Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Use this waist-to-hip ratio calculator to compare your waist and hip measurements and assess body fat distribution.
Calculated instantly in your browser — nothing is sent to or stored on our servers.
Kevin Cyr, MD
Kevin Cyr, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician who trained at Stanford University School of Medicine and completed residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Medical Disclaimer: This calculator provides a general estimate based on established research and is for educational purposes only, not a substitute for medical advice. Individual results can vary based on health conditions, so consult a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet, exercise, or health routine. Read our full Medical Disclaimer.
How Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) Is Calculated
Doctors have long described body shapes as apple or pear, depending on where fat tends to collect: around the belly, or around the hips and thighs. Waist-to-hip ratio puts a number on that distinction. Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement, and the result tells you which pattern your body leans toward, which matters because the two patterns carry genuinely different health implications, not just different silhouettes.
What WHR Measures
WHR is a shape measurement, not a size measurement. Two people can weigh the same and land on very different ratios depending on whether their weight settles around the middle or around the hips and thighs.
The Formula
WHR = Waist circumference ÷ Hip circumference (same unit for both)
This ratio became a standardized clinical tool in 2008, when the World Health Organization set clear cutoff points for waist and hip measurements after reviewing the available evidence¹.
How This Calculator Computes Your Result
Enter your waist and hip circumference in inches or centimeters, matching units for both. We divide the two, round to two decimal places, and place your result in the sex-specific band below.
What Your Result Means
Sex | Low Risk | Moderate Risk | High Risk |
Men | Below 0.90 | 0.90 to 0.99 | 1.0 and above |
Women | Below 0.80 | 0.80 to 0.85 | Above 0.85 |
These cutoffs come from the WHO's 2008 consultation¹, which set 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women as the point where health risk rises substantially. Men and women tend to store fat differently on average, which is why the reference range sits lower for women.
How to Measure Correctly
Find the midpoint between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone for the waist measurement, and the widest point of your buttocks for the hip measurement¹. Keep the tape parallel to the floor and snug against the skin without compressing it for both. Take each one twice and average the results, a half-inch of drift in tape placement is the most common reason two attempts on the same day disagree.
Why This Ratio Predicts Risk
The clearest evidence comes from the INTERHEART study, which looked at about 27,000 people in 52 countries and found waist-to-hip ratio was strongly linked to heart attack risk worldwide, while BMI was only weakly linked². A later analysis pooling several long-term studies confirmed that both waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio predict cardiovascular events about equally well³.
A Note on Accuracy
A high or low WHR doesn't diagnose anything on its own. Pelvis width, muscle built up in the glutes and thighs, and even how snugly you pull the tape can all shift your number without reflecting any real change in health risk. Treat it as one clue in a bigger picture, not a verdict.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?
Below 0.90 for men and below 0.80 for women is considered low risk¹. Ratios above 0.90 (men) or 0.85 (women) mark a substantial rise in health risk.
How do I measure my waist and hips correctly?
Waist at the midpoint between your lowest rib and hip bone, hips at the widest point of your buttocks, tape snug but not compressing the skin¹. Average two readings for consistency.
What does a high waist-to-hip ratio mean?
It suggests you carry more fat around your abdomen relative to your hips, a pattern linked to higher cardiovascular risk². It's a screening signal, not a diagnosis.
Can two people with the same WHR have different risk?
Yes. Frame size, muscle mass, and ethnic background all affect what a given ratio means for any one person.
Sources
Waist Circumference and Waist-Hip Ratio: Report of a WHO Expert Consultation, WHO, 2008
Obesity and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction in 27,000 Participants from 52 Countries (INTERHEART), Yusuf et al., 2005
Waist Circumference and Waist-to-Hip Ratio as Predictors of Cardiovascular Events, de Koning et al., 2007
Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Use this waist-to-hip ratio calculator to compare your waist and hip measurements and assess body fat distribution.
Calculated instantly in your browser — nothing is sent to or stored on our servers.
Kevin Cyr, MD
Kevin Cyr, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician who trained at Stanford University School of Medicine and completed residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Medical Disclaimer: This calculator provides a general estimate based on established research and is for educational purposes only, not a substitute for medical advice. Individual results can vary based on health conditions, so consult a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet, exercise, or health routine. Read our full Medical Disclaimer.
How Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) Is Calculated
Doctors have long described body shapes as apple or pear, depending on where fat tends to collect: around the belly, or around the hips and thighs. Waist-to-hip ratio puts a number on that distinction. Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement, and the result tells you which pattern your body leans toward, which matters because the two patterns carry genuinely different health implications, not just different silhouettes.
What WHR Measures
WHR is a shape measurement, not a size measurement. Two people can weigh the same and land on very different ratios depending on whether their weight settles around the middle or around the hips and thighs.
The Formula
WHR = Waist circumference ÷ Hip circumference (same unit for both)
This ratio became a standardized clinical tool in 2008, when the World Health Organization set clear cutoff points for waist and hip measurements after reviewing the available evidence¹.
How This Calculator Computes Your Result
Enter your waist and hip circumference in inches or centimeters, matching units for both. We divide the two, round to two decimal places, and place your result in the sex-specific band below.
What Your Result Means
Sex | Low Risk | Moderate Risk | High Risk |
Men | Below 0.90 | 0.90 to 0.99 | 1.0 and above |
Women | Below 0.80 | 0.80 to 0.85 | Above 0.85 |
These cutoffs come from the WHO's 2008 consultation¹, which set 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women as the point where health risk rises substantially. Men and women tend to store fat differently on average, which is why the reference range sits lower for women.
