Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) compares where your body stores fat — around the waist versus around the hips. Research links a waist-centered pattern more strongly to cardiometabolic risk than weight or BMI alone. Two tape measurements are all it takes: waist divided by hip.
At the navel, relaxed, end of a normal exhale — any unit works if both entries match
Around the widest point of your hips/buttocks — same unit as waist
Enter your values above to see your results.
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How it works
The formula
WHR = waist circumference ÷ hip circumference. Units cancel out — inches with inches, centimeters with centimeters, the result is identical. Measure your waist at navel level (relaxed, normal exhale) and your hips at their widest point. Example: waist 34 in, hips 40 in → 34 ÷ 40 = 0.85.
The WHO cut-offs
The World Health Organization defines abdominal obesity by WHR as above 0.90 for men and above 0.85 for women — thresholds derived from population studies linking waist-dominant fat distribution to cardiovascular and metabolic risk. These are screening conventions, not diagnostic lines: risk rises gradually, not in a step at 0.90.
WHR vs waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)
Both are tape-measure central adiposity markers. WHtR (waist ÷ height, target under 0.5) is simpler and some meta-analyses favor it as a screening tool; WHR adds hip circumference, which captures the protective side of hip-dominant fat storage. Many research cohorts report both — if you have the tape out, our Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator takes the same waist measurement.
Limitations
WHR is a population-level screening heuristic, not an individual assessment. Hip and waist measurement technique moves the number (a centimeter here or there changes the second decimal), pregnancy changes its meaning entirely, and very muscular or very lean builds read differently. Trends over time and context matter more than any single reading.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my waist-to-hip ratio?
Measure your waist at navel level (standing relaxed, end of a normal exhale) and your hips at their widest point, then divide waist by hip. Example: 34-inch waist, 40-inch hips → 0.85. Any unit works — inches or centimeters — as long as both measurements use the same one. The calculator above does it instantly.
What is a good waist-to-hip ratio?
The WHO cut-offs for abdominal obesity are 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women — below those lines is the lower-risk zone, with under 0.80 comfortably below both. Risk rises gradually rather than switching on at the cut-off, so direction over time matters as much as the number itself.
How do I measure my hips correctly?
Stand with feet together and wrap the tape around the widest part of your hips and buttocks — usually a few inches below your waist. Keep the tape level all the way around, snug but not compressing. Measure over thin clothing or bare skin, and use the same unit as your waist measurement.
WHR or BMI — which matters more?
They answer different questions. BMI estimates overall size but can't tell fat from muscle or say where fat is stored; WHR specifically captures fat distribution — and abdominal (waist-dominant) fat is the pattern cohort studies link most strongly to cardiometabolic risk. Many clinicians look at both, plus waist-to-height ratio, rather than any single number.
Is a high waist-to-hip ratio a diagnosis?
No. WHR is a screening marker for fat-distribution pattern — a high value is a prompt to look at the fuller picture (blood pressure, lipids, fasting glucose, lifestyle) with a qualified practitioner, not a diagnosis of any condition.
Does the ratio change with age?
Typically yes — fat distribution tends to shift toward the waist with age (and with menopause for women), so WHR often drifts upward even at stable weight. That makes it more useful as a trend marker than a one-off verdict: same tape, same technique, tracked over time.
Sources
- World Health Organization. Waist Circumference and Waist–Hip Ratio: Report of a WHO Expert Consultation. Geneva, 2008.
- Yusuf S et al. Obesity and the risk of myocardial infarction in 27,000 participants from 52 countries (INTERHEART): waist-to-hip ratio as a marker. Lancet, 2005.
- Czernichow S et al. Comparison of waist-to-hip ratio and other obesity indices as predictors of cardiovascular disease risk. Obes Rev, 2011.
This calculator is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reference ranges are general population guidelines — always discuss your lab results with a qualified healthcare professional.