Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator

How the waist-to-hip ratio is calculated

The math is simple: WHR equals waist circumference divided by hip circumference, in the same units. Measure your waist at its narrowest point, usually just above the navel, and your hips at the widest part of your buttocks, keeping the tape level and snug without compressing the skin. Because it is a ratio, centimetres and inches give the same answer.

For example, a waist of 84 cm and hips of 100 cm give a WHR of 84 / 100 = 0.84. For a man that falls in the low-risk band; for a woman it would be moderate. The thresholds differ by sex because men and women store fat differently.

What your ratio means

We use the World Health Organization risk thresholds. For men, a ratio below 0.90 is low risk, 0.90 to under 1.00 is moderate, and 1.00 or above is high. For women, below 0.80 is low risk, 0.80 to under 0.85 is moderate, and 0.85 or above is high. A higher ratio means relatively more fat around the abdomen, which is associated with greater risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

WHR answers a different question than BMI. BMI tells you whether your weight is high for your height but ignores where that weight sits, while WHR captures fat distribution and ignores overall size. Using both gives a fuller picture than either one alone.

Getting an accurate measurement

Small errors in measuring change the ratio more than you might expect, so measure on bare skin, breathe out normally, and do not pull the tape tight. Take each measurement twice and use the average. Measuring at the same time of day and under the same conditions makes it easier to track real change over weeks and months rather than day-to-day noise.