Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator
Find your waist to hip ratio and WHO risk category from just two tape measurements.
Who is this waist to hip ratio calculator for?
This waist to hip ratio calculator divides your waist by your hip circumference to estimate where your body fat sits. It needs only a tape measure and runs entirely in your browser.
- Men: Men can use a waist to hip ratio calculator for men to see if fat is gathering around the abdomen. The cut-offs differ from women, so a value of 0.90 or more signals moderate risk.
- Women: Women use a waist to hip ratio calculator for women to check central fat distribution, where the low-risk line is set lower than for men.
- Seniors: Seniors can track the ratio as a general health marker, though muscle wastage with age means the number is one signal among many.
- Expectant mothers: Pregnancy changes body shape dramatically, so the standard cut-offs do not apply — treat the ratio as non-valid during and shortly after pregnancy.
Waist to hip ratio chart and table
These are the World Health Organization waist to hip ratio risk cut-offs used by this calculator. They apply to non-pregnant adults.
| Sex | Low risk | Moderate risk | High risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Below 0.90 | 0.90 – 0.99 | 1.0 and above |
| Women | Below 0.80 | 0.80 – 0.84 | 0.85 and above |
What is waist to hip ratio?
A waist to hip ratio (WHR) is the number you get when you divide your waist circumference by your hip circumference. It is a simple, tape-measure-based way to see how your body fat is distributed — whether more is carried around the middle (an apple shape) or around the hips and thighs (a pear shape). Where fat sits matters just as much as how much you carry: fat stored around the abdomen, called visceral or central fat, is more strongly linked to metabolic and heart problems than fat carried lower on the body.
Because muscle and bone are denser than fat, the waist to hip ratio is a better gauge of central obesity than weight alone, and it needs no special equipment — just a tape measure. The WHO sets sex-specific cut-offs to group people into low, moderate and high risk bands, and this calculator applies those directly. It runs entirely in your browser, so your measurements never leave your device.
Keep in mind that the ratio is one screening signal, not a diagnosis. Build, muscle mass, age and genetics all affect the figure, so treat it as a useful data point alongside how you feel and other health markers.
How to use this waist to hip ratio calculator
- Select your sex.
- Enter your waist circumference in centimetres.
- Enter your hip circumference in centimetres.
- Click Calculate waist to hip ratio to see your ratio, category and inch conversions.
Measure your waist at the narrowest point between your ribs and navel, and your hips around the widest part of your buttocks, with the tape snug but not compressing the skin.
Example
Select Male and enter a waist of 80 cm and a hip of 100 cm. The tool returns a ratio of 0.80 (80 ÷ 100) — a low risk category for men, since it is below 0.90. For a woman the same 0.80 falls in the moderate risk band (0.80–0.84).
Common use cases
- Health screening for abdominal obesity and associated metabolic risks.
- Fitness tracking to see fat distribution change as you lose or gain weight.
- Body shape assessment — an apple shape signals more central fat than a pear shape.
- Estimating lifestyle-related risk during and after pregnancy counselling.
Pro tips
- Measure consistently — same time of day, relaxed posture, and the tape snug but not compressing the skin.
- Remember the cut-offs differ by sex, so always check the band for your own sex.
- Use the ratio as a trend over weeks, not as a single reading, for a meaningful picture.
- Pair it with BMI and how you feel, since central fat is only one part of overall health.
FAQ
What is waist to hip ratio?
It is your waist circumference divided by your hip circumference, a measure of how body fat is distributed around the body.
How is waist to hip ratio calculated?
Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. For example, a waist of 80 cm and a hip of 100 cm gives 80 ÷ 100 = 0.80.
What is a good waist to hip ratio?
For men a ratio below 0.90 and for women a ratio below 0.80 is generally considered low risk, though this is only one health signal.
Why do men and women have different cut-offs?
Because fat distribution differs by sex. Women typically carry more fat on the hips and thighs, so the low-risk threshold is set lower.
Is it private?
Yes — the calculation runs entirely in your browser and nothing is sent to a server.
What does a high waist to hip ratio mean?
It means more fat is stored around the abdomen. This central, visceral fat is associated with higher risk of metabolic and heart problems.
How do I measure my waist?
Measure around the narrowest part of your torso, usually between your ribs and navel, with the tape snug but not compressing the skin.
How do I measure my hips?
Measure around the widest part of your buttocks, keeping the tape level and parallel to the floor.
Is waist to hip ratio better than BMI?
They measure different things. WHR captures where fat is stored, while BMI only compares height to weight. Use both for a fuller picture.
Does it apply during pregnancy?
No — the cut-offs are for non-pregnant adults. Pregnancy changes body shape, so WHR is not a meaningful risk measure for expectant mothers.
Related tools
Related searches
waist to hip ratio calculator, whr calculator, waist to hip ratio, waist hip ratio chart, healthy waist to hip ratio, how to measure waist to hip ratio, waist to hip ratio women, waist to hip ratio men, body shape calculator, abdominal obesity