Estimate your body fat percentage using the US Navy circumference method. Requires waist, neck, and hip measurements.
This tool estimates your body fat percentage using circumference measurements (like the U.S. Navy method) or other formulas based on height, weight, age, and sex. Body fat percentage provides more insight into body composition than weight or BMI alone.
This calculator commonly uses the U.S. Navy method, which uses circumference measurements (neck, waist, and for women, hips) combined with height in a logarithmic formula to estimate body fat percentage without specialized equipment.
Enter your height and the required circumference measurements (neck, waist, and hips for women), and the calculator estimates your body fat percentage.
Example: Typical healthy body fat ranges are roughly 10-20% for men and 18-28% for women, though ranges vary by age and individual context, with athletes often falling below these general ranges.
How accurate is a circumference-based body fat estimate? It's reasonably accurate for general tracking purposes but less precise than clinical methods like DEXA scans or hydrostatic weighing — it's most useful for tracking relative change over time rather than as an exact absolute measurement.
Why is body fat percentage more informative than BMI? BMI only considers height and total weight, while body fat percentage specifically estimates the proportion of fat versus lean mass, which better reflects body composition, especially for muscular individuals whom BMI can misclassify.
What is considered a healthy body fat percentage? General ranges suggest roughly 10-20% for men and 18-28% for women is typical for good health, though "athletic" or "essential fat" ranges differ, and healthy ranges also shift somewhat with age.
Does body fat percentage differ significantly between men and women? Yes, women naturally carry more essential body fat than men (needed for reproductive health), so healthy body fat percentage ranges are generally higher for women at every fitness level.
How can I track body fat percentage changes over time? Taking consistent measurements (same time of day, same measurement technique) every few weeks provides a more reliable trend than single-point comparisons, since day-to-day water retention and measurement variance can affect individual readings.