Walking stick height guide: what length do you need?

Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.

A walking stick is the right length when the top of the handle is level with the crease of your wrist as you stand upright with your arms relaxed. Measure that, and use the estimator below only as a rough starting point.

How to measure properly

Put on the shoes you normally walk in.
Stand upright on a hard floor with your arms hanging loosely at your sides. Do not hunch or stretch.
Ask someone to measure from the floor to the crease on the inside of your wrist, on the side you will hold the stick.
That measurement is the height of the top of the handle. With the stick in your hand, your elbow should be slightly bent.

Tip: If nobody is around to help, stand side-on to a wall, mark your wrist crease lightly in pencil, and measure up from the floor to the mark.

Rough length from your height

Getting the length right

Adjustable sticks have a push-button and a row of holes, usually about an inch (2.5cm) apart. Set it to the hole nearest your wrist measurement and make sure the button has clicked fully out.
Wooden sticks are sold long and cut to size. A mobility shop will cut one for you. If it is cut at home, measure twice, saw straight, and refit the rubber ferrule.
Folding sticks are adjustable too, but check the range covers your measurement before you buy.
Too long and your shoulder lifts and aches. Too short and you stoop and lean. Either makes a stick less steady.

Frames and rollators

The same wrist-crease rule applies to the handles of a walking frame or rollator. See rollators and walking frames.

When to get advice

If you are unsteady, have had a fall, or are not sure whether a stick is the right aid, ask your GP for a referral to a physiotherapist, or ask your council for an occupational therapy assessment. A stick is often supplied free through the NHS after an assessment, already set to the right height. Our guides to walking sticks, preventing falls at home and the mobility aids buying guide explain more.

Common questions

Which hand should I hold a walking stick in?

Usually the hand opposite your weaker or painful leg, so the stick and that leg move forward together. A physiotherapist can show you if you are unsure.

How often should I replace the rubber tip?

Check the ferrule every few weeks. Replace it when the tread is worn smooth or the rubber has split, because a worn tip slips on wet floors.

Is half my height accurate enough?

No. It gets you into the right range when choosing a size online, but arm length varies. Always check against your wrist crease before you rely on the stick.