Find your waist-to-hip ratio in seconds with this free waist to hip ratio calculator. It divides your waist by your hip measurement and shows the WHO health band – a general indicator of where you carry weight, not a diagnosis.
Measure your waist at the narrowest point and hips at the widest. Units cancel out, so cm or inches give the same ratio.
WHR is one general indicator of where you carry weight – not a diagnosis. Discuss your health with a healthcare professional.
How Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator Works
This tool divides your waist measurement by your hip measurement to give a single ratio, then compares it against WHO-style reference bands for men and women. Because it’s a ratio, centimeters and inches give the same result as long as you measure both waist and hip in the same unit.
Formula: WHR = waist ÷ hip. For men: below 0.90 is “Low”, 0.90 to 0.99 is “Moderate”, 1.00 or above is “High”. For women: below 0.80 is “Low”, 0.80 to 0.84 is “Moderate”, 0.85 or above is “High”. A ratio of 0.85 or higher is also labeled “Apple-leaning” body shape; below 0.85 is “Pear-leaning”.
- Sex — male or female, since the Low/Moderate/High bands differ by sex
- Waist — measured at the narrowest point of your torso, in cm or inches
- Hip — measured at the widest point of your hips, in cm or inches
Example Scenarios
| Sex | Waist (cm) | Hip (cm) | WHR (Category, Shape) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 80 | 100 | 0.80 (Low, Pear-leaning) |
| Male | 95 | 100 | 0.95 (Moderate, Apple-leaning) |
| Male | 105 | 100 | 1.05 (High, Apple-leaning) |
| Female | 65 | 95 | 0.68 (Low, Pear-leaning) |
| Female | 78 | 96 | 0.81 (Moderate, Pear-leaning) |
| Female | 88 | 96 | 0.92 (High, Apple-leaning) |
How to Measure for the Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator
A waist to hip ratio calculator is only as reliable as your two tape readings; because it divides one by the other, a small error can shift your band.
- Waist: measure midway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, which is the WHO method.
- Hips: measure around the widest part of your buttocks, keeping the tape level.
- Stand relaxed, breathe out gently, and keep the tape snug without compressing skin.
- Use one unit for both; the waist to hip ratio calculator returns a unitless figure.
Measure twice and average. To track change, measure at the same time of day before eating, then rerun the waist to hip ratio calculator every few weeks to see the trend.
Treat the waist to hip ratio calculator result as one clue alongside BMI, not a verdict; it is less meaningful in pregnancy and for children. If you land in a higher-risk band, a doctor can put the waist to hip ratio calculator reading in context with blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol checks. The waist-hip ratio overview on Wikipedia covers the research behind the measure.
Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator FAQ
What waist-to-hip ratio is considered healthy?
For men, a ratio below 0.90 falls in the “Low” band; for women, below 0.80. These are general reference bands adapted from WHO-style guidance, meant as one indicator among many, not a standalone health verdict.Why are the WHR thresholds different for men and women?
Men and women naturally carry weight differently on average, so the same ratio doesn’t mean the same thing for both. Using sex-specific bands keeps the “Low/Moderate/High” labels meaningful for each group rather than using one universal cutoff.Where exactly should I measure my waist and hips?
Measure your waist at its narrowest point, usually just above the belly button, and your hips at their widest point around the buttocks. Keep the tape snug but not compressing the skin, and measure standing with a relaxed breath.What does “apple-leaning” vs “pear-leaning” body shape mean?
“Apple-leaning” describes a ratio of 0.85 or higher, where more weight sits around the waist. “Pear-leaning” describes a ratio below 0.85, where more weight sits around the hips. It’s a simple shape descriptor, not a diagnosis.Does it matter if I measure in centimeters or inches?
No — because WHR is a ratio of two measurements in the same unit, centimeters and inches cancel out and give the same result. Just make sure you measure both your waist and hip using the same unit.How is WHR different from BMI?
BMI compares total weight to height and says nothing about where that weight sits on your body. WHR instead compares two body measurements to describe weight distribution, so the two calculators answer different questions and work well together.Related Calculators
For a fuller picture, pair this result with the BMI calculator for a weight-to-height comparison, or the waist-to-height ratio calculator for another way to look at central weight distribution. The body fat calculator can add a body-composition estimate to the mix as well.