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Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator

Check your waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, and fat distribution pattern using simple body measurements. Review color-coded risk levels, measurement tips, and WHO-based screening thresholds in one place.

in
in
in

Waist-to-hip ratio

0.75

WHR health risk

Low risk

Body shape pattern

Pear

Waist-to-height ratio

0.45

Risk summary

WHO waist-to-hip screening

Your waist-to-hip ratio is 0.75, which falls into the low risk category for women.

Your waist-to-height ratio is 0.45. Ratios under 0.50 are generally considered healthier for cardiometabolic risk screening.

A more central fat pattern is often described as apple-shaped, while more weight carried around the hips is often described as pear-shaped.

How to measure correctly

  • Waist: Measure around the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above the belly button and below the ribs. Stand relaxed and do not suck in your stomach.
  • Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips and buttocks while keeping the tape level all the way around.
  • Height: Measure without shoes, standing straight against a wall.
  • Use a flexible tape measure, keep it snug but not tight, and measure at the end of a normal exhale.

Health risk reference table

MeasurementLow riskModerate riskHigh risk
Men WHRBelow 0.850.85 to 0.90Above 0.90
Women WHRBelow 0.800.80 to 0.85Above 0.85
Waist-to-height ratioBelow 0.500.50 to 0.590.60 and above

Disclaimer: Waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio are screening tools, not diagnoses. They do not account for muscle mass, ethnicity, pregnancy, age-related changes, or individual medical history. Use them as general guides and talk with a clinician for personal medical advice.

Editorial noteMaintained by EveryCalc - Reviewed June 2026

EveryCalc calculators are designed for fast, practical estimates with transparent inputs and no required account. We use plain formulas, visible assumptions, and related tools so visitors can check the result from more than one angle.

Results are informational only. For financial, tax, legal, medical, construction, or other high-impact decisions, verify the output against primary sources or a qualified professional.

Learn more about our review process on the EveryCalc methodology page.

How this calculator works

What this page estimates

This Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator is built to give a quick, browser-based estimate for waist-to-hip ratio. Check your waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, and fat distribution pattern using simple body measurements. Review color-coded risk levels, measurement tips, and WHO-based screening thresholds in one place. The inputs stay on the page during normal use, and the result should be treated as an estimate for planning, comparison, or education rather than professional advice.

Calculation approach

The calculator applies the standard relationship implied by the inputs, then formats the answer so it can be checked and reused. For health tools, the most important step is using consistent units, rates, time periods, and assumptions before comparing the result with another calculator or outside quote.

Example workflow

For example, start with a realistic value you already know, change one input at a time, and watch how the answer moves. That makes it easier to tell whether the result is being driven by the main amount, the rate, the time period, or a unit conversion.

Practical checks

  • Use current, real-world numbers when the result affects money, health, tax, or legal decisions.
  • Run a low, base, and high case when the inputs are estimates.
  • Check the related calculators below when the next decision depends on a different assumption.

How to interpret the waist-to-hip ratio result

Best use

Use the result as an informational wellness estimate that can help organize measurements, targets, or timing before a conversation with a clinician.

Cross-check

Compare the output with your own records, device readings, lab values, medication instructions, or guidance from a qualified health professional.

Watch for

Do not use this page to diagnose, treat, or ignore symptoms. Health calculators are most useful when they make questions clearer, not when they replace care.

This page belongs to the Health calculator library, so the answer should be read in the context of the decision you are modeling rather than as a universal rule.

Before relying on this waist-to-hip ratio estimate

Most calculator mistakes come from the inputs, not the arithmetic. Use this short audit before you reuse the answer in a spreadsheet, quote, application, or important conversation.

Use current measurements

Recent weight, height, age, activity, nutrition, sleep, or timing inputs matter more than remembered estimates.

Look for context

A calculator can organize a wellness number, but it cannot read symptoms, medical history, medications, or lab results.

Escalate high-impact questions

Use clinical guidance for pregnancy, dosage, heart, risk, illness, or treatment decisions.

Rerun this page when measurements change, a clinician gives new guidance, or the result is being used for a new goal.

How to Use

  1. Choose inches or centimeters, then select your gender.
  2. Enter your waist circumference at the narrowest point of your torso.
  3. Enter your hip circumference at the widest part of your hips and buttocks.
  4. Add your height to calculate waist-to-height ratio as a second health marker.
  5. Review your WHR, waist-to-height ratio, body shape pattern, and color-coded risk category instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?

For general screening, a waist-to-hip ratio below 0.90 for men and below 0.85 for women is usually considered lower risk. Lower cutoffs are often treated as more favorable overall, especially when paired with a waist-to-height ratio under 0.50.

Why does waist-to-hip ratio matter?

Waist-to-hip ratio helps estimate how body fat is distributed. More fat carried around the waist is associated with higher cardiometabolic risk than fat carried more around the hips and thighs.

What is waist-to-height ratio?

Waist-to-height ratio compares your waist measurement with your height. A value under 0.50 is commonly used as a simple screening target, while higher ratios may suggest higher health risk.

Is an apple body shape unhealthy?

Not automatically, but an apple-shaped pattern usually means proportionally more weight around the abdomen. That pattern is often linked with higher metabolic risk than a pear-shaped pattern, which tends to store more around the hips and thighs.

Can I use WHR to diagnose health problems?

No. WHR and waist-to-height ratio are screening tools only. They can help flag possible risk, but they do not diagnose disease or replace evaluation by a medical professional.

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