Ever since he stepped onto the screen as the menacing, mullet-rocking Billy Hargrove in Stranger Things, people have been slightly obsessed with Dacre Montgomery's presence. He has this old-school Hollywood energy—sorta like a young James Dean but with a modern, Australian edge. But when you see him standing next to the rest of the Hawkins crew, it’s easy to get a little confused about his actual size.
So, how tall is Dacre Montgomery really?
If you look at his official stats, Dacre Montgomery stands at 5 feet 10 inches (about 178-180 cm).
Now, depending on which corner of the internet you’re lurking in, you might see 5'11" or even a flat 5'9" thrown around. Honestly, 5'10" is the sweet spot that most reputable industry sources and fan observations land on. It’s that height where he’s tall enough to be imposing as a "bad boy" jock, but not so tall that he towers over every other leading man in Hollywood.
Why Dacre Montgomery Looks Taller (or Shorter) on Screen
Camera angles are a hell of a drug. In Stranger Things, the directors often used low-angle shots to make Billy Hargrove look like an absolute titan. When he’s leaning against that blue Camaro, looking down at the kids, he feels like he’s 6'4".
But then you see him in a scene with Joe Keery (Steve Harrington). Joe is also right around that 5'11" mark. When they go toe-to-toe, they’re basically eye-level.
It’s a different story when he’s next to someone like David Harbour (Jim Hopper), who is a massive 6'3". In those moments, you realize Dacre is more of a "compact" powerhouse. He has a very broad, muscular build—what some fans call a "tank" physique—which can actually make a person look slightly shorter than they are because they’re so wide.
Breaking Down the Comparison
To get a real sense of his stature, you have to look at his co-stars. It’s the easiest way to gauge height without a measuring tape.
- Joe Keery: Joe is usually listed at 5'11". In their iconic fight scene, Dacre looks just a hair shorter or exactly the same, depending on the shoes.
- Finn Wolfhard: This is where it gets weird. Finn (Mike Wheeler) had a massive growth spurt and eventually hit about 5'10" or 5'11" himself. By the later seasons, the "kids" were catching up to the "adults" fast.
- Charlie Heaton: Charlie (Jonathan Byers) is roughly 5'8" or 5'9". Dacre definitely has a clear couple of inches on him.
The Transformation: It’s Not Just About Height
The thing about Dacre is that his presence is huge. He’s talked openly about his body transformation, and honestly, it's pretty inspiring. Before he was the ripped lifeguard we saw at the Hawkins pool, Dacre says he was a "big kid" in high school, weighing around 90kg (nearly 200 lbs).
He lost about 25kg (55 lbs) through pure grit—running on a treadmill and eventually finding a love for boxing and night-time gym sessions. When he landed the role of Jason Lee Scott in the 2017 Power Rangers movie, he took things to another level.
He didn't just want to be "actor fit." He wanted to be "action figure fit."
For Stranger Things, he actually changed his approach. He wanted Billy to look "meatier" and "chunkier," more like an 80s jock who lifts heavy and eats a lot of protein. He swapped some of the heavy lifting for resistance bands and high-rep work to create "dense" muscle. This thickness is why his 5'10" frame looks so much more intimidating than your average guy of the same height.
Facing the "Short King" Rumors
Is 5'10" short? In the world of Hollywood, where every leading man claims to be 6'2", sometimes being "average" height feels short by comparison. But Dacre doesn't seem to care about the height discourse.
He’s part of a long line of actors who prove that height doesn't dictate "big screen" energy. Tom Hardy is 5'9". Zac Efron is 5'8". Both of them play massive, imposing characters. Dacre fits right into that category. He uses his posture—that slight lean, the aggressive walk—to command the space around him.
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What This Means for His Career
Being 5'10" is actually a bit of a "sweet spot" for actors. It makes you easy to frame in a shot with almost any actress, and you don't require the production to build special doorframes or platforms (which sometimes happens with actors over 6'5").
He’s versatile. He can play the high school bully, the romantic lead, or the intense psychological thriller protagonist.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're trying to emulate that Dacre Montgomery look or you're just a stats nerd, here’s the bottom line:
- Accept the 5'10" Reality: Don't believe the forums saying he's 5'7" or 6'1". He’s firmly in the middle.
- Focus on Posture: If you want to look as commanding as he does, notice how he stands. He rarely slumps.
- Fitness over Height: Dacre's "presence" comes from his athleticism. Whether it's surfing with his partner, Liv Pollock, or his boxing routines, his confidence comes from how he moves, not how high his head is from the floor.
If you’re tracking his career, keep an eye on his upcoming projects like Went Up the Hill. Seeing him in different roles alongside different actors will only confirm what we already know: the dude is a powerhouse, regardless of the inches on a ruler.
Next Steps for You: Check out Dacre's own poetry and podcast project, DKMh, if you want to see the more intellectual side of the man behind the muscles. It’s a complete 180 from Billy Hargrove. You can also look at his workout philosophy if you're trying to build that "dense" muscle look he's famous for.