Body Fat Calculator
Estimate your body fat percentage using body measurements
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cm
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What is the Body Fat Calculator?
This calculator estimates your body fat percentage using the U.S. Navy method, a tape-measurement formula developed for military fitness assessments. It's a widely used, reasonably accurate estimate that doesn't require special equipment — just a tape measure.
How to Use the Body Fat Calculator
- Select your gender and choose metric or imperial units.
- Measure and enter your height, neck and waist (and hip, for women) — measure waist at the navel and neck just below the larynx, keeping the tape snug but not tight.
- Read your estimated body fat percentage and category.
The U.S. Navy Method Formula
Men: BF% = 495 ÷ (1.0324 − 0.19077 × log₁₀(waist − neck) + 0.15456 × log₁₀(height)) − 450
Women: BF% = 495 ÷ (1.29579 − 0.35004 × log₁₀(waist + hip − neck) + 0.22100 × log₁₀(height)) − 450
All measurements in centimeters
Women: BF% = 495 ÷ (1.29579 − 0.35004 × log₁₀(waist + hip − neck) + 0.22100 × log₁₀(height)) − 450
All measurements in centimeters
Typical Body Fat Categories (Adults)
| Category | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Fat | 2–5% | 10–13% |
| Athletes | 6–13% | 14–20% |
| Fitness | 14–17% | 21–24% |
| Average | 18–24% | 25–31% |
| Obese | 25%+ | 32%+ |
Frequently Asked Questions
It's generally accurate to within a few percentage points for most people, comparable to some clinical methods, but precision depends heavily on measuring correctly. For clinical-grade accuracy, methods like DEXA scans or hydrostatic weighing are used.
Measure around your natural waist at the level of your navel, standing relaxed, without pulling the tape tight or holding your breath.
No, this is a general fitness estimate for informational purposes only, not a diagnostic or medical-grade body composition measurement.
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