Calculator · Men
Male Body Type Calculator
This body type calculator for men uses three tape measurements (shoulders, waist and hips) to tell you which of the five male body shapes you are. It also shows your shoulder to waist ratio and how to dress for your build, from shirts and jackets to jeans.
Your male body type
Read the full guide →How to use the male body type calculator
- Choose inches or cm.
- Pick Shoulders if someone can measure you, or Chest if you’re measuring alone.
- Enter your shoulders (or chest), waist and hips, then press Calculate.
- You’ll see your body shape, three ratios and fit advice for shirts, jackets and trousers.
The calculator compares widths, not weight, so two men of very different sizes can share a body shape. Want the female version? Use the main body type calculator.
How to measure for the calculator
- Shoulders: wrap a soft tape all the way around your body at the widest point of the shoulders, over the top of the arms, with arms relaxed at your sides. This is a circumference, so ask someone to help.
- Chest (alternative): measure around the fullest part of the chest, under the armpits. The calculator scales it up slightly to stand in for the shoulders.
- Waist: measure at your natural waist, usually just above the belly button, after breathing out normally. Don’t hold your stomach in.
- Hips: measure around the widest part of the seat with your feet together.
What your result means
The calculator places you in one of the five male body types:
| Result | How it’s decided | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Oval | Waist within 5% of the shoulders, or wider than the hips | Oval |
| Triangle | Hips more than 3% wider than the shoulders | Triangle |
| Inverted triangle | Shoulders 25%+ wider than hips and 12+ in wider than the waist | Inverted triangle |
| Trapezoid | Shoulders 15%+ wider than the waist | Trapezoid |
| Rectangle | None of the above: shoulders, waist and hips close together | Rectangle |
The rules are checked in that order, so a man with a wide waist is shown as oval even if his shoulders are broad. If your numbers sit right on a border, read both guides. Most men fall between two shapes.
Shoulder to waist ratio
Your shoulder to waist ratio is your shoulder circumference divided by your waist. It’s the quickest single number for how much V taper you have.
| Shoulder ÷ waist | What it means |
|---|---|
| Under 1.15 | Little taper: rectangle or oval |
| 1.15–1.40 | Clear taper: trapezoid, the most common athletic build |
| 1.40 and up | Strong V: inverted triangle |
| About 1.6 | The “golden ratio” or Adonis index often quoted as an ideal |
The 1.6 figure is a fitness ideal, not a health measure. For health, your waist matters more than your shoulders, so check your waist to hip ratio too.
Worked example
Shoulders 44 in, waist 36 in, hips 40 in
- Oval? The waist (36) is less than 95% of the shoulders (41.8) and not wider than the hips. No.
- Triangle? The hips (40) are narrower than the shoulders. No.
- Inverted triangle? Shoulders ÷ hips = 1.10, below 1.25. No.
- Trapezoid? Shoulders ÷ waist = 44 ÷ 36 = 1.22, above 1.15. Yes.
Result: trapezoid. Most slim and regular fits suit this build. Losing a couple of inches at the waist would push the ratio towards 1.3.
Frequently asked questions
What is my body type as a man?
Measure around your shoulders, waist and hips and enter them in the calculator above. It compares the three widths and gives one of five male body shapes: trapezoid, inverted triangle, rectangle, triangle or oval.
How do you measure your shoulders?
For this calculator, wrap the tape around the widest part of your shoulders and upper arms, arms relaxed. For a shirt or suit jacket, tailors instead measure straight across the back from one shoulder seam to the other.
What is a good shoulder to waist ratio for men?
Divide your shoulder circumference by your waist. Around 1.2 to 1.4 is a normal athletic taper, and about 1.6 is the often-quoted ideal known as the golden ratio or Adonis index.