MyAgeCalc

Waist to hip ratio calculator

Waist ÷ hips. The WHO healthy limit is 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women; we also show your waist-to-height ratio, where the target is under 0.5.

Height
Waist-to-hip ratioWithin the WHO limit
0.80

WHO limit for women: 0.85. Waist-to-height ratio: 0.48 (under 0.5 — healthy).

Estimates for general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own health.

How to measure

  1. Stand up straight, feet together, and breathe out normally.
  2. Waist: halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone (often near the navel). This is the WHO protocol; some clinics use the narrowest point instead.
  3. Hips: around the widest part of your buttocks.
  4. Keep the tape level and snug without pressing into the skin. Measure twice and use the average.

Waist size alone is also a signal: the WHO notes higher risk above 94 cm (37 in) for men and 80 cm (31.5 in) for women in European populations.

WHR chart

Health riskWomenMen
Low0.80 or below0.95 or below
Moderate0.81–0.850.96–1.0
Highabove 0.85above 1.0

The three-band chart is a common clinical rule of thumb; the WHO's single cut-off for substantially increased risk is 0.90 (men) and 0.85 (women). Shape matters too: see the body type calculator.

Questions

What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?

The World Health Organization (2008) uses 0.90 or less for men and 0.85 or less for women. Above those values, the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease is described as substantially increased.

How do I measure my waist and hips?

Stand relaxed with feet together and breathe out gently. Measure the waist midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, and the hips around the widest part of the buttocks. Keep the tape snug and level, not tight.

How do I calculate waist-to-hip ratio?

Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement, using the same unit for both. A 32-inch waist and 40-inch hips give 32 ÷ 40 = 0.80.

Is waist-to-hip ratio better than BMI?

It measures something different: where fat is stored rather than how heavy you are for your height. Fat around the abdomen is more closely linked to heart and metabolic disease, so WHR and waist size add information BMI misses. Doctors often look at both.

What is waist-to-height ratio?

Waist divided by height. NICE (UK, 2022) advises keeping it below 0.5 — in other words, a waist less than half your height. It needs no hip measurement and works for most adults.

Sources

  • World Health Organization. Waist circumference and waist–hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation, Geneva, 2008.
  • NICE (UK), 2022 update to its obesity guidance: keep waist-to-height ratio below 0.5.