Use this free Body Fat Percentage Calculator to estimate your body fat from a few tape measurements, using the US Navy method. Indeed, it tells you far more than a scale or a BMI score, because it splits your weight into fat mass and lean mass.
In addition, pair it with our BMI Calculator for the simple screening number, and our Macro Calculator when you are ready to act on the result.
Calculate Your Body Fat Percentage
General information estimates only.
Step 1: Choose your measurement system
Step 2: Enter your details
Measure with a soft tape over bare skin or thin clothing, standing relaxed. Do not pull the tape tight.
How to measure for this body fat percentage calculator
First, use a soft tailor's tape on bare skin or one thin layer of clothing, standing tall and breathing normally. Then measure twice and use the average if the two readings differ.
- Neck: around the middle of the neck, just below the voice box for men
- Waist: at the level of the navel, at the end of a normal breath out, stomach relaxed
- Hips (women only): around the widest point of the hips and glutes
- Height: without shoes, back against a wall
How this body fat percentage calculator works
In fact, the formula was developed for the US Navy by Hodgdon and Beckett and estimates body fat from circumference measurements and height, as described in their research report, available on PubMed. It works because waist size relative to neck and height tracks closely with total body fat in large groups of adults.
In addition, the category ranges in your result are the widely used American Council on Exercise ranges. In other words, they are reference bands, not health verdicts: plenty of healthy people sit in the Average band, and athletic leanness is neither required nor always healthier.
How to use your body fat percentage calculator result
In short, one reading is a snapshot; the trend is the useful part. Instead, re-measure every 3 to 4 weeks under the same conditions, same time of day and same tape positions, and judge progress by the direction over two or three readings.
For example, if your goal is fat loss while keeping muscle, set your protein with our Protein Calculator and your calories with our Calorie Calculator, then let this tool confirm the loss is coming from fat mass, not lean mass.
