Calculator · All-in-one
Body Measurements Calculator
Enter your measurements once and this free body measurements calculator gives you everything they can tell you: your body shape, body fat estimate, BMI, waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios, and, for women, your dress and bra size. It works for women and men, in inches or centimetres.
Your results
Estimates for general information only, not a medical assessment. Body fat from tape measurements is usually within a few percentage points of lab methods.
What this body measurements calculator shows
Most calculators use your measurements for one thing. This one runs them through several standard formulas at once, so you get a full picture from a single tape-measure session:
| Result | Uses | Full tool |
|---|---|---|
| Body shape | Bust or chest, waist, hips (high hip, shoulders optional) | Body type calculator |
| Body fat % | Height, neck, waist (and hips for women) | US Navy method |
| BMI | Height and weight | WHO categories |
| Waist-to-hip ratio | Waist and hips | WHR calculator |
| Waist-to-height ratio | Waist and height | WHtR calculator |
| Dress size (women) | Bust, waist, hips | Dress size calculator |
| Bra size (women) | Underbust and bust | Bra size calculator |
| Shoulder-to-waist ratio (men) | Shoulders and waist | V shape body |
Body measurements you need
Use a soft tape measure, stand relaxed, and keep the tape level and snug without squeezing. Measure over light clothing or bare skin, and breathe out normally before reading the tape.
- Height and weight: without shoes, ideally in the morning.
- Neck: around the neck just below the larynx (Adam’s apple), tape sloping slightly down at the front.
- Bust or chest: around the fullest part, under the arms.
- Waist: women at the narrowest point of the torso; men at the level of the belly button.
- Hips: around the fullest part of the seat, feet together.
- Optional: underbust (snug, directly under the bust) for bra size, high hip (on the hip bones) to spot a spoon shape, and shoulders (all the way around, arms relaxed) for men.
How each result is calculated
- Body fat (US Navy method): a formula developed by the US Navy that estimates body fat from circumferences and height. Men use waist minus neck; women use waist plus hips minus neck.
- BMI: weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Under 18.5 is underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 is a healthy weight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30 or more is obesity.
- Waist-to-hip ratio: waist divided by hips. The World Health Organization links a ratio of 0.85 or more in women, and 0.90 or more in men, with higher health risk.
- Waist-to-height ratio: waist divided by height. Under 0.5 means no increased risk; 0.5 to 0.59 is increased; 0.6 or more is high.
- Body shape: the same measurement rules as our body type calculator for women and male body type calculator for men.
- Sizes: standard US size charts, converted to UK, EU and AU sizes.
Ideal body measurements
There’s no single perfect set of numbers; healthy bodies come in every shape. What research does support are ratios linked to lower health risk:
- Waist under half your height (waist-to-height ratio below 0.5), for both women and men.
- Waist-to-hip ratio under 0.85 for women and under 0.90 for men.
For appearance, the most quoted “perfect male body measurements” use the golden ratio: shoulders about 1.6 times the waist, sometimes called the Adonis index. Add your shoulders in Male mode and the calculator shows your ratio. For women, a balanced hourglass (bust and hips within a few inches, waist about 10 inches smaller) is the classic ideal in fashion, but it’s a style reference, not a health goal.
Body measurements for women vs men
The calculator changes the formulas and results with the Female / Male switch:
| Women | Men | |
|---|---|---|
| Waist measured at | Narrowest point | Belly button |
| Body fat formula | Waist + hips − neck, height | Waist − neck, height |
| Body shapes | 9 shapes (hourglass, pear, apple…) | 5 types (trapezoid, inverted triangle…) |
| WHR risk threshold | 0.85 | 0.90 |
| Extra results | Dress size, bra size | Shoulder-to-waist ratio |
How accurate is a body measurements calculator?
The ratios, BMI and sizes are exact calculations, so they’re only as accurate as your tape measurements. Measure two or three times and use the average. Body fat is an estimate: the US Navy method is usually within a few percentage points of lab tests, but it can be less accurate for very muscular people or at the extremes. BMI doesn’t separate muscle from fat, which is why the waist-based ratios are shown alongside it.
Frequently asked questions
What is 34 26 36 body shape?
34-26-36 (bust 34, waist 26, hips 36 inches) is an hourglass body shape. The bust and hips are within 2 inches of each other, and the waist is 10 inches smaller than the hips, which meets the hourglass rule. Enter your own numbers above to check yours.
How can I calculate my ideal body measurements?
There’s no single ideal, but you can check the ratios linked to good health: aim for a waist under half your height, and a waist-to-hip ratio under 0.85 for women or 0.90 for men. For men interested in a classic athletic look, the golden ratio puts the shoulders at about 1.6 times the waist. The calculator above shows all of these from your measurements.
Can you get body measurements from a picture?
Some apps estimate measurements from photos, but the results depend on the camera angle, clothing and posture, so they’re less accurate than a tape measure. For size charts and body fat formulas, a soft tape gives far more reliable numbers.
What is the best free app for measuring my body?
You don’t need an app: a soft tape measure costs very little and is more accurate than phone estimates. Take your measurements once, enter them in a free online calculator like this one, and note them down to track changes every few weeks.