What category cut points does this page use?

Categories are applied to the limited percent and depend on sex. Men: Essential under 6%, Athlete 6–13%, Fitness 14–17%, Average 18–24%, Obese 25% and above. Women: Essential under 14%, Athlete 14–20%, Fitness 21–24%, Average 25–31%, Obese 32% and above. ACE describes about 18–24% for men and 25–31% for women as typical for a nonathlete, and treats values under 6% for men or under 14% for women as very low (https://www.acefitness.org/about-ace/press-room/in-the-news/8602/body-fat-percentage-charting-averages-in-men-and-women-very-well-health/). Athlete and Fitness are this page’s labels for the bands between those cuts. A limited result under 14% for women is still Essential, including values below the 10–13% band often printed elsewhere.

What sources do the equations come from?

Navy, men: Hodgdon and Beckett, Naval Health Research Center report 84-11 (1984), https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA143890. Navy, women: Hodgdon and Beckett, report 84-29 (1984), https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA146456. BMI equation: Deurenberg, Weststrate, and Seidell, British Journal of Nutrition 1991, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2043597/. Skinfolds: Jackson and Pollock 4-site percent equations as reproduced by the MRC Epidemiology Unit Measurement Toolkit, https://www.measurement-toolkit.org/anthropometry/objective-methods/simple-measures-skinfolds. ACE average and very-low ranges: https://www.acefitness.org/about-ace/press-room/in-the-news/8602/body-fat-percentage-charting-averages-in-men-and-women-very-well-health/. This is an estimate, not a body-composition test.

Body Fat Calculator

Estimate body fat with the U.S. Navy method, the Deurenberg equation, or Jackson–Pollock skinfolds. The result names the method. An estimate, not a clinical test.

Measurement System

Calculation Method *

Sex *

Height (inches) *

Weight (lbs) *

Waist Circumference (inches) *

Neck Circumference (inches) *

Smart Tips

• Take measurements in the morning before eating for most consistent results

• Use a flexible measuring tape and measure at the same spots each time

• Body fat percentage varies by age, sex, and fitness level - compare to appropriate ranges

• Track changes over time rather than focusing on a single measurement

The Formula

Selected method: U.S. Navy circumference (Hodgdon and Beckett)

Male: BF% = 86.010 × log₁₀(waist − neck) − 70.041 × log₁₀(height) + 36.76

Female: BF% = 163.205 × log₁₀(waist + hip − neck) − 97.684 × log₁₀(height) − 78.387

units = Inches inside the logarithms
Centimeters are divided by 2.54 first. Age is not in this equation.

weight = Used only for fat mass and lean mass
Kilograms are multiplied by 2.20462 before that split

2–50% = Display limit
The calculated percent is clamped to 2–50 before mass and category

Body Fat Categories

Essential

Men: under 6% | Women: under 14%

Lowest category after the 2–50% limit. A limited result under 14% for women is still Essential, including values below a 10–13% band printed on some charts.

Athlete

Men: 6-13% | Women: 14-20%

Typical range for athletes and highly active individuals.

Fitness

Men: 14-17% | Women: 21-24%

Good fitness level with regular exercise and healthy lifestyle.

Average

Men: 18-24% | Women: 25-31%

Average body fat percentage for the general population.

Obese

Men: 25%+ | Women: 32%+

Higher body fat percentage associated with increased health risks.

Key Insights

Navy Circumference

Sex-specific log equations in inches. Female adds hip. Age is not used. Weight only splits fat mass and lean mass.

BMI Equation

Deurenberg adult equation. Sex is 1 for male and 0 for female. BMI inside it is pounds × 703, divided by inches squared.

4-Site Skinfolds

Jackson–Pollock percent equations. Sites are abdominal, triceps, thigh, and suprailiac, with a different equation for each sex.

2–50% Limit

All three methods clamp the percent to 2–50% before the sex-specific category, fat mass, and lean mass are calculated.

Frequently Asked Questions

The result names the method selected in Calculation Method. Navy is the U.S. Navy circumference equation. BMI is the Deurenberg adult equation. Skinfold is the sex-specific Jackson–Pollock 4-site equation. Switching the menu changes the inputs and the formula shown under The Formula.

After the selected equation runs, the percent is limited to a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 50 before it is shown. Lean mass, fat mass, and the category all use that limited percent. A calculated value outside 2–50% is not shown.

No. The Navy equations use height and circumferences, in inches, and a different equation for male and female. Female also uses hip circumference. Weight is used only to split the result into fat mass and lean mass. Age is used by the BMI equation and the skinfold equations.

Categories are applied to the limited percent and depend on sex. Men: Essential under 6%, Athlete 6–13%, Fitness 14–17%, Average 18–24%, Obese 25% and above. Women: Essential under 14%, Athlete 14–20%, Fitness 21–24%, Average 25–31%, Obese 32% and above. ACE describes about 18–24% for men and 25–31% for women as typical for a nonathlete, and treats values under 6% for men or under 14% for women as very low (ACE summary). Athlete and Fitness are this page’s labels for the bands between those cuts. A limited result under 14% for women is still Essential, including values below the 10–13% band often printed elsewhere.

Navy, men: Hodgdon and Beckett, report 84-11 (1984). Navy, women: Hodgdon and Beckett, report 84-29 (1984). BMI equation: Deurenberg, Weststrate, and Seidell (1991). Skinfolds: Jackson and Pollock 4-site equations as reproduced by the MRC Measurement Toolkit. This is an estimate, not a body-composition test.

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Body Fat Percentage

Enter values to calculate

Lean Mass

Fat Mass

Body Fat Category

Note:The result names the selected method and is limited to 2–50%. These are estimates, not a clinical body-composition measurement.