How to Measure Correctly
Find the midpoint between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone for the waist measurement, and the widest point of your buttocks for the hip measurement¹. Keep the tape parallel to the floor and snug against the skin without compressing it for both. Take each one twice and average the results, a half-inch of drift in tape placement is the most common reason two attempts on the same day disagree.
Why This Ratio Predicts Risk
The clearest evidence comes from the INTERHEART study, which looked at about 27,000 people in 52 countries and found waist-to-hip ratio was strongly linked to heart attack risk worldwide, while BMI was only weakly linked². A later analysis pooling several long-term studies confirmed that both waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio predict cardiovascular events about equally well³.
A Note on Accuracy
A high or low WHR doesn't diagnose anything on its own. Pelvis width, muscle built up in the glutes and thighs, and even how snugly you pull the tape can all shift your number without reflecting any real change in health risk. Treat it as one clue in a bigger picture, not a verdict.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?
Below 0.90 for men and below 0.80 for women is considered low risk¹. Ratios above 0.90 (men) or 0.85 (women) mark a substantial rise in health risk.
How do I measure my waist and hips correctly?
Waist at the midpoint between your lowest rib and hip bone, hips at the widest point of your buttocks, tape snug but not compressing the skin¹. Average two readings for consistency.
What does a high waist-to-hip ratio mean?
It suggests you carry more fat around your abdomen relative to your hips, a pattern linked to higher cardiovascular risk². It's a screening signal, not a diagnosis.
Can two people with the same WHR have different risk?
Yes. Frame size, muscle mass, and ethnic background all affect what a given ratio means for any one person.
Sources
Waist Circumference and Waist-Hip Ratio: Report of a WHO Expert Consultation, WHO, 2008
Obesity and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction in 27,000 Participants from 52 Countries (INTERHEART), Yusuf et al., 2005
Waist Circumference and Waist-to-Hip Ratio as Predictors of Cardiovascular Events, de Koning et al., 2007
Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Use this waist-to-hip ratio calculator to compare your waist and hip measurements and assess body fat distribution.
Calculated instantly in your browser — nothing is sent to or stored on our servers.
Kevin Cyr, MD
Kevin Cyr, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician who trained at Stanford University School of Medicine and completed residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Medical Disclaimer: This calculator provides a general estimate based on established research and is for educational purposes only, not a substitute for medical advice. Individual results can vary based on health conditions, so consult a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet, exercise, or health routine. Read our full Medical Disclaimer.
How Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) Is Calculated
Doctors have long described body shapes as apple or pear, depending on where fat tends to collect: around the belly, or around the hips and thighs. Waist-to-hip ratio puts a number on that distinction. Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement, and the result tells you which pattern your body leans toward, which matters because the two patterns carry genuinely different health implications, not just different silhouettes.
What WHR Measures
WHR is a shape measurement, not a size measurement. Two people can weigh the same and land on very different ratios depending on whether their weight settles around the middle or around the hips and thighs.
The Formula
WHR = Waist circumference ÷ Hip circumference (same unit for both)
This ratio became a standardized clinical tool in 2008, when the World Health Organization set clear cutoff points for waist and hip measurements after reviewing the available evidence¹.
How This Calculator Computes Your Result
Enter your waist and hip circumference in inches or centimeters, matching units for both. We divide the two, round to two decimal places, and place your result in the sex-specific band below.
What Your Result Means
Sex | Low Risk | Moderate Risk | High Risk |
Men | Below 0.90 | 0.90 to 0.99 | 1.0 and above |
Women | Below 0.80 | 0.80 to 0.85 | Above 0.85 |
These cutoffs come from the WHO's 2008 consultation¹, which set 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women as the point where health risk rises substantially. Men and women tend to store fat differently on average, which is why the reference range sits lower for women.
How to Measure Correctly
Find the midpoint between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone for the waist measurement, and the widest point of your buttocks for the hip measurement¹. Keep the tape parallel to the floor and snug against the skin without compressing it for both. Take each one twice and average the results, a half-inch of drift in tape placement is the most common reason two attempts on the same day disagree.
Why This Ratio Predicts Risk
The clearest evidence comes from the INTERHEART study, which looked at about 27,000 people in 52 countries and found waist-to-hip ratio was strongly linked to heart attack risk worldwide, while BMI was only weakly linked². A later analysis pooling several long-term studies confirmed that both waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio predict cardiovascular events about equally well³.
A Note on Accuracy
A high or low WHR doesn't diagnose anything on its own. Pelvis width, muscle built up in the glutes and thighs, and even how snugly you pull the tape can all shift your number without reflecting any real change in health risk. Treat it as one clue in a bigger picture, not a verdict.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?
Below 0.90 for men and below 0.80 for women is considered low risk¹. Ratios above 0.90 (men) or 0.85 (women) mark a substantial rise in health risk.
How do I measure my waist and hips correctly?
Waist at the midpoint between your lowest rib and hip bone, hips at the widest point of your buttocks, tape snug but not compressing the skin¹. Average two readings for consistency.
What does a high waist-to-hip ratio mean?
It suggests you carry more fat around your abdomen relative to your hips, a pattern linked to higher cardiovascular risk². It's a screening signal, not a diagnosis.
Can two people with the same WHR have different risk?
Yes. Frame size, muscle mass, and ethnic background all affect what a given ratio means for any one person.
Sources
Waist Circumference and Waist-Hip Ratio: Report of a WHO Expert Consultation, WHO, 2008
Obesity and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction in 27,000 Participants from 52 Countries (INTERHEART), Yusuf et al., 2005
Waist Circumference and Waist-to-Hip Ratio as Predictors of Cardiovascular Events, de Koning et al., 2007