Dragon Ball character heights are most often compared through one pair: adult Goku at 175 cm and Vegeta at 164 cm. The Dragon Ball Official Site confirmed Vegeta’s height in May 2021, and it also listed his weight at 56 kg. Many other published figures trace back to guidebooks, including Daizenshuu 7 from 1996 and the Super Exciting Guide from 2019, which are two of the main reference books for the series.
Not every character has an official number, though. A reference list from Esports Tales covers about 50 characters, because publishers have not released height data for many others. Its entries run from Krillin at 153 cm to Piccolo at 226 cm, which shows how wide the range is. Some figures apply only to adults, children, or specific transformations, and the size gap you see on screen can differ from panel to panel. It pays to read each number carefully before drawing conclusions.
Key Takeaways
- Adult Goku is listed at 175 cm and adult Vegeta is listed at 164 cm, so the printed gap between them is 11 cm.
- Official Dragon Ball heights come mainly from databooks such as Daizenshuu 7 from 1996 and the Super Exciting Guide from 2019, so a height without one of those sources should be treated as an estimate.
- Broly’s height depends on his form, since base form Broly is listed at 230 cm while Legendary Super Saiyan Broly is listed at 274 cm.
- Camera angle, nearby characters, and each artist’s style can make the size gap look bigger or smaller on screen, so printed heights should be the starting point in any height debate.
- Because published height data covers only about 50 characters, any comparison involving a character with no official listing is an estimate rather than a confirmed fact.
How Tall Is Goku Compared to Vegeta?
Adult Goku is listed at 175 cm, and adult Vegeta is listed at 164 cm, which puts Vegeta about 11 cm shorter. That is the gap most fans mean when they ask this question.
Vegeta’s figure comes from the official listing published on May 21, 2021, which also gives his weight as 56 kg. It is one of the few heights in the series with a clear, direct source, so it makes a useful anchor when you compare him with other characters.
Goku’s 175 cm appears in the same reference list that gives adult Gohan at 176 cm. That means Gohan is about as tall as Goku, just 1 cm taller on paper. Gohan is a good example of why age matters, because the list specifies adult heights rather than the child versions shown for much of the story.
These numbers are reference measurements, not a ruler that every scene follows. A 2025 [MeriStation](https://as.com/meristation/manga-y-anime/dragon-ball-la-verdadera-altura-de-vegeta-demuestra-que-es-mas-bajo-que-goku-pero-no-tanto-como-parece-n/) article reported that guidebook-attributed heights put Goku at 175 cm, Vegeta at 164 cm, and Gohan at 176 cm. The same article noted that the apparent height difference between Goku and Vegeta changes from one manga panel to another and between anime studios.
So if you put the two side by side in a fan debate, start with the printed numbers. Then remember that the 11 cm gap is the official reference, while the size difference you see on screen can look bigger or smaller depending on the artist, the camera angle, and the production.
Where Do Official Dragon Ball Heights Come From?
Official Dragon Ball heights come mainly from printed databooks, especially Daizenshuu 7, published in 1996, and the Super Exciting Guide, published in 2019. These books collect character profiles, and height and weight listings are part of that information. They are the closest thing the series has to a reference shelf, so when fans want a number that comes from the creators’ side, these books are usually where it starts.
Not every character gets that treatment. Published height data covers only a limited part of the cast, so many familiar names have no number in any official book. A reference list that tries to cover the wider group can only gather about 50 characters, because publishers and developers have not released height figures for the rest.
The figures that do exist vary a lot. Bulma is listed at 165 cm and future Trunks at 170 cm, while Yamcha stands at 183 cm and Tien Shinhan at 187 cm. Final-form Frieza is 158 cm, and Perfect Cell is 213 cm. Broly is 230 cm in his base form and 274 cm as a Legendary Super Saiyan, so one character can have more than one entry depending on the form you choose.
Fan-made charts add another layer of confusion. Many of them mix guidebook numbers with guesses made by fans, and they do not always say which is which. A chart might look tidy while pairing a printed figure for one character with a rough estimate for the next. Before you trust a number, ask two questions. Does it name a databook such as Daizenshuu 7 or the Super Exciting Guide? And does it say whether the figure applies to an adult, a child, or a transformation? If the answer to both is no, treat the number as an estimate rather than an official measurement.
