Body Fat Calculator
Estimate body fat percentage from tape measurements using the US Navy method.
About this tool
Body fat percentage describes body composition in a way that weight and BMI cannot: it separates fat mass from everything else. The US Navy circumference method estimates it from three or four tape measurements and tracks changes surprisingly well for a method that needs no equipment beyond a tape measure.
Measure the neck just below the larynx, the waist at the navel for men and at the narrowest point for women, and the hips at the widest point. Take measurements at the same time of day, relaxed, without pulling the tape tight. The result typically lands within 3 to 4 percentage points of laboratory methods.
Frequently asked questions
What is a healthy body fat percentage?
The American Council on Exercise cites 14 to 24 percent for men and 21 to 31 percent for women as average to fit ranges, with athletes lower.
Why does the female calculation need a hip measurement?
Women carry proportionally more fat around the hips, and including that measurement is what keeps the Navy formula accurate across sexes.