Kit Harington Height: How Tall Is He Really?
Kit Harington height is 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm).
The British actor behind Jon Snow on Game of Thrones is most commonly listed at this height, though a few outlets round it up to 5 feet 9 inches. That puts him close to the average for an adult British man, a fact that surprises many fans who picture the Night’s Watch commander as a towering hero.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Christopher Catesby Harington |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm), approximate |
| Weight | About 154 lb (70 kg), approximate |
| Date of Birth | December 26, 1986 |
| Age | 39 (turns 40 on December 26, 2026) |
| Birthplace | Acton, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Profession | Actor |
| Shoe Size | About US 9 / UK 8 (approximate) |
Early Life and Background
Christopher Catesby Harington was born in Acton, West London, on December 26, 1986, and grew up in the English countryside of Worcestershire. His father, David Harington, holds a baronetcy, a hereditary title that dates back centuries in the family. His mother, Deborah Jane Catesby, is also from a family with deep English roots. The “Catesby” in his name comes from her side. It is the surname of Robert Catesby, the leader of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, who is his ancestor. Decades later, Harington would play that very ancestor on screen.
He grew up with an older brother and attended Warwickshire’s Stanbridge Earls School and then Worcester Sixth Form College. Drama became his focus during his teens, and he was drawn to school productions and local theatre. He went on to train at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, one of the country’s most respected acting conservatoires.
His training was cut short when an extraordinary opportunity arrived. During his studies he landed a major part in a high-profile stage production, and that role changed the direction of his life. Even before he became famous, people who worked with him described a performer who combined classical stage discipline with a brooding, intense screen presence. That quality would define his best-known role.
Career Journey and Timeline
2008: Stage breakthrough. Harington won the role of Albert Narracott in the National Theatre’s acclaimed production of War Horse, a part he played while still a drama student. The role made agents and casting directors notice him.
2011: Game of Thrones. HBO cast him as Jon Snow, the illegitimate son of Ned Stark, in its fantasy epic. The series premiered in April 2011 and turned into a worldwide phenomenon. Jon Snow’s journey from Winterfell to the Wall, through death and resurrection, and finally to the Iron Throne conflict, made Harington an international star.
2014: Film expansion. He starred in the disaster epic Pompeii, played Roland Leighton in the First World War drama Testament of Youth, and voiced the dragon trapper Eret in How to Train Your Dragon 2.
2015 to 2016: Genre and stage work. He appeared in Spooks: The Greater Good and the thriller Brimstone, and returned to the London stage in the title role of Doctor Faustus in 2016.
2017: Gunpowder. Harington starred in and co-produced the BBC miniseries about the 1605 plot, playing his own ancestor Robert Catesby.
2019: Series finale. Game of Thrones ended after eight seasons, with Jon Snow’s final storyline closing the show.
2021: Marvel. He joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Eternals as Dane Whitman, the character who is set to become the Black Knight.
2022 to 2024: Stage and prestige TV. He returned to the theatre in a production of Henry V and then joined the cast of HBO’s finance drama Industry for its third season in a recurring role.
Across these projects he has moved between blockbuster fantasy, period drama, comic-book cinema, and theatre, building a reputation as an actor who can carry both ensemble and leading roles.
Physical Appearance in Detail
Beyond Kit Harington’s height of roughly 5 feet 8 inches, his look is distinctive. He has a lean to athletic build that he has kept in shape for physically demanding roles, particularly the sword fighting, horse riding, and cold-weather shoots of Game of Thrones. His weight is typically cited at around 154 pounds (70 kg), though that number shifts with the demands of each part.
He has dark brown hair, famously worn in loose, shoulder-length curls as Jon Snow. Between roles he has often kept it shorter and tidier, and he occasionally wears a beard. His eyes are a dark brown, giving his face the intense, slightly melancholic look that directors have used to great effect.
Off screen, his style is understated and very British. He is regularly photographed in dark tailored coats, well-fitted knitwear, boots, and simple suits at premieres. He tends to avoid flashy fashion statements, favoring neutral and dark palettes that suit his coloring. This low-key approach works well with his proportions, since classic, slim-cut tailoring flatters a medium-height frame without drawing attention to measurements.
Height Comparison: How Tall Is Kit Harington Next to Other Actors?