Which Characters Are the Tallest and Shortest?
Krillin, at 153 cm, is the shortest character on the reference list, and Broly, at 274 cm as a Legendary Super Saiyan, is the tallest. Each name below is followed by the form the figure applies to, so you can see which number you are reading.
- Krillin: 153 cm, the shortest listed height
- Final-form Frieza: 158 cm
- Perfect Cell: 213 cm
- Piccolo: 226 cm
- Broly (base form): 230 cm
- Broly (Legendary Super Saiyan): 274 cm, the tallest listed height
The two ends of the range are far apart. Krillin’s 153 cm and Legendary Super Saiyan Broly’s 274 cm differ by 121 cm. Frieza’s final form is only 5 cm taller than Krillin, so the shortest characters on the list sit close together.
Broly is the clearest example of why form matters. His base form is 230 cm, which would still place him near the top of the list, but his transformed height adds 44 cm. If you compare him with anyone else, check which version the number refers to before you draw a conclusion.
The middle of the list is where most everyday comparisons happen. Here are the mid-range figures, from tallest to shortest:
- Tien Shinhan: 187 cm
- Yamcha: 183 cm
- Future Trunks: 170 cm
- Bulma: 165 cm
Bulma’s 165 cm is just 1 cm taller than Vegeta‘s 164 cm, so the two are nearly the same height on paper. Future Trunks sits between Bulma and Yamcha, which makes him a handy reference point when you want to place a character without using an extreme example.
Keep in mind that these figures come from a limited set of characters. The reference list includes only about 50 characters because publishers have not released height data for many others. A character missing from the list has no official height here, so any comparison involving that person is an estimate rather than a published fact.
Why Do Characters Look Different Heights in Anime and Manga?
Characters often look different heights because artists draw them for composition and drama, not as a strict ruler. A published number tells you how tall a character is meant to be, but a single panel or frame may stretch that size to suit the moment.
Artists make deliberate choices to make a fight feel bigger or a hero feel more powerful. A character might be drawn towering over the frame in a tense scene, then appear smaller in a quiet conversation. Readers rarely measure panels against each other, so these shifts usually go unnoticed, but they can change how the size gap looks.
Camera choices matter just as much. A low angle, where the viewer looks up at a character, makes that person seem larger and more imposing. A high angle does the reverse and can make the same character look small. Distance also plays a part. A close-up often crops out the feet and the ground, so there is nothing to measure against. A wide shot shows the whole body and the surroundings, which gives a clearer sense of scale.
The people beside a character change how tall they seem too. Goku standing next to Piccolo, who is listed at 226 cm, would look far shorter than he does beside a smaller fighter, even though his own height has not changed. Our eyes judge height by comparison, so the company in the frame often matters more than the character alone.
Production adds another layer. A 2025 report noted that the apparent height difference between Goku and Vegeta changes from one manga panel to another and between anime studios. Different artists and animators draw faces, bodies, and proportions in their own way, so the same pair can look closer together in one version and further apart in another.
When you compare two characters on screen, treat what you see as a visual impression rather than proof. Check whether both figures appear in the same shot, whether the camera is close or far, and whether a third character is distorting the scale. Then compare the image with the published number. The printed height gives you the baseline, and the artwork shows how the creators chose to present it.
Do Transformations and Age Change a Character’s Height?
Yes, age and transformations can change the height listed for a character, so check which version a number describes before you compare it. A figure for one form does not automatically apply to another.
Broly is the clearest case. His base form is listed at 230 cm, but Legendary Super Saiyan Broly is listed at 274 cm. A chart that just says “Broly” hides which of those two heights it means, and that choice can change where he appears in a ranking.
Form also matters for villains. Final-form Frieza is listed at 158 cm, which is far shorter than many of the villains on the list, including Perfect Cell at 213 cm. Next to adult Goku at 175 cm, final-form Frieza looks 17 cm shorter on paper, but a fan who assumes all Frieza forms share that height would be guessing.
