The available observational data for the beginning and end heights of meteors in the Perseid, Southern Taurid and Geminid meteor streams is compared to the quantitative theory of dustball meteor ablation due to Hawkes & Jones. A reasonable agreement between model predictions and observations is found. Following the analysis of Hapgood, Rothwell & Royrvik the amount of energy required to fragment unit mass of meteoroid material is calculated, with the result that meteors are possibly more fragile than assumed in theory. © Royal Astronomical Society.