Elijah Wood Height:
Elijah Wood height is 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm).
This is the figure most widely cited across interviews, filmography databases, and entertainment profiles. It is approximate, since some listings round it to 5 ft 6.5 in. At 168 cm, Wood is slightly below the average height for an American man. That has rarely limited a career spanning more than three decades and some of the best-known films of the 2000s.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elijah Jordan Wood |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm), approximate |
| Weight | About 130 lb (59 kg), approximate |
| Date of Birth | January 28, 1981 |
| Age | 45 years old (as of November 2026) |
| Birthplace | Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Profession | Actor, producer, DJ |
| Shoe Size | About US 8 (UK 7), approximate |
Early Life and Background
Elijah Wood was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the middle of three children. His parents, Warren and Debbie Wood, worked in the deli business, and he grew up alongside his older brother Zak and younger sister Hannah. His mother has said the family was close and the household was ordinary by Hollywood standards.
His acting path began almost by accident. As a child, Wood took part in a modeling and talent competition in Dallas, where his performance caught the attention of industry scouts. His mother then took him to Los Angeles to pursue acting seriously, and the family relocated when he was still a young boy. Auditions followed quickly, and before long he was appearing in commercials and music videos.
His upbringing in the Midwest is often credited with keeping him grounded. Despite becoming a recognizable child actor, Wood has spoken about valuing a normal life, and he has long been described as private, soft-spoken, and thoughtful. He was a small child and a slight teenager, and he never had the sudden growth spurt that some young actors experience. That is one reason his adult height of 5 ft 6 in, around 168 cm, matches how audiences have always seen him on screen.
Career Journey and Timeline
1989 to 1993: Child actor. Wood made his screen debut in a small role in Back to the Future Part II (1989). He followed it with Avalon (1990), Paradise (1991), and Radio Flyer (1992). He also appeared opposite Mel Gibson in Forever Young (1992) and starred in The Good Son (1993).
1994 to 1999: Rising young star. He appeared in North (1994) and The War (1994), then Flipper (1996) and The Ice Storm (1997). He also took roles in the sci-fi disaster film Deep Impact (1998) and the horror film The Faculty (1998).
2001 to 2003: The Lord of the Rings. Peter Jackson cast Wood as Frodo Baggins in The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003). The trilogy was a global phenomenon, and the final film won 11 Academy Awards. It made Wood one of the most recognizable actors in the world.
2004 to 2010: Independent and varied roles. He took on distinctive projects, including Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Sin City (2005), Green Street (2005), and Everything Is Illuminated (2005). He also voiced Mumble’s friend Mumble’s circle in the animated hit Happy Feet (2006), and in 2005 he founded the record label Simian Records.
2010 to 2014: Production and television. Wood co-founded the production company SpectreVision, which backs genre films. He starred in the comedy series Wilfred (2011 to 2014) and returned as Frodo for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). He also starred in Maniac (2012).
2015 to present. He has continued with projects including The Last Witch Hunter (2015), Come to Daddy (2019), and a role in the television drama Yellowjackets. Alongside acting, he works as a producer and DJ.
Physical Appearance in Detail
Elijah Wood stands 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) and has a lean, slim build, with a weight commonly cited at around 130 lb (59 kg). His frame has stayed fairly consistent since his twenties, which has helped him play characters ranging from youthful to unsettling.
His most famous physical feature is his large, strikingly blue eyes. Directors have repeatedly used them to dramatic effect, from the wide-eyed innocence of Frodo to the cold intensity of Kevin in Sin City. His hair is naturally brown, and he has worn it in many styles over the years, including short crops, longer tousled looks, and shaggy cuts.
His personal style leans casual and understated: fitted jackets, simple tees, and darker tones are common at premieres. On red carpets he tends to favor tailored suits that suit his slimmer frame, rather than oversized silhouettes. His facial features have aged gracefully, and he is often noted for looking younger than his 45 years. The combination of his height, slim build, and expressive eyes gives him a distinctive screen presence that casting directors have used for decades.
