Waist-to-hip ratio calculator

Calculate your waist-to-hip ratio, place your waist size on the WHO cut-offs and, with your height, get the waist-to-height ratio recommended by NICE.

Waist and hips

The result appears as soon as both measurements are entered. Height, optional, adds the waist-to-height ratio.

Sex used for the cut-offs

Halfway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, after breathing out normally.

Around the widest part of the buttocks, feet together.

Height (optional)

Your height adds the waist-to-height ratio, recommended by NICE since 2022.

Method & sources

The waist-to-hip ratio divides waist by hips; the WHO sees risk as substantially increased from 0.90 in men and 0.85 in women. Waist size is read against the WHO levels (94 and 102 cm, 37 and 40 in, for men; 80 and 88 cm, 31.5 and 34.6 in, for women). With height, the waist-to-height ratio is read against the NICE levels of 0.5 and 0.6.

Formula
Waist-to-hip ratio = waist ÷ hips · Waist-to-height ratio = waist ÷ height

Limitations

  • The result depends a lot on where and how carefully the measurements are taken.
  • The cut-offs were set mostly in European populations; they can be lower for people of Asian descent.
  • These indicators do not directly describe total fat mass or body composition.