Last year, I broke a nail right before a big event.
Not just a small chip. I mean deep, halfway down my nail bed. I stared at it and thought, “Great. How long is this thing going to take to grow back?”
If you’ve ever sat there, looking at your hands and wondering the same thing, you’re not alone. That’s why I wanted to sit down and share How Long Does It Take For Nails To Grow? The 2026 Truth in simple, real-talk language. No scary medical words. Just honest answers, like I’d give a friend over coffee.
Short Answer: How Long Do Nails Really Take To Grow?
Let’s get to what you actually want to know first.
On average:
- Fingernails grow about 3 millimetres a month
(that’s around the width of a grain of rice). - Toenails grow slower, about 1–2 millimetres a month.
So, in real life terms:
- To grow out a small crack or chip:
usually 3–4 weeks. - To fully replace a whole fingernail from bottom to tip:
about 4–6 months. - To fully replace a whole toenail:
around 9–18 months.
That, in simple words, is How Long Does It Take For Nails To Grow? The 2026 Truth based on the latest info. It’s not overnight. It takes patience. And yes, it can feel painfully slow when you’re staring at that one ugly nail every day.
Why Do Fingernails Grow Faster Than Toenails?
This always bugged me. Why do my hands sort themselves out faster than my feet?
Here’s the easy version:
- Your hands move more than your feet.
More movement means better blood flow. - More blood flow means your nail cells get more oxygen and nutrients.
- Your toes are often in shoes, warm and squashed.
That can slow things down.
So if you’ve been wondering why that ruined toenail from last year is still not right… it’s normal. Annoying, but normal.
The Real 2026 Truth: What Affects Nail Growth?
When we talk about **How Long Does It Take For Nails To Grow?