This study was to determine the reliability and validity of manual measurements of patellar height to standard radiographic measurements in 30 knees of 15 subjects. Patellar height was measured using manual and radiographic methods. The manual measurements were performed by two examiners using digital vernier calipers with the subject sitting and the knees in 30° of flexion. The radiographic measurements were performed in the same position. The reliability of the manual measurements was assessed by means of intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC(3,1)], and the validity was investigated using the Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient and an independent t-test. The intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of the manual measurement of patellar height were excellent (ICC=.86 and .88 respectively). The validity of patellar height measured manually compared to the radiographic method was good (Pearson’s r=.69). In conclusion, the manual method is an objective, qualitative measurement of patella height.