How to use the body type calculator
- Choose centimeters or inches.
- Measure your bust or chest around the fullest part, keeping the tape level.
- Measure your waist at its narrowest point, usually just above the navel.
- Measure your high hip around the top of the hip bones, about 18 cm (7 in) below the waist.
- Measure your hips around the widest part of the seat.
Wear light clothing, stand with your feet together, and keep the tape snug but not tight.
How body shape is worked out
The calculator follows FFIT (Female Figure Identification Technique), a set of rules published by apparel researchers Simmons, Istook and Devarajan in 2004 to sort figures for clothing design. It compares the differences between your measurements in inches (centimeter entries are converted first):
FFIT needs extra torso measurements for its "oval" shape, so the calculator adds a simpler apple check, which runs first. If your waist is as large as or larger than both bust and hips, you're shown as an apple (round) shape. If no rule fits exactly, which can happen with unusual combinations, you get the closest shape based on whether your bust or hips are larger.
| Shape | Main rule (inches) |
|---|---|
| Hourglass | Bust no more than 1 in larger than hips, and hips less than 3.6 in larger than bust; waist at least 9 in smaller than bust or 10 in smaller than hips |
| Bottom hourglass | Hips 3.6–10 in larger than bust; waist at least 9 in smaller than hips |
| Top hourglass | Bust 1–10 in larger than hips; waist at least 9 in smaller than bust |
| Spoon | Hips more than 2 in larger than bust; high hip ÷ waist of 1.193 or more |
| Triangle (pear) | Hips at least 3.6 in larger than bust; waist less than 9 in smaller than hips |
| Inverted triangle | Bust at least 3.6 in larger than hips; waist less than 9 in smaller than bust |
| Rectangle | Bust and hips within 3.6 in; waist less than 9 in smaller than bust and 10 in smaller than hips |
Worked example
These are the calculator's defaults: bust 91 cm, waist 71 cm, high hip 84 cm, hips 97 cm.
- In inches: bust 35.83, waist 27.95, high hip 33.07, hips 38.19
- Hips − bust = 2.36 in, under 3.6, so bust and hips count as balanced
- Bust − hips = −2.36 in, which is 1 in or less
- Bust − waist = 7.87 in, short of 9, but hips − waist = 10.24 in, which reaches 10
- The waist is clearly defined against the hips, so the result is Hourglass
If the waist were 86 cm instead, hips − waist would fall to 4.33 in. No hourglass rule fits then, and the shape becomes a rectangle.
Shape is not a health measure
Body shape describes an outline, which is useful for choosing clothes, sewing patterns or a bra style. It says nothing about fitness or health, and every shape includes people who are healthy. Shape can also change with weight, age, pregnancy and training.
There is one number worth knowing separately: waist-to-hip ratio, shown in the results as waist ÷ hips. The World Health Organization uses it as a health marker, with risk rising above 0.85 for women and 0.90 for men. If you're concerned about where you carry weight, a doctor can help. The body fat calculator gives a fuller picture of body composition.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common body shape?
Studies that applied FFIT to large U.S. body-scan samples found the rectangle to be the most common female shape, well ahead of the classic hourglass. Many people sit near the border between two shapes, so small changes in measurement can tip the result either way.
Can men use this calculator?
Yes, as a description. FFIT was built from women's measurements, but the same comparisons apply: men with a chest much wider than the hips get an inverted triangle, and a waist larger than chest and hips gives an apple shape. Rectangle is common for men too.
Why does my result change between measurements?
The rules use fixed cut-offs, so a difference of 1 cm can move you across a line, especially near the hourglass and rectangle borders. Measure twice, keep the tape level, and use the same spots each time.
Does body shape change if I lose or gain weight?
Often only a little. Fat tends to come off and go on in the same places for each person, so the proportions stay similar. A pear shape usually stays a pear, just smaller. Strength training can change shape more, for example by widening the shoulders or back.
Related calculators
- Body Fat Calculator — Estimate your body fat percentage with the U.S. Navy tape method and compare it with a BMI-based estimate.
- Bra Size Calculator — Estimate your bra size from underbust and bust measurements, in US, UK, EU, French and Australian sizes.
- BMI Calculator — Your body mass index, weight category and healthy weight range, in metric or US units.
Results are estimates for general information and are not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or other qualified professional about your health. See our disclaimer.