Body Fat Calculator
Your Body Fat is approximately
Formula Explanation
This calculator uses the US Navy method as the primary calculation for body fat, relying on circumference measurements. It also offers the BMI method as an alternative based on height, weight, age, and gender.
US Navy Method
For Men:
(Measurements in inches)
For Women:
(Measurements in inches)
Worked Examples
Height: 70", Neck: 15", Waist: 34"
%BF = 86.010 × log10(34 - 15) - 70.041 × log10(70) + 36.76 = 14.5%
Height: 65", Neck: 13", Waist: 28", Hip: 38"
%BF = 163.205 × log10(28 + 38 - 13) - 97.684 × log10(65) - 78.387 = 23.6%
Age 30, BMI 25
%BF = (1.20 × 25) + (0.23 × 30) - (10.8 × 1) - 5.4 = 20.7%
Frequently Asked Questions
Which method is more accurate?
The US Navy method is generally considered more accurate than the BMI method for individuals with higher muscle mass, as it accounts for body circumferences rather than just total weight relative to height.
What is Essential Fat?
Essential body fat is the minimum amount of fat necessary for basic physical and physiological health. For men, this is typically 2-5%, and for women, it is 10-13%.
How should I measure my waist?
For men, measure horizontally around the navel. For women, measure horizontally at the narrowest point of the abdomen.
Why do women naturally have higher body fat?
Women biologically require higher body fat percentages for reproductive health, hormone regulation, and bearing children. This is why the categorized scales differ between genders.