At 173 cm, Harington is close to the typical height of British men, which averages around 175 cm. On the set of Game of Thrones, though, he stood beside actors who were noticeably taller, and camera work, costumes, and fur cloaks helped maintain his commanding on-screen image. Seen next to other well-known actors in epic television and film, he lands in the middle of the pack. He is taller than some leading men and several inches shorter than others, and he is nowhere near the extremes of the cast he worked with.
| Actor | Approximate Height |
|---|---|
| Nikolaj Coster-Waldau | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Richard Madden | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Sean Bean | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Pedro Pascal | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Kit Harington | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Peter Dinklage | 4 ft 5 in (135 cm) |
All figures are approximate and based on the most commonly cited numbers. Actors’ heights are rarely measured officially and vary slightly between sources.
How Height Shaped His Career and Public Image
Harington’s height has had very little effect on the types of roles he has been offered, which is itself notable. Hollywood still favors tall leading men, but a medium build has not stopped him from being cast as warriors, heirs, and heroes. Part of the reason is the way fantasy and period productions are made. Costume design, camera angles, careful framing, and strong physical performances all contribute to a character’s stature on screen. Jon Snow’s heavy black cloak and posture gave him presence regardless of how he measured next to his co-stars.
His relatively average height has also arguably helped his relatability. Jon Snow was written as a reluctant leader, a bastard son who earns respect rather than inheriting it. An actor who looks like a believable ordinary man, rather than a physically imposing giant, suits that arc. Fans have often said they connect with Jon because he seems human and vulnerable.
In his stage work, height is less of a factor. Theatre audiences respond to voice, movement, and presence, and Harington’s training at Central gave him the technique to command a stage in roles like Doctor Faustus and Henry V.
In the Marvel universe, where heroes are often cast with imposing frames, his character Dane Whitman is a more grounded, human figure, which makes his proportions a natural fit.
Overall, his career is a good example of how talent, training, and the right project matter far more than a few inches.
What Kit Harington Has Said About His Height
Harington has not made height a major talking point in interviews, and there is no widely documented, verified quote from him giving an exact measurement. He has generally been good-humored in discussing the physical side of acting, including the demanding fight choreography, the heavy costumes, and the cold-weather conditions of filming Game of Thrones in Northern Ireland and Iceland.
Fans and entertainment writers have frequently noted that he appeared shorter or taller depending on which co-star he stood next to at conventions and premieres. Because the show featured actors across a very wide range of heights, the comparisons were often noticeable in group photos. He has largely let those observations pass without comment.
If you are looking for an exact statement from him, none is reliably recorded, so the figure of 5 feet 8 inches comes from the most commonly cited listings rather than a personal confirmation. A small number of sources round it to 5 feet 9 inches or 175 cm, which is why the number is best treated as approximate.
Personal Life Brief
Harington married actress Rose Leslie, his Game of Thrones co-star who played Ygritte, in June 2018 at her family’s castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The couple had been together since around 2012 and kept their relationship relatively private for years.
They have two children: a son born in early 2021 and a daughter born in 2023. Harington has spoken openly about the way fatherhood changed his outlook, and the family divides its time between the UK and other locations, depending on filming schedules.
He has also been candid about his mental health. After Game of Thrones ended, he spoke about seeking treatment for stress and exhaustion in 2019, and he has since become an advocate for conversations around men’s wellbeing. He also supports environmental causes and has taken part in public campaigns on climate awareness.
FAQ: Kit Harington Height and More
Is Kit Harington tall for a man?
He is about average. At 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm), he is slightly under the average height of British men, which is around 5 feet 9 inches, and close to the global male average.
What is Kit Harington’s exact height in cm?
The most commonly cited figure is 173 cm. Some sources list 175 cm, so the number is approximate rather than officially measured.
How does Kit Harington’s height compare to Richard Madden’s?
Richard Madden, who played Robb Stark, is usually listed at around 6 feet 0 inches (183 cm), making him roughly 4 inches taller than Harington.
Has Kit Harington talked about his height publicly?
Not in any notable or verifiable way. He has discussed the physical demands of his roles but has not made height a recurring topic.
What is Kit Harington’s shoe size?
Roughly US 9 (UK 8), though this is an approximate figure from fan and entertainment listings rather than an official statement.
Is Kit Harington taller than Pedro Pascal?
No. Pascal is usually listed at about 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm), around 2 inches taller than Harington.
How tall is Kit Harington compared to his wife, Rose Leslie?
Rose Leslie is commonly listed at around 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm), which makes Harington roughly 2 inches taller.
Does Kit Harington’s height affect his acting roles?
Not significantly. He has played warriors, soldiers, and heroes, and costume, camera work, and performance have more influence on how a character looks than actual height.
What is Kit Harington known for besides his height?
He is best known as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, but he has also appeared in Pompeii, Testament of Youth, Eternals, Gunpowder, and the HBO series Industry, along with acclaimed stage work in War Horse, Doctor Faustus, and Henry V.
