Under normal circumstances, the growth of a new fingernail takes approximately:

• A. 1-2 months
• B. 3-4 months
• C. 4-6 months
• D. 12 months

Answer: (C)

Nails grow from the nail matrix at a steady rate, with fingernails typically extending about 3–4 millimeters each month. Because of that pace, a full fingernail needs roughly four to six months to grow out from base to tip under normal conditions. Shorter timeframes, like one to two months, aren’t enough to complete a new nail, and a full year is far longer than usual for a fingernail (it’s more in the range of toenails or regrowth after injury). So four to six months is the best estimate for a complete fingernail replacement.