Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Calculate your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) to understand your body shape and associated health risks.
How to Measure
- • Waist: Measure midway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bones, just above the belly button
- • Hips: Measure at the widest point around the buttocks, keeping the tape level
How to Use
- 1
Select your gender and measurement unit (cm or inches)
- 2
Measure your waist at the narrowest point, midway between your lowest rib and hip bone
- 3
Measure your hips at the widest point around the buttocks
- 4
Enter both measurements to calculate your waist-to-hip ratio
- 5
Review your body shape category and associated health risk level
Examples
Good Examples
Woman with 70cm waist and 95cm hips
70 ÷ 95 = 0.737 — Pear shape, low health riskMan with 95cm waist and 100cm hips
95 ÷ 100 = 0.950 — Moderate risk (near threshold)Bad Examples
Measuring waist at the wrong position
Should be midway between lowest rib and hip bones, not at belt lineUsing WHR as the only health indicator
WHR should be used alongside BMI and other metrics for a complete pictureCommon Mistakes
- Measuring waist at the belly button instead of the narrowest point between ribs and hips
- Pulling the tape measure too tight — it should be snug but not compressing the skin
- Not keeping the tape level around the hips — it should be parallel to the floor
- Using WHR alone to assess health — always combine with BMI, blood pressure, and other metrics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?
According to the WHO, a healthy WHR is 0.85 or less for women and 0.90 or less for men. Below 0.80 (women) or 0.95 (men) is considered low risk, while above 0.86 (women) or 1.0 (men) indicates high risk.
Where should I measure my waist?
Measure your waist at the narrowest point, midway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bones, just above the belly button. Keep the tape snug but not compressing the skin.
What does apple vs pear body shape mean?
Apple-shaped people carry more fat around the abdomen (higher WHR), which is associated with greater health risks like heart disease and diabetes. Pear-shaped people carry more fat around hips and thighs (lower WHR), which is generally healthier.
Is WHR better than BMI?
They measure different things. BMI measures overall weight relative to height, while WHR measures fat distribution. A person with a normal BMI can still have a high WHR if they carry fat around the abdomen. Using both metrics together gives a more complete health picture.