Using the Army Body Fat Calculator
The form uses inches for height and abdomen, and pounds for weight. The ratio divides abdomen by height; the historical percentage uses weight and abdomen with sex-specific coefficients. Changing weight therefore affects the older estimate but does not change the waist-to-height ratio.
Worked example
Use the example inputs below to reproduce this result. These are the form's starting values, not recommended targets. Changing your inputs updates your result above; this worked example stays fixed for comparison. Results are rounded for display.
Example inputs
- Sex used by the equation
- Male
- Weight (lb)
- 180
- Height (in)
- 70
- Abdominal circumference (in)
- 36
Example result
- Waist-to-height ratio
- 0.51428571
- Historical 2023 body fat estimate (%)
- 23.07
Method and assumptions
The July 2026 Army policy uses waist-to-height ratio, with a benchmark below 0.55. The displayed 2023 body-fat formula is historical, not the current standard. This tool does not implement official measurement rounding, confirmation tests or eligibility decisions.
Reference: army.mil — method and further reading
Make repeated measurements comparable
A measurement-based estimate can change because the body changed or because the measurement technique changed. Keep the location, units and method consistent when comparing records. The result cannot identify which explanation applies. A ratio or predicted percentage describes only the measurements used by that equation, not a complete assessment of health or fitness.
Common question
Why are there two different results?
They describe different things. Waist-to-height ratio compares two lengths and has no percentage body-fat interpretation. The historical estimate predicts body fat with an older formula. Neither displayed result should be substituted for an official assessment conducted under the applicable policy.
Guide updated .