Body Composition: Looking Beyond the Scale
Why the number on the scale tells only part of the story — body fat, lean mass, the FFMI, where fat is stored, and how to measure and track your true body composition.
Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator
Verified formula Updated Jun 2026 Private — runs on your device
Verified formula
Private
Waist-to-hip ratio
0.80
For general information only — not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Verify before you rely on it.
How to use the Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator
The Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator works out your waist-to-hip ratio in an instant. Enter waist circumference and hip circumference and the result updates as you type — it is free, needs no sign-up, and runs entirely in your browser so your figures stay private.
- Enter the waist circumference.
- Enter the hip circumference.
- Read off your waist-to-hip ratio — the calculator updates automatically, with no button to press.
Formula
The Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator uses the formula:
Waist-to-hip ratio = Waist circumference ÷ Hip circumference
Worked example
For example, with waist circumference of 80 cm and hip circumference of 100 cm, the waist-to-hip ratio is 0.80.
| Waist circumference | 80 cm |
|---|---|
| Hip circumference | 100 cm |
| Waist-to-hip ratio | 0.80 |
|---|
Results are estimates for educational use, not professional advice.
Key terms explained
- Circumference
- The distance around the edge of a circle, equal to 2 × π × radius.
- Waist to hip ratio
- Waist circumference divided by hip circumference, an indicator of fat distribution.
- Ratio
- A comparison of two quantities showing how many times one contains the other.
Frequently asked questions
Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement, using the same units for both. A waist of 80 cm and hips of 100 cm give a ratio of 0.80.
As a general guide, the WHO links lower health risk with a ratio up to about 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women. Higher ratios suggest more fat around the waist. This is guidance, not a diagnosis.
Measure the waist at the narrowest point, usually just above the navel, and the hips at the widest point of the buttocks, keeping the tape level and snug but not tight.
They measure different things. BMI reflects overall weight for height, while WHR reflects where fat is stored. Many clinicians look at both together.
Enter the waist circumference. Enter the hip circumference. Read off your waist-to-hip ratio — the calculator updates automatically, with no button to press.
Related guides
Waist to Hip Ratio Table: Waist-to-hip ratio by Waist circumference
Reference table of waist-to-hip ratio for Waist to Hip Ratio across a range of waist circumference values — exact, engine-computed figures you can read off at a glance.
How to Calculate Waist to Hip Ratio: Formula, Steps & Examples
Learn how to calculate Waist to Hip Ratio — the formula explained step by step, with worked examples and a free calculator to check your answer.