Body Fat Calculator

Your weight on the scale doesn't show what it's made of. This body fat calculator uses theUS Navy method — just a tape measure and your height — to estimate how much of your body is fat, then splits your weight into fat mass and lean mass and places you in a standard category. It also shows yourwaist-to-height ratio, a simple marker of belly fat that is especially useful for Indians, who tend to store more fat around the waist.

How to use it

Measure your neck and waist (and hips, for women) in centimetres.
Enter them with your height and weight.
Re-measure every 4 weeks at the same time of day to track progress.

Example

A man 172 cm tall weighing 74 kg, with a 38 cm neck and an 88 cm waist, comes out at about19.7% body fat — the “average” range. That's roughly 14.6 kg of fat and 59.4 kg of lean mass. His waist-to-height ratio is 0.51, just above the 0.5 guideline: keeping your waist under half your height is a good simple goal. Compare with the BMI calculator and find a target with theideal weight calculator.

Health disclaimer: This tool gives general estimates for information only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a qualified doctor about your health. Read the full disclaimer.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is the US Navy body fat method?

It is usually within about 3–4 percentage points of lab methods like DEXA when measurements are taken carefully, which makes it one of the better tape-measure estimates. It is less accurate for very muscular or very heavy people.

How do I measure my waist, neck and hips?

Use a soft tape, snug but not squeezing the skin. Neck: just below the Adam’s apple. Waist: at the navel for men, at the narrowest point for women, after breathing out normally. Hips (women): at the widest point of the buttocks. Measure twice and use the average.

What is a healthy body fat percentage?

Roughly 14–24% for men and 21–31% for women is considered fit to average by the American Council on Exercise. Athletes are often lower. Below the essential-fat range (about 2–5% for men, 10–13% for women) is unhealthy.

Is body fat more useful than BMI?

Often, yes. BMI can’t tell muscle from fat, so a muscular person may be labelled overweight. Body fat percentage and waist size are better guides to health risk — South Asians in particular tend to carry more body fat at the same BMI.