You can usually find out your baby’s gender sometime between very early in the first trimester and the middle of the second trimester, depending on the method used and why you’re testing.

How soon can you find out the gender of your baby?

1. Super-early options (weeks 6–10)

These are based on analyzing fetal DNA, not on what can be seen on an ultrasound.

  • Some private/at‑home blood tests (cell‑free DNA tests marketed for “early gender”) claim to detect fetal sex as early as about 6 weeks, by looking for Y‑chromosome DNA in the mother’s blood, often advertising ≥99% accuracy under ideal conditions.
  • Clinically used Non‑Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) is generally offered from around 10 weeks and can identify sex chromosomes with accuracy often above 99%.
  • These tests are primarily designed to screen for chromosomal conditions; gender/sex is a secondary piece of information.

Because these tests are done so early, they’re usually ordered through or at least reviewed by a healthcare professional, even if the kit is purchased privately.

2. Ultrasound timing (the “classic” way)

Ultrasound is what most people think of when they imagine finding out the gender.

  • Around 11–12 weeks: A skilled sonographer may sometimes make an educated guess, but accuracy is relatively low (around 70% or so in some reports), and many clinics won’t formally “call” the sex this early.
  • About 14–16 weeks: Accuracy improves significantly (often above 90% reported in clinic blogs and commercial info), but positioning still matters and mistakes can happen.
  • 18–22 weeks: This is the standard detailed “anatomy scan” window; ultrasound accuracy is often quoted in the 95–99% range when baby’s position is good.

Most people who are not doing blood tests first find out their baby’s sex at that 18–22 week anatomy scan.

3. Invasive diagnostic tests (usually for medical reasons)

Some tests can show fetal chromosomes directly and therefore reveal sex with very high accuracy, but they carry small risks and are not done just for curiosity.

  • Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS): Usually performed around 10–13 or 11–14 weeks, uses placental tissue; sex determination is typically ≥98% accurate.
  • Amniocentesis: Typically done around 15–20 weeks, analyzes fetal cells from amniotic fluid; accuracy for sex is also very high (often cited >99%).

These procedures are recommended when there is a medical indication (for example, higher risk of chromosomal or genetic conditions), not simply to find out the gender.

4. What do real‑world experiences look like?

If you browse pregnancy forums, you’ll see a mix of experiences: some parents learn the sex at 10 weeks with NIPT or at‑home DNA kits, others at about 15–16 weeks with a private ultrasound, and many wait for the standard 20‑week scan.

A common pattern in those discussions:

  • A few people get correct “guesses” around 12 weeks.
  • Quite a lot share stories of early ultrasound guesses being wrong and later corrected at the anatomy scan.
  • Many emphasize that blood‑based DNA testing tends to be more reliable than “nub theory” or early ultrasound predictions.

5. Quick reference table

[3][5] [9][1][3] [1][3] [8][3][9][1] [5][9] [3][9]
Method Typical timing Why/where it’s used Gender accuracy (approx.)
At‑home / private fetal DNA blood test From ~6 weeks Early, non‑clinical gender reveal Often advertised >99% if sample is adequate
Medical NIPT (cell‑free DNA) From ~10 weeks Chromosomal screening, sex as extra info Typically >99% for sex chromosomes
Ultrasound (early “guess”) 11–14 weeks Sometimes offered at private scans Roughly ~70–90%, depends heavily on skill and position
Ultrasound (anatomy scan) 18–22 weeks Routine detailed fetal anatomy check About 95–99% when views are clear
CVS ~10–13/11–14 weeks Diagnostic test for chromosomal/genetic conditions ≈98% for sex determination
Amniocentesis ~15–20 weeks Diagnostic testing when medically indicated Often >99% for sex

6. Putting it all together

If your main question is “how soon is it realistically safe to plan around the result,” many clinicians would say:

  • Earliest high‑confidence option: around 10 weeks with a DNA blood test (medical NIPT or reputable lab‑processed kit).
  • Most common option without extra tests: 18–22 week ultrasound.

Always check with your own midwife, GP, or obstetrician before ordering private tests or making medical decisions, since availability and recommendations can vary by country, clinic, and your personal health situation.

TL;DR: You can sometimes find out the gender as early as about 6–10 weeks with fetal DNA blood tests, but most people learn it at the 18–22 week ultrasound when accuracy is very high.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.