Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Calculate waist-to-hip ratio and its associated health risk category.
Waist-to-hip ratio
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Health risk category
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Population-level screening estimates — not medical advice or a diagnosis. Talk to a doctor or dietitian before acting on a result, especially one that concerns you. Full disclaimer.
About this tool
Divides your waist measurement by your hip measurement to give the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), a quick indicator of where your body stores fat. The World Health Organization uses it alongside BMI because where fat sits carries health information that overall weight alone misses.
How to calculate it. WHR = waist ÷ hip. A 80 cm waist and 100 cm hips give 0.80. Units don't matter as long as both measurements use the same one, so inches work too.
Where to measure.
- Waist: around the narrowest point between the bottom rib and the hip bone — usually just above the navel. Measure after a normal breath out, standing relaxed, without pulling the tape tight.
- Hip: around the widest part of the buttocks.
- Keep the tape horizontal and level all the way round. Take each measurement twice and use the average.
WHO risk thresholds.
| Lower risk | Moderate | Higher risk | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 0.95 or below | 0.96–1.0 | Above 1.0 |
| Women | 0.80 or below | 0.81–0.85 | Above 0.85 |
A higher ratio means proportionally more fat around the abdomen ("apple" shape), which is more strongly linked to cardiovascular and metabolic risk than fat carried on the hips and thighs ("pear" shape).
What it doesn't tell you. WHR is a ratio, so two people with very different body sizes can have the same value. It doesn't measure total body fat, and it can be skewed by a naturally narrow or wide bone structure. It's one screening number, read alongside BMI, blood pressure, and blood work — not a diagnosis. Pregnancy, and conditions that cause bloating or fluid retention, make a single reading unreliable.
Waist-to-height ratio is a newer alternative that some researchers prefer: keep your waist under half your height. It needs only one measurement and one reference number.
For an estimate of total body fat percentage, use the body fat calculator. For the height-and-weight screen, use BMI — the BMI guide covers how these measures fit together.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I measure waist and hip correctly?
- Waist: around the narrowest point, usually just above the navel, after breathing out normally. Hip: around the widest part of the buttocks. Tape level and snug, not compressing. Average two readings.
- What do the risk categories mean?
- Per WHO guidance, above 1.0 for men and above 0.85 for women indicates higher risk from abdominal fat. These are population thresholds, not individual diagnoses.
- How is WHR different from BMI?
- BMI compares weight to height. WHR reflects fat distribution — abdominal versus hip and thigh — which is an independent risk signal.
- Can two people with different builds have the same WHR?
- Yes. It's a ratio, so it says nothing about overall size or total body fat, only the proportion between the two measurements.
- Is waist-to-height ratio better?
- Some evidence favours it, and it needs only one measurement: keeping your waist under half your height is the common rule of thumb.
- Does it work during pregnancy?
- No. Abdominal measurements aren't meaningful during pregnancy, and the same applies to any condition causing significant bloating or fluid retention.