Body shapes · Comparison
Spoon vs Pear Body Shape
Spoon and pear are the two shapes most often confused, because both have hips wider than the bust. The difference is where the hips widen. A spoon’s hips jut out high, just below the waist, forming a “shelf”. A pear’s hips widen gradually and are fullest lower down. One extra measurement, the high hip, tells you which you are.
What is the difference between a spoon and pear body shape?
Both shapes carry more width in the lower body than the upper body, and both have a waist that’s smaller than the hips. In the spoon vs pear body shape comparison, the deciding feature is the shelf:
- Spoon: the hips flare out right below the waist, so the widest part starts high. Your high hip is at least 1.193 times your waist. From the front, the outline curves out sharply, like the bowl of a spoon.
- Pear: the hips widen gradually from the waist down and are fullest around the seat and thighs. Your high hip is less than 1.193 times your waist, and your hips are 3.6 in or more wider than your bust.
That means a spoon body shape vs pear can have exactly the same bust, waist and hip numbers. Only the high hip shows the difference, which is why most three-measurement calculators call every spoon a pear. Our body type calculator asks for the high hip so it can tell them apart.
How to measure your high hip
- Find your natural waist, the narrowest part of your torso.
- Move the tape 3 to 4 inches (7 to 10 cm) lower, so it sits across the top of your hip bones.
- Keep the tape level all the way round and snug but not tight.
- Divide this number by your waist. 1.193 or more points to a spoon; under 1.193 points to a pear.
For the bust, waist and full hip measurements, follow the steps in what is my body shape.
Spoon vs pear body type: side by side
| Spoon | Pear | |
|---|---|---|
| Hips vs bust | More than 2 in wider | 3.6 in or more wider |
| Hips vs waist | 7 in or more wider | Less than 9 in wider |
| High hip ÷ waist | 1.193 or more | Under 1.193 |
| Where hips widen | High, just below the waist | Gradually, fullest low |
| From the side | High, rounded seat | Fullness through seat and thighs |
| Jeans problem | Gape or dig in at the top of the hips | Fit the hips, gape at the waist |
Some people describe a spoon as a “pear with a shelf”. That’s a fair shorthand for spoon shape vs pear shape, but it matters for clothes, as the styling section below shows.
Spoon vs pear measurements: examples
Each pair below has the same bust, waist and hips. Only the high hip changes, and that changes the shape. All were checked with the same rules as the checker above.
| Bust-waist-hips | High hip | High hip ÷ waist | Shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34-31-39 | 37 in | 1.194 | Spoon |
| 34-31-39 | 35 in | 1.129 | Pear |
| 33-30-38 | 36 in | 1.200 | Spoon |
| 33-30-38 | 34 in | 1.133 | Pear |
| 32-28-36 | 34 in | 1.214 | Spoon |
| 32-28-36 | 33 in | 1.179 | Pear |
If your waist is very defined (9 in or more smaller than your hips) and there’s no shelf, you’re likely a bottom hourglass rather than a pear. See pear vs hourglass for that comparison.
How to dress a spoon vs pear body shape
Both shapes look balanced when you add a little interest on top. The big difference is where bottoms and belts should sit.
| Spoon | Pear | |
|---|---|---|
| Jeans and trousers | High rise that sits above the shelf; curvy fits with extra room at the top hip | Mid or high rise, bootcut or wide-leg in dark shades |
| Skirts | A-line from the natural waist; avoid skirts that cling at the high hip | A-line, flared or wrap skirts |
| Tops | Tucked or cropped at the waist; avoid hems ending on the shelf | Boat necks, structured shoulders, colour on top |
| Belts | At the natural waist only | At the waist to show its shape |
| Dresses | Fit-and-flare that releases at the waist | A-line and fit-and-flare |
More outfit ideas for each shape are in how to dress for your body type.
Frequently asked questions
Is spoon the same as pear?
No, though they’re close. Both have hips wider than the bust, but a spoon’s hips widen high up and form a shelf just below the waist, while a pear’s hips widen gradually and are fullest lower down. If your high hip is 1.193 times your waist or more, you’re a spoon; below that, a pear.
Is pear body shape chubby?
No. Body shape describes proportions, not weight. A pear shape means your hips are wider than your bust, and that’s true for slim and fuller women alike, because hip width comes largely from your bone structure. The same goes for a spoon.