Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
The waist-to-hip ratio compares the size of your waist to your hips and indicates where you carry body fat. Fat around the waist (“apple” shape) carries higher cardiovascular risk than fat around the hips (“pear” shape).
Enter your waist and hip measurements in the same units. The calculator returns the ratio and the associated risk category for your sex.
It tells you whether you carry fat around the middle (apple) or the hips (pear) — a distinction that matters for cardiovascular risk even when your weight looks fine.
Enter your values to see the result.
How this is calculated
The waist-to-hip ratio divides your waist circumference by your hip circumference, using the same units. It indicates where you carry body fat: fat around the waist (an "apple" shape) carries higher cardiovascular risk than fat around the hips (a "pear" shape). This calculator returns the ratio and a risk category that depends on sex — for men, above 0.90 indicates higher risk; for women, above 0.85.
The sex-specific thresholds reflect that men and women typically distribute fat differently, and that the same ratio carries different risk implications for each.
The model uses two circumference measurements and a sex-specific cut-off. It does not account for age, overall body size, or visceral versus subcutaneous fat, and the thresholds are population averages rather than personal clinical verdicts. Measure the waist at the navel or narrowest point and the hips at the widest part of the buttocks, with the tape horizontal and snug, for comparable results over time.
Worked example
A man with an 85 cm waist and 100 cm hips.
- 1Ratio = waist ÷ hip = 85 ÷ 100 = 0.85.
- 2For men, below 0.90 is low risk, so 0.85 sits in the low-risk band.
- 3If the waist rose to 95 cm with the same hips, the ratio would be 0.95 — moderate risk.
Frequently asked questions
- What WHR indicates risk?
- For men, a ratio above 0.90 indicates higher risk; for women, above 0.85. Below those thresholds is considered lower risk for cardiovascular disease.
- How do I measure hip circumference?
- Measure around the widest part of your hips and buttocks, with the tape horizontal and snug. Measure the waist at the navel or narrowest point.
- Is WHR better than waist-to-height ratio?
- They capture different things. WHR reflects fat distribution; WHtR reflects absolute abdominal size relative to height. Both are useful alongside BMI.
- What WHR indicates risk?
- For men, a ratio above 0.90 indicates higher risk; for women, above 0.85. Below those thresholds is considered lower risk for cardiovascular disease.
- How do I measure hip circumference?
- Measure around the widest part of your hips and buttocks, with the tape horizontal and snug. Measure the waist at the navel or narrowest point, after a normal exhale.
Related calculators
Method: waist ÷ hip with sex-specific WHO risk thresholds. No external data source. Last updated: September 2026.
These results are general estimates from established formulas and are not medical advice. They depend on the accuracy of the values you enter and on individual factors the formulas cannot capture. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your diet, training or treatment.