Fingernails grow about three to four times faster than toenails.

Fingernails grow at an average rate of roughly 3 millimeters per month, while toenails grow much more slowly, at around 1 millimeter per month. That means a damaged or removed fingernail can take several months to fully regrow, while a toenail can take the better part of a year.

The exact reason for the difference isn’t fully settled, but the leading explanations point to fingers being exposed to more everyday activity, better blood circulation reaching the hands, and fingertips experiencing more repeated minor trauma — all thought to stimulate faster nail cell turnover than in the comparatively still, enclosed environment of the toes.