Elijah Wood Height Compared to Other Actors
Wood’s height places him on the shorter side of Hollywood leading men, though not unusually so. Many well-known actors share a similar stature, and several of his own co-stars are close to him in height. The table below uses commonly cited, approximate figures, which can vary slightly between sources.
| Actor | Height (ft/in) | Height (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Elijah Wood | 5 ft 6 in | 168 cm |
| Sean Astin | 5 ft 6 in | 168 cm |
| Dominic Monaghan | 5 ft 8 in | 173 cm |
| Daniel Radcliffe | 5 ft 5 in | 165 cm |
| Orlando Bloom | 5 ft 11 in | 180 cm |
Wood and his Lord of the Rings co-star Sean Astin are essentially the same height. Daniel Radcliffe, another actor who became famous as a young man, is slightly shorter. Orlando Bloom, who played the elf Legolas in the same trilogy, stands noticeably taller.
How Height Shaped His Career and Public Image
Height has played a quiet but real role in Wood’s career. His smaller frame made him believable as a boyish lead, and it helped him land the part that defined his career. Frodo is a hobbit, a character meant to look small and vulnerable in a world of larger beings. Wood’s stature, together with his expressive face, fit that vision naturally.
Peter Jackson’s team made the hobbits look small using techniques such as forced perspective and scale doubles, so Wood’s real height was not the deciding factor in the film’s visuals. Still, his youthful appearance and slighter build suited the role, and he made it feel emotionally convincing.
Beyond Frodo, his stature has shaped the roles he is offered. He has often played sensitive, haunted, or unconventional characters rather than traditional action heroes. In films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Maniac, his slight frame supports the vulnerability or unease the story requires. Wood has also embraced offbeat projects, which has set him apart from actors who rely on physical size. His public image is that of a thoughtful, creative performer rather than a conventional leading man, and his height is part of why audiences accept him that way.
What He Has Said About His Height
Elijah Wood has never made his height a major talking point, and there is no widely circulated, verified direct quote from him focused on the subject. He generally treats it as a non-issue. In interviews, he is far more likely to talk about the craft of acting, his love of music, or the filmmaking experience on The Lord of the Rings.
When discussion of hobbit-scale filming comes up, Wood and his co-stars have talked about the technical tricks used to make the hobbits look small beside the human and wizard characters. They have shared how the crew used scale doubles, forced perspective sets, and clever camera angles. Those stories are about movie magic, not about Wood’s own stature.
Because he does not draw attention to the topic, most height information comes from filmography listings and fan reference sources rather than from personal remarks. That relaxed attitude has helped him avoid the height-related scrutiny some other actors face.
Personal Life
Wood keeps his personal life largely private. He has been in a long-term relationship with Danish film producer Mette-Marie Kongsved, and the couple has a son, Mars, born in 2018. Details about their family life are rarely shared publicly, which fits his reputation for discretion.
He divides his time between Los Angeles and other locations, and he is known as a devoted music fan and DJ. He has also long been connected to the fan community around Middle-earth, and he has remained friendly with his co-stars from the trilogy. Outside of work, he is known to support independent film and genre cinema, and his production company SpectreVision reflects that taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elijah Wood tall for a man?
No. At 5 ft 6 in (168 cm), he is a few inches below the average height for an adult American man, which is around 5 ft 9 in.
What is Elijah Wood’s exact height in cm?
Elijah Wood height is most commonly listed as 168 cm, which equals about 5 ft 6 in. Some sources round it slightly up or down, so treat it as approximate.
How does Elijah Wood’s height compare to Sean Astin’s?
They are essentially the same height. Both are commonly listed at around 5 ft 6 in, or 168 cm.
Has Elijah Wood talked about his height publicly?
Not in any prominent way. He has talked about the filming techniques used to make hobbits look small, but he has not made his own height a frequent topic.
What is Elijah Wood’s shoe size?
His shoe size is commonly listed at about US 8 (UK 7), though this is an approximate figure rather than an official one.
Is Elijah Wood taller than Daniel Radcliffe?
Slightly. Wood is listed at about 168 cm, while Radcliffe is typically listed at around 165 cm.
Does Elijah Wood’s height affect his acting roles?
It has influenced the types of characters he plays. His smaller, slighter frame has suited sensitive and unconventional roles, and it supported his casting as Frodo.
What is Elijah Wood known for besides his height?
He is best known for playing Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He is also known for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Sin City, and the series Wilfred, as well as his work as a producer and DJ.
How old is Elijah Wood?
Born on January 28, 1981, he is 45 years old as of November 2026.
