Waist to hip ratio calculator
Calculate waist-to-hip ratio and compare it with standard threshold bands.
What this calculator covers
Use this calculator to divide waist circumference by hip circumference and compare the result with standard reference bands. Because the ratio is unitless, the key part is keeping both measurements in the same unit system.
Waist-to-hip ratio is a quick screening metric, not a diagnosis. It can highlight how body measurements are distributed, but it does not replace a broader clinical picture or a direct body-composition assessment.
Frequently asked questions
- Where exactly should I measure my waist and hip?
- Waist circumference is typically measured at the narrowest point of the torso, usually just above the navel. Hip circumference is measured at the widest point around the hips and buttocks. Both measurements should be taken with a flexible tape held level and snug but not compressing the skin.
- Why does the risk band threshold differ by sex?
- The reference bands are based on observed health data that shows different waist-to-hip distributions between male and female body types. Using the wrong threshold set would misclassify results, so selecting the correct sex is important for an accurate band assignment.
- What are the risk band cutoffs used here?
- For the female threshold set: low is below 0.85, moderate is 0.85–0.89, and high is 0.90 or above. For the male threshold set: low is below 0.90, moderate is 0.90–0.99, and high is 1.00 or above. These reference values are widely used in health research but may differ from those used by specific clinical guidelines.
- Is waist-to-hip ratio the same as body mass index (BMI)?
- No. BMI is calculated from height and weight and reflects overall body mass relative to stature. Waist-to-hip ratio is a shape measure that reflects where body fat is distributed, which some researchers consider a useful complement to BMI rather than a replacement.
Tool
Run the calculation
Result
RESULT · WHR
â„–140
Primary result
0.85 ratio
A waist of 34.0 in and hip measurement of 40.0 in produce a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.85, which falls in the moderate band for the selected female threshold set.
- Waist-to-hip ratio
- 0.85
- Risk band
- moderate
- Thresholds used
- Low < 0.85, moderate 0.85-0.89, high >= 0.90
Step-by-step solution
- 1.Keep waist and hip in the same unit system so the ratio stays unitless.
- 2.Divide waist by hip: 34.0 / 40.0 = 0.85.
- 3.Compare the result against the female cutoffs to label the band as moderate.
Walkthrough
Visual walkthrough
Waist-to-hip ratio is simple division, but the interpretation depends on which sex-specific threshold table is being used.
01
Measure waist and hip in matching units
34.0 in / 40.0 in
Because both values use the same unit system, the final ratio has no unit attached.
02
Divide waist by hip
0.85
A larger waist relative to the hip measurement pushes the ratio upward.
03
Check the risk band
The cutoffs differ for male and female reference tables, so the same ratio can map differently depending on the selected sex.
moderate band