Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Enter waist and hip measurements to get your WHR, body shape, and WHO health risk category instantly.
WHO Risk Thresholds
About this tool
What this tool does
The Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator divides your waist measurement by your hip measurement and checks the result against the World Health Organization's sex-specific risk thresholds. Unlike BMI, which can't tell the difference between muscle and fat or where fat is actually stored, waist-to-hip ratio specifically measures whether weight is concentrated around the abdomen ("apple" shape) or the hips and thighs ("pear" shape) — a distinction that matters because abdominal fat is more strongly linked to cardiovascular and metabolic risk.
Add your height and it also calculates your Waist-to-Height Ratio, a metric a growing number of researchers argue is an even better single predictor of health risk than either BMI or WHR alone, since it accounts for body frame size directly.
How to use the waist-to-hip ratio calculator
- Select your sex — the WHO risk thresholds differ for men and women.
- Measure your waist at its narrowest point (usually just above the belly button) and your hips at their widest point, without pulling the tape tight.
- Enter both measurements in the same unit (inches or centimeters) and your ratio and risk category appear instantly.
- Optionally add your height to also see your waist-to-height ratio and its category.
Common use cases
- Tracking body composition changes — waist-to-hip ratio can shift with fat loss or strength training even when the number on the scale barely moves.
- A second opinion alongside BMI — two people with identical BMI can carry weight very differently; WHR captures that difference.
- General cardiovascular risk awareness — a quick, tape-measure-only screening tool referenced in WHO guidance and used in large-scale health studies.
- Fitness and nutrition coaching — a simple, repeatable measurement clients can track between check-ins without special equipment.
Frequently asked questions
What's considered a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?
Per WHO guidance, a ratio under 0.80 for women or under 0.90 for men is considered low risk; 0.80–0.84 (women) or 0.90–0.99 (men) is moderate risk; and 0.85+ (women) or 1.00+ (men) is high risk for weight-related health complications.
Why does an "apple" shape carry more risk than a "pear" shape?
Fat stored around the abdomen (visceral fat) sits closer to and around internal organs and is more metabolically active than fat stored in the hips and thighs (subcutaneous fat), which is why abdominal fat is more strongly associated with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes risk.
Is waist-to-hip ratio better than BMI?
They measure different things — BMI is a rough proxy for overall body mass relative to height, while WHR specifically captures fat distribution. Many clinicians use both together, since a person can have a "normal" BMI and still carry disproportionate abdominal fat.
How should I measure my waist and hips accurately?
Stand relaxed, don't suck in your stomach, keep the tape measure parallel to the floor and snug but not compressing the skin — measure your waist at the narrowest point (usually around navel level) and your hips at the widest point around your buttocks.
Can waist-to-hip ratio change with exercise?
Yes — resistance training that builds hip/glute muscle plus fat loss (especially visceral fat, which responds well to a calorie deficit and cardio) can shift the ratio over weeks to months, even if total body weight changes only slightly.