Height comparison
Shaquille O'Neal vs Yao Ming Height Comparison
Yao Ming is 5 inches (12.7 cm) taller than Shaquille O'Neal — about 5.9% taller.
- Shaquille O'Neal
- 215.9 cm
- Yao Ming
- 228.6 cm
- Difference
- 5 inches
- Percentage difference
- 5.9%
See it on the chart
The chart is preloaded with these heights. Rename them, add more people or switch units — it is the full comparison tool.
Shaquille O'Neal vs Yao Ming in numbers
| Name | Feet / inches | Centimeters | Total inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaquille O'Neal | 7'1" | 215.9 cm | 85 |
| Yao Ming | 7'6" | 228.6 cm | 90 |
| Difference | 12.7 cm | 5 |
Ratio: 1.059 · Percentage difference: 5.9%
Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming in other units
| Unit | Shaquille O'Neal | Yao Ming |
|---|---|---|
| Centimeters | 215.9 | 228.6 |
| Meters | 2.159 | 2.286 |
| Millimeters | 2,159 | 2,286 |
| Total inches | 85 | 90 |
| Feet (decimal) | 7.083 | 7.5 |
What does a height difference of 5 inches look like?
A difference of 5 inches is clearly visible. Standing face to face, the top of the shorter person's head is level with roughly the taller person's eyes or nose.
In everyday terms, 12.7 cm is about the length of a US dollar bill (15.6 cm).
Shoes change what you see. If only one person wears shoes that add about 2.5 cm, the visible gap becomes roughly 10.2 cm or 15.2 cm, depending on who is wearing them.
Where these heights come from
- Shaquille O'Neal — Listed as 7'1" by NBA.com. (official listing) View the source
- Yao Ming — Listed as 7'6" by NBA.com. (official listing) View the source
This is the height in an official roster or profile. Leagues and clubs measure their players, but listings are rarely updated after the first season and some were historically taken in shoes, so the figure can be a centimeter or two off.
How Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming rank among adults
Shaquille O'Neal is taller than about 99% of adult men and 99% of adult women in the US.
Yao Ming is taller than about 99% of adult men and 99% of adult women in the US.
Going from Shaquille O'Neal to Yao Ming moves you past roughly 0% of men and 0% of women — that is how much ground a 12.7 cm gap covers in the middle of the population.
Percentiles are estimated from the CDC averages, assuming heights follow a normal distribution with a standard deviation of about 7.6 cm for men and 7.1 cm for women. Real distributions differ slightly at the extremes.
Compared with average heights
- Shaquille O'Neal is 40.6 cm taller than the average US man (175.3 cm).
- Shaquille O'Neal is 54.6 cm taller than the average US woman (161.3 cm).
- Yao Ming is 53.3 cm taller than the average US man (175.3 cm).
- Yao Ming is 67.3 cm taller than the average US woman (161.3 cm).
Averages: CDC anthropometric reference data for US adults, 2015–2018.
Frequently asked questions
Who is taller, Shaquille O'Neal or Yao Ming?
Yao Ming is taller: 7'6" (228.6 cm) against 7'1" (215.9 cm), a difference of 12.7 cm.
How much taller is Yao Ming than Shaquille O'Neal?
Yao Ming is 5 inches (12.7 cm) taller than Shaquille O'Neal. The taller height is 5.9% greater, so on a chart drawn to scale it stands 1.059 times as tall.
How tall is Shaquille O'Neal in centimeters?
Shaquille O'Neal is 215.9 cm, or 85 inches in total.
How tall is Yao Ming in centimeters?
Yao Ming is 228.6 cm, or 90 inches in total.
Is a height difference of 5 inches noticeable?
A difference of 5 inches is clearly visible. Standing face to face, the top of the shorter person's head is level with roughly the taller person's eyes or nose.
What percentage of adults are shorter than Shaquille O'Neal?
Shaquille O'Neal is taller than about 99% of adult men and 99% of adult women in the US.
What percentage of adults are shorter than Yao Ming?
Yao Ming is taller than about 99% of adult men and 99% of adult women in the US.