HEALTH TOOL
Body Fat Percentage Calculator
Estimate body fat percentage using the US Navy tape-measure method.
Measure waist at the navel, neck just below the larynx.
Estimated body fat
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Category
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About this tool
Estimates body fat percentage using the US Navy tape-measure method, which uses circumference measurements rather than skinfold calipers or a scan. It's a widely used estimate, not a precise measurement — methods like DEXA scans or hydrostatic weighing are more accurate but far less accessible.
Frequently asked questions
- How accurate is the tape-measure method?
- It's generally accurate to within a few percentage points for most people, though it can be less reliable for very lean or very muscular individuals whose waist-to-neck ratio doesn't follow typical patterns.
- Why does the formula ask for hip measurement for women but not men?
- The US Navy formula uses a different equation for each sex, reflecting typical differences in fat distribution — the women's version factors in hip circumference, the men's version doesn't.
- Where exactly should I measure?
- Neck: just below the larynx (Adam's apple). Waist: at the navel. Hip (for the women's formula): at the widest point of the hips. Measure snugly but without compressing the skin.