The study found that only after a couple has decided that the difference in height between them is right, they consider face, personality and body shape.
Men prefer to look down on a woman, while women are attracted to taller men, the 'Daily Mail' reported.
Scientists have even worked out the ideal proportions, saying a man should be 1.09 times taller than his partner. This can be expressed as a ratio of 1.09:1.
The study suggests that the ideal partner for a 5ft 8in woman is a man who stands 6ft 2in. By contrast a woman of 5ft 2in would seek out a man of around 5ft 8in.
The study by Polish anthropologist Dr Boguslaw Pawlowski, to be published by the Royal Society, suggests we are programmed to choose partners according to this formula.
According to Pawlowski's theory, a man would have to divide his own height by 1.09, and a woman multiply hers by the same figure, to find the ideal.
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However, exceptions to the rule immediately spring to mind, they said.
"Females prefer taller men. Taller men have higher social status, earn more and are at lower risk from illness. They also have better reproductive success, as do shorter women - so a male will look for a smaller female," Pawlowski said.
In his study, 600 men and women aged 19-50 were shown outlines of couples of varying heights and asked to say which represented the ideal best.
A majority plumped for those with the height ratio of 1.09:1.
About exceptionally tall or short people who tend to find partners much shorter or much taller than themselves, Pawlowski believes this is down to the unconscious knowledge.