Waist to Hip Ratio
Measure body-fat distribution and health risk instantly.
How to use
- 1 Measure your waist at its narrowest point and your hips at their widest point.
- 2 Enter both values using the same unit (cm or inches).
- 3 Select your sex so the correct risk thresholds apply.
- 4 Read your ratio and the WHO risk category shown below.
About Waist to Hip Ratio
Your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) divides the circumference of your waist by the circumference of your hips.
It is one of the quickest indicators of how body fat is distributed, and where fat sits matters: carrying it around the abdomen ("apple" shape) is more strongly linked to heart disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure than carrying it around the hips and thighs ("pear" shape).
Because it is a ratio, it adjusts for overall frame in a way a single waist measurement cannot, and unlike BMI it focuses on fat distribution rather than total mass.
This calculator applies the World Health Organization thresholds.
For men, a ratio at or below 0.95 is low risk, 0.96 to 1.00 is moderate, and above 1.00 is high.
For women, at or below 0.80 is low, 0.81 to 0.85 is moderate, and above 0.85 is high.
Enter your waist and hip measurements in the same unit — centimetres or inches both work, since the units cancel out — choose your sex, and the result and risk band appear instantly.
Everything runs locally in your browser: no measurement is uploaded or stored.
For the most accurate reading, measure your waist at the narrowest point (around the navel) and your hips at the widest point, keeping the tape snug but not compressing the skin, and breathing normally.
WHR is a screening tool, not a diagnosis — discuss any concerns with a healthcare professional.
FAQ
Does the unit matter?
No. The waist-to-hip ratio is unitless, so as long as you measure waist and hips in the same unit — both in centimetres or both in inches — you get the same result.
What ratio is considered healthy?
Using WHO thresholds, low risk is 0.95 or below for men and 0.80 or below for women. Higher ratios indicate more abdominal fat and greater cardiometabolic risk.
Is WHR better than BMI?
They measure different things. BMI estimates total body mass relative to height, while WHR captures where fat is stored. Many clinicians look at both together.