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Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator

Waist-to-height ratio is your waist measurement divided by your height. Enter both to get the ratio, the band it falls in and the waist size that equals half your height — the simple target behind the advice to “keep your waist to less than half your height”.

Quick examples

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

ft
in
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Waist-to-height ratio0.47
Band
Healthy range (0.40–0.49)
Half your height
34 in

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      Formula

      Waist-to-height ratio = waist circumference ÷ height
      Both measured in the same unit

      How to use it

      1. Measure your waist midway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, after breathing out.
      2. Enter your height.
      3. Read the ratio and compare your waist with half your height.

      Worked examples

      A 32 in waist at 5 ft 8 in tall

      Waist-to-height ratio
      0.47
      Band
      Healthy range (0.40–0.49)
      Half your height
      34 in

      A 100 cm waist at 175 cm tall

      Waist-to-height ratio
      0.57
      Band
      Increased (0.50–0.59)

      The bands

      The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) uses these bands for adults with a BMI under 35: 0.40 to 0.49 is healthy, 0.50 to 0.59 indicates increased central adiposity, and 0.60 or more indicates high central adiposity. The same boundaries apply to men and women.

      Because it accounts for fat carried around the middle, the ratio can flag something BMI misses in people with a normal BMI but a larger waist, and it is less misleading than BMI for muscular people.

      This is an estimate for general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or other qualified clinician before making health decisions based on it.

      Questions people ask

      What is a healthy waist-to-height ratio?

      Between 0.40 and 0.49. A 32 in waist at 5 ft 8 in (68 in) is 32 ÷ 68 = 0.47.

      What should my waist be for my height?

      Less than half your height. At 5 ft 8 in that is under 34 in; at 175 cm it is under 87.5 cm.

      Is waist-to-height ratio better than BMI?

      It answers a different question. BMI reflects overall weight for height; waist-to-height reflects fat around the abdomen. Using both gives a fuller picture than either alone.

      Related calculators

      Waist-to-Hip Ratio CalculatorWaist ÷ hip, compared with the WHO cut-off for your sex.BMI CalculatorBody mass index, its WHO category and the healthy weight range for your height.Body Fat CalculatorBody fat percentage from a tape measure, by the US Navy method.Ideal Weight CalculatorIdeal body weight by Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi, plus the healthy BMI range.