spirited man who saw the future. I have him over 5 feet 6.5 inches (169 cm) tall. I’m around that height and it seems too short for King, who seemed like a slightly taller, bigger-boned man. I believe that a strong 5 ft 7 (at least 170 cm) is his true height. Rob, how about the Dalai Llama? Could you guys please make an entry for this most charismatic of Buddhist leaders.
Editor Rob
A big-spirited man who saw the future. I have him over 5 feet 6.5 inches (169 cm) tall. I’m around that height and it seems too short for King, who seemed like a slightly taller, bigger-boned man. I believe that a strong 5 ft 7 (at least 170 cm) is his true height. Rob, how about the Dalai Llama? Could you guys please make an entry for this most charismatic of Buddhist leaders.
Editor Rob he might have been over 5ft 7 in younger years, now heading to around 5ft 6, though I haven't looked much at him.
Peter175 said on 16/Oct/17
I still can't see him as 5'6 range with Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali.
Rob how possible is the full 5'7 at least? I remember reading some reports of JFK being 5'11.5 even though extensive reports have him measured at 6ft. MLK has been described as 5'6, 5'7 and 5'9.5, so I think its safe that he's probably between the two (5'7.25 / 171 is my guess)
Editor Rob
I still can't see him as 5'6 range with Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali.
Rob how possible is the full 5'7 at least? I remember reading some reports of JFK being 5'11.5 even though extensive reports have him measured at 6ft. MLK has been described as 5'6, 5'7 and 5'9.5, so I think its safe that he's probably between the two (5'7.25 / 171 is my guess)
Editor Rob last time I looked I decided he was between 5ft 6 and 7...of course you wouldn't rule out 5ft 7 completely but I never saw enough to go with that figure yet.
Peter175 said on 8/Jun/17
Would have honestly guessed 5'8. He looks quite average in crowds. Would be surprised if he was really 5'6
Would have honestly guessed 5'8. He looks quite average in crowds. Would be surprised if he was really 5'6
Sam said on 30/Mar/17
He never looked tall in crowds in the 60s when the average height was slightly less...I could MLK 5'6"-5'6.5" range.
He never looked tall in crowds in the 60s when the average height was slightly less...I could MLK 5'6"-5'6.5" range.
James said on 18/Dec/16
King was exactly 5'6". He probably had special shoes to make himself look taller in public.
King was exactly 5'6". He probably had special shoes to make himself look taller in public.
MJKoP said on 18/Dec/16
A lot of people seem to think he was much taller than he actually was. Paul Winfield(listed here as 6'2") played Dr. King in the 1978 TV mini-series "King" and was mentioned in a newspaper review as having the same height and build as MLK!!!
A lot of people seem to think he was much taller than he actually was. Paul Winfield(listed here as 6'2") played Dr. King in the 1978 TV mini-series "King" and was mentioned in a newspaper review as having the same height and build as MLK!!!
Arch Stanton said on 18/Dec/16
Yes Andrea, that's why I originally thought he was near 5 ft 8! Maybe he wore lifts at times. If you look at Malcolm X I don't think you can dispute 6'3, he was taller than Ali. Yes King looked in 13 stone range I think, which for 5'6 range is overweight.
Yes Andrea, that's why I originally thought he was near 5 ft 8! Maybe he wore lifts at times. If you look at Malcolm X I don't think you can dispute 6'3, he was taller than Ali. Yes King looked in 13 stone range I think, which for 5'6 range is overweight.
Andrea said on 17/Dec/16
There aren't many good pictures out there with Malcolm but I thought, if Malcolm was really around 6'3, this guy could look taller than just 5'6.5 with him...
Click Here
Is this a 8.5 inches difference? Mmm...
There aren't many good pictures out there with Malcolm but I thought, if Malcolm was really around 6'3, this guy could look taller than just 5'6.5 with him...
Click Here
Is this a 8.5 inches difference? Mmm...
Arch Stanton said on 17/Dec/16
Yeah the more I look at him the more this looks accurate actually!! Seeing him with Kennedy and a few others. At times he could look 5 ft 7 range but in some photos difficult to argue much over 5 ft 6!!
Editor Rob
Yeah the more I look at him the more this looks accurate actually!! Seeing him with Kennedy and a few others. At times he could look 5 ft 7 range but in some photos difficult to argue much over 5 ft 6!!
Editor Rob the 5ft 6.5 figure is from that Ralph who measured a few waxwork statues in early 80's.
Shredder said on 17/Dec/16
More like 5'6.5 and 185 Lbs
More like 5'6.5 and 185 Lbs
MD said on 17/Dec/16
It's really crazy just how off the autopsy was in both height and weight.
Editor Rob
It's really crazy just how off the autopsy was in both height and weight.
Editor Rob MD, there was a diagram also showing I believe 61 inches to his mouth in the autopsy, this would match up a bit with the overall 69.5...but, it had to be a toe-head measurement (or outright error). It can't be a heel-head measurement.
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