Navy Body Fat Calculator
Estimate body fat with the US Navy tape method. Enter height, neck, and waist in cm (plus hip for women) for a body-fat percentage.
Independently verified for accuracy
Calculator by Toolsloft ↗- Body fat
- 14.857887%
- Category
- fitness
Estimate body fat with the US Navy tape method, using a few circumference measurements instead of calipers or a scale. Enter your height, neck, and waist (plus hip for women) in centimeters to get a body-fat percentage and a fitness category. A simple check you can repeat at home.
How this is calculated
Uses the US Navy circumference formula in metric form with base-10 logarithms. For men, body fat percent is 495 divided by (1.0324 minus 0.19077 times log10 of waist minus neck plus 0.15456 times log10 of height) minus 450. For women it adds the hip measurement: 495 divided by (1.29579 minus 0.35004 times log10 of waist plus hip minus neck plus 0.221 times log10 of height) minus 450. Categories follow the American Council on Exercise ranges. This is an estimate, not a clinical measurement.
How to use
- Choose male or female.
- Measure height, neck, and waist in centimeters (women also measure the hip).
- Enter the measurements to get your body-fat estimate and category.
Examples
- Man:
height 178, neck 40, waist 85 gives about 14.9% - Woman:
height 165, neck 32, waist 72, hip 95 gives about 25.9%
FAQ
- How accurate is the Navy method?
- It is a reasonable estimate for most people, usually within a few percent of a lab measurement, but it is not as precise as a DEXA scan. Measure carefully and consistently for the best comparison over time.
- Where do I measure?
- Measure the neck below the larynx, the waist at the navel for men and at the narrowest point for women, and the hip at its widest for women. Keep the tape snug and level.
- Why do women need a hip measurement?
- The female formula includes the hip circumference because body-fat distribution differs, and adding the hip improves the estimate.