Skip to content

CategoryWomen's and men's boards

Runway and editorial modeling requirements

The strictest category. Height is the first filter, and it is published by more agencies than any other number.

Last verified

What matters most

Height first, then how your measurements sit against sample sizes, then age. Together they are most of the fit, and none of them change.

Published height range

Women
5'8"–6'0"[1][3][4][5][6][15][19][20][21]
Men
5'11"–6'3"[1][3][4][5][6][32]

Check a specific height

01Requirements

What agencies and rules actually say

  1. 01
    Premier Model Management's scouting guide gives women's editorial and runway as 5'8" to 6'0", and men's as 5'11" to 6'2".[1]
  2. 02
    Kim Dawson (Dallas) lists women at 5'8"–6'0" barefoot (5'7" if under 16 and still growing) and men at 6'0"–6'3" barefoot.[3]
  3. 03
    The Campbell Agency lists women at 5'8"–5'11" in sizes 0–4, and men at 6'0"–6'3" in suit sizes 38–42.[4]
  4. 04
    Heffner Management (Seattle) lists women at 5'7"–5'11" and men at 5'11"–6'3".[5]
  5. 05
    Select's London open call sets minimums of 5'7" (170 cm) for women and 5'10" (177 cm) for men.[6]
  6. 06
    A BEST Model Agency guide (secondary source) gives runway measurements of bust 32–36", waist 22–26" and hips 33–35".[15]
  7. 07
    No under-16s walk at New York Fashion Week (CFDA guidelines) or London Fashion Week; LVMH sets 16 as its minimum and Kering moved to 18+.[20][21][19]
  8. 08
    Since 2017 LVMH and Kering have not cast women's French size 32 or men's size 34, and France requires models to hold a medical certificate to work.[19][22]
  9. 09
    Men's sample sizes run about 38–40" chest (40R) and 30–32" waist (secondary source), in line with Campbell's suit sizes 38–42.[32][4]
  10. 10
    42 verified agencies in our directory have a board we map to runway / editorial (women): ACQUA Models, Ave Management, Bella Agency, BMA Models, BMG Models and Body London and 36 more.

    ACQUA Models · Ave Management · Bella Agency · BMA Models · BMG Models · Body London · Brand Model & Talent · D'Management Group

Worth knowing

Almost no top agency publishes numbers. Wilhelmina, Ford, Storm and Premier's application forms ask for height and age but state no thresholds, and agencies make exceptions.[10][12][13][2]

02Fixed vs changeable

What you can work on here

Fixed

  • Height (posture never adds inches to the score)
  • Age
  • Bust, waist and hips as an adult

Changeable

  • Digitals quality
  • Your submission kit
  • On-camera presence
  • Posture in photos

03Verified agencies

Agencies with this board

Official page · Free to apply · Never pay to be seen

See all 43 in the free directory

04Digitals

What to send

  • Kim Dawson asks for four digitals (portrait, full length, smiling, profile). Phone photos are fine in soft natural light, with "no filters, makeup, hats, or sunglasses".[3]
  • Heffner wants a headshot, full body, ¾ and side profile: no filters or retouching, a neutral background, natural light, "No makeup, natural hair".[5]
  • Ford asks for a "clean face with absolutely no makeup", hair pulled back and a form-fitting outfit.[12]
  • The Campbell Agency asks for a smiling headshot, a non-smiling headshot, a ¾ shot and a full body shot, with minimal makeup.[4]

The digitals guide · Free digitals kit

05Questions

Asked, answered.

What is the minimum height for runway?
The agencies that publish a number put women's runway boards at about 5'8" (a few, like Heffner and Select London, at 5'7") and men's at about 5'11"–6'0". Agencies decide in person and make exceptions.
Will a smaller waist raise my runway fit?
No. Our score stops rewarding smaller numbers below a 22" waist for women and 26" for men, and shows a health note instead. The industry itself moved this way: LVMH and Kering stopped casting the smallest sample sizes in 2017.

Free · 3 minutes · 18+

See where you fit in all 12.

Twelve categories, checked against what agencies publish. Free, about 3 minutes, adults 18+.

Start the free check