Age works the same way. When a source gives adult Goku at 175 cm, that figure describes him as an adult. It does not tell you how tall he was as a child during the early chapters. Child versions need their own numbers, and the reference data usually does not provide them. If a figure does not name an age or form, treat it as incomplete.
Here is a simple way to read any height entry:
- Adult: the number describes the character in adult years, such as adult Goku or adult Gohan.
- Child: the number describes a younger version, which may not be covered by published data.
- Transformed form: the number describes a power-up, such as Legendary Super Saiyan Broly.
Some entries are both age and form specific, so one name can have several valid heights. Broly alone is not enough information. Legendary Super Saiyan Broly and base form Broly are two separate entries, and each one needs its own comparison.
When you compare characters, put the form name in the sentence. Saying “Legendary Super Saiyan Broly is 99 cm taller than adult Goku” is accurate, while saying “Broly is 99 cm taller than Goku” leaves out the form that makes the gap so large. Being precise like this keeps your comparison correct and makes it easier for others to check your numbers.
Using These Height Figures in Your Next Debate
Start with the printed figure, then name the age or form it describes. “Vegeta is 164 cm” is a fine opening, but “adult Vegeta is 164 cm” is more precise and holds up better when someone pushes back. Gohan works the same way. Adult Gohan is listed at 176 cm, and that number says nothing about how tall he is as a child.
Use screenshots as a rough guide only. A panel can make a character look taller or shorter than the published figure suggests, so a picture is a good starting point but not a final answer. When the printed numbers and the artwork disagree, lead with the printed numbers and mention the visual difference as a side note.
When a debate turns on height, work through these steps in order:
- Find the printed figure and check whether it comes from a databook or an official listing.
- Confirm the age or form the number describes, and write it next to the character’s name.
- Compare like with like, such as adult to adult or base form to base form.
- Check whether the printed gap matches the gap you see on screen, and note any difference.
- Label any figure without a databook source as an estimate.
Many characters have no official height, so some debates will rest on estimates. That is fine as long as you say so. Bulma at 165 cm and Vegeta at 164 cm differ by only 1 cm on paper, so if someone argues that one of them is clearly taller, the printed numbers do not support that claim.
Turning Height Figures Into a Stronger Argument
Start by picking one matchup you actually argue about and writing it down before the next discussion. For Goku and Vegeta, a useful note reads: adult Goku, 175 cm; adult Vegeta, 164 cm; gap of 11 cm. Writing the form or age beside each name keeps you from mixing up a child version, a base form, and a transformation.
Next, sort each number into one of two piles. Figures tied to a databook go in the printed pile. Anything from a fan chart or a rough guess goes in the estimate pile. This takes about a minute, and it protects you when someone asks where a number came from.
If your debate involves a character who does not appear on the reference list, don’t invent a precise height. Say something like, “There is no published height for that character, so based on how the artwork frames them next to others, they look roughly similar in size.” That claim is honest, and it is easy to defend.
Finally, when you cite a screenshot, pair it with the printed figure rather than letting the image do the arguing. Mention the camera angle or the other character in the frame if the picture seems to show a different size. Readers trust a comparison more when they can see both the number and the reasoning behind it.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How tall are Dragon Ball characters in feet?
Converted from the listed centimeter figures, adult Goku at 175 cm is about 5 feet 9 inches, and Vegeta at 164 cm is about 5 feet 5 inches. Krillin at 153 cm is about 5 feet, while Piccolo at 226 cm is about 7 feet 5 inches. Legendary Super Saiyan Broly at 274 cm is just under 9 feet tall.
2. How much taller is Piccolo than Goku?
Piccolo is listed at 226 cm, which is 51 cm taller than adult Goku at 175 cm. That gap is much larger than the 11 cm difference between Goku and Vegeta. Both figures come from the same reference list, so the comparison is based on published numbers.
3. How much taller is Vegeta than Krillin?
Vegeta at 164 cm is 11 cm taller than Krillin at 153 cm, based on the listed figures. That is the same gap as between adult Goku and Vegeta. In other words, Krillin is as far below Vegeta as Vegeta is below Goku.
