Body shapes · Women & men
Female Body Types
There are five main female body types: hourglass, pear, apple, rectangle and inverted triangle. Fit research splits them into nine body shapes, adding top hourglass, bottom hourglass, spoon and triangle. This page shows all the different body shapes side by side, what defines each one, how common they are, and how to find yours.
Female body types chart
Every card in this body types chart for women shows the outline, the rule that defines it, and a link to the full guide. The yellow lines mark the bust, waist and hips.
All types of body shapes compared
The difference between women body types comes down to two questions: how do your bust and hips compare, and how defined is your waist?
| Body shape | Bust vs hips | Waist | Looks like | Styling goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourglass | Equal | Very defined | Classic curves | Follow the waist |
| Top hourglass | Bust 1–10 in bigger | Very defined | Curvy, fuller on top | Balance the bust |
| Bottom hourglass | Hips 3.6–10 in bigger | Very defined | Curvy, fuller below | Balance the hips |
| Pear | Hips 3.6–7 in bigger | Defined | Rounded hips, slim top | Draw the eye up |
| Triangle | Hips 7+ in bigger | Moderate | Much wider below | Build the top half |
| Spoon | Hips 2+ in bigger | Defined | Shelf at the high hip | Sit above the shelf |
| Apple | Similar | Close to bust and hips | Fuller in the middle | Lengthen the torso |
| Rectangle | Within 3.6 in | Slightly smaller | Straight, balanced | Create curves |
| Inverted triangle | Bust 3.6+ in bigger | Moderate | Strong shoulders | Add width below |
Thresholds are in inches and follow the FFIT method from North Carolina State University. In centimetres, 3.6 in is about 9 cm and 9 in is about 23 cm.
Stuck between two shapes? Compare pear vs hourglass and spoon vs pear. For what to wear, see the hourglass, pear, apple, rectangle and inverted triangle outfit guides.
How many female body types are there?
It depends on the system. Most fashion guides use five body shape types, because they’re easy to spot in a mirror. Measurement systems split those five into nine, because the extra detail changes what fits:
- Hourglass splits into hourglass, top hourglass and bottom hourglass, depending on whether the bust or hips are fuller.
- Pear splits into pear, triangle and spoon, depending on how much wider the hips are and where they widen.
- Apple, rectangle and inverted triangle stay as they are.
You’ll also see other systems: somatotypes (ectomorph, mesomorph, endomorph) describe build and muscle rather than outline, and the Kibbe body types system describes overall style essence. They don’t replace body shape; you can be one of each.
How common is each body type?
The best-known data comes from a North Carolina State University study that 3D-scanned more than 6,000 American women.
Source: Devarajan & Istook, North Carolina State University, 2005. The study reported these four groups; the remaining women fell into other categories. Bars drawn to scale (full width = 50%).
So the rectangle is the most common female body shape and the hourglass is the rarest of the main four. Shapes also shift with age: many women move towards a straighter or apple outline after menopause, as weight settles more at the waist.
How to find your body type
- Measure your bust at its fullest point, tape level (see how to measure your body for a diagram).
- Measure your waist at the narrowest point, breathing out.
- Measure your high hip, 3 to 4 inches below the waist on the hip bones.
- Measure your hips at the widest part of the seat.
- Enter the numbers in the body type calculator. It compares them against all nine shapes and shows how close you are to each.
No tape measure? Try the body type quiz, but expect it to be less precise.
Male body types
Male body types are based on the shoulders rather than the bust. The five male types are trapezoid, inverted triangle, rectangle, triangle and oval. Find yours with the male body type calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most attractive female body shape?
There isn’t one answer. The hourglass is the shape most often called the ideal, but research and fashion both show tastes vary by culture and era. Any body type looks best in clothes cut for its proportions.
What is the rarest female body type?
Of the four main shapes measured in the North Carolina State University study, the hourglass was the rarest, at about 8% of women.
What is the healthiest body type?
No shape is healthy or unhealthy on its own. Weight carried around the waist, as in an apple shape, is linked with higher risk than weight on the hips, so your waist to hip ratio is a more